Bill Dance

[5 Dollar Fishing Game]

Bill is my favorite angler. His show has on forever and he always catches huge fish. Why didn't he do the Bassmaster Classic? If he did, why bit more than he did? He seems to have several boats and plenty of gear and knowledge. I wonder if he just dedicated his time for his show?

[jhoffman]

His hay day was the 70s. He qaulified every year from 72-79

 

Bill had his fame for sure

 

 

http://www.bassmaster.com/anglers/bill-dance/results/classic

[jhoffman]

40 Top ten finishes...

[CoBass]

He's already been there, done that. The tournament trail is a real grind with no guaranteed paychecks. He's making plenty of money on his shows and I'm sure the schedule is a lot easier on him than fishing tournies would be. Besides, if he stopped filming shows, we wouldn't have his awesome blooper tapes to watch http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7AeLUSxGf8M

[5 Dollar Fishing Game]

I DVR his show all the time. He is awesome. I've seen the bloopers on YouTube before too. Lol. I didn't know he had that many top 10's. also as mentioned he makes plenty of money from all the 40 plus years of his show. :-)

[5 Dollar Fishing Game]

That video is awesome. Lol. So I have to ask the age old question. What percent of his bloopers are real and what are staged? Most if not all look real to me.

[Felix77]

You made my day!  I have never seen those bloopers before.  I am literally losing my breath laughing over here.  The one with the battery makes me cry everytime I see it now.  WOW.

[5 Dollar Fishing Game]

I like the dog jumping in the water and the camera guy falling in. Lol

[rockchalk06]

How bout the tree close line off the 4 wheeler. I almost pis-s myself with that one

[flyfisher]

What is crazy is that his highest payout was only 4k.

[TrapperJ]

Bill is a classic and seems like a good guy, and i still laugh my butt off at those bloopers.

 

I just hate he never fishes any where challenging or to different, seems like same old private lakes week after week that are overly stocked.

 

Nothing against Bill i grew up watching him i just think he's taking it a bit to easy out there.

 

Jimmy is one of my favs, as goofy as a guy as he is but when i was in the 6th grade, my dad took me to Lake Guerrero and the trip was with Jimmy and his son and his crew, it was great, Jimmy always had a story to tell while we drove on a big bus down there, but one thing that always stuck with me was that while we were fishing, when we would come in that evening after a long day Jimmy always took time out even if it was just for 10 mins to ask me every day how i did fishing, I was the only kid in the group. This was a big deal to me as a youngster that this big time pro was willing to talk, listen and just visit with me.

 

 

 

I know Roland Martin fished FLW last year, but I would think it would be great to see like and old school pro tourney with Bill, Jimmy, Hank, Clunn etc just to name a few compete against each other.

[slonezp]

Why question his success? (Well, I question the Dancin' Eel. LOL)

I posted this pic here a couple years ago. This is Bill and my handicapped brother who has been deceased for 10 years. In the early 90's, my father had won a fishing trip with Bill Dance. He and Bill arranged to make special accomodations for my brother to tag along.A once in a lifetime trip for my bro. It says alot about the man.

 

 

 

[Traveler2586]

I enjoy Bill's show, and his blooper, but sometimes I have to think they're staged for the audience; every TV personality has their "thing", M.I. has his rants, Bill has his bloopers; personally, I'd rather watch Bill than M.I.

[Brian Needham]

I love Bill Dance, I met him a few times and always eager to talk fishing, and answer questions about local water. I hold a fairly high opinion of him. Some of my friends, don't, as they have had some run-ins with him.

 

Ol' Bill was a pretty durn good tournament fishermen too, story goes as stories go, and ol' Bill got banned when he was caught cheating. Stories go as stories go...and I have heard it a few times.I am sure I could find someone here in town that knows the "real" story but I never really cared to dig.

[BassAssassin726]

He hasnt fished pro in a long time. He did work back in the day. Love Bill Dance. Also, the reason he constantly catches huge fish is because on his show he fishes private, professionally managed lakes. The fish are big and dumb.

[bassh8er]

He doesn't tourney fish because he doesn't have to. I love Bill and still love his show as much as I used to.

Not sure how many are staged, but of the snake falling pit of the tree that he got his bait stuck in was staged, bravo, because that looks REAL to me.

[wakeeater]

last year Bill Dance came to the fishing show here in Knoxville.  i had my 2 boys with me, 6 & 8 at the time.  we waited in line for about 45 minutes to meet him.  i wanted to get a picture of him with my kids.  when we got to the table he immediately started asking them questions & joking with them.  he took the pic with them and spent about 5 more minutes just talking with them about fishing& they really ate it up.  he really impressed me with that.  i assumed he would pose for a pic, & send us on our way.  the man is a class act & it's a shame more pro athletes/celebrities don't act like him.  any time i get the chance, i tell people about how awesome he was with my 2 wild men.  i'm a fan for life.

[BassnChris]

I know Roland Martin fished FLW last year, but I would think it would be great to see like and old school pro tourney with Bill, Jimmy, Hank, Clunn etc just to name a few compete against each other.

You know Clunn,Horton and Roland Martin, and others are gonna be at the Broken Arrow Bass Pro in February.

[GeorgiaBassBros]

Hes my favorite, just a good ole boy doin what he loves for a livin. And his bloopers are hilarious

[gripnrip]

You know Clunn,Horton and Roland Martin, and others are gonna be at the Broken Arrow Bass Pro in February.

Score!  

 

When I think of Bill Dance his magazine that he published for a while pops in my head.  Wal-Mart carried the mag and I was very impressed.  I liked how they showed virtual pics of fish holding to cover as they were discussing the topics and techniques.  I wish they were still publishing it!  I bet I have some of the old ones.  I am a magazine junky!

[Snakehead Whisperer]

I just hate he never fishes any where challenging or to different, seems like same old private lakes week after week that are overly stocked.

 

Nothing against Bill i grew up watching him i just think he's taking it a bit to easy out there.

Here's an episode of Addictive Fishing where Blair Wiggins and Bill Dance catch some big redfish (although this doesn't appear to be too challenging of a spot either )

[SirSnookalot]

I saw that show when it aired.  One thing I especially liked is when Bill Dance used his bass rod for a redfish, notice his hand is up on the foregrip then the shaft to gain leverage on the fish.  Wiggins being younger with more body strength didn't have to, for some of the older or not as strong people that's a great method to land bigger fish, being 67 and 135# I do it all the time.

Make no mistake about it, Bill Dance is a real pro.

[Sam]

The title about Bill Dance scared me. I thought he may have croaked.

 

His shows are entertaining.

 

I wish I could fish those secret ponds he fishes for his shows.

 

Lately on TV he has been hitting Louisiana and Florida for redfish. Interesting but it is more fun to be down there fishing for those reds than watching his show.

 

And his bloopers, staged or otherwise, are funny.

[Hanover_Yakker]

I too enjoyed his shows, but to be honest I enjoy his recent outings a little more, because it something new and unmanaged waters.  One of the places that they fish on the those shows is a place called VIP Adventures in Summerville, SC.  It is a chain of 7 managed lakes with trophy bass all over the place.  I have spoken with the owner on a couple occassions, and he has told me that the touring pros also come down to work on their techniques and satisfy that itch to catch big fish.  Most of them however choose to not have their outing video taped.

 

Since someone brought it up, catching reds is not as easy as television makes it out to be.  Reds are easily spooked and requires long and accurate casts in the tidal flats which is why shows like Flats Class show the people using push poles to sneak up on feeding reds.  If any of you bassers want to feel what a redfish fight s like , come on down.  Bring your Medium/XF casting or spinning rod and some 10-15lb flouro.  They fight like a smallmouth on speed.  Fishing for reds in the tidal flats and bass fishing are actually very akin to one another.  It is part of the reason why bass anglers in general make good redfish anglers.

 

Fun Fun Fun!!!

[jdw174]

I enjoy Bill's show, and his blooper, but sometimes I have to think they're staged for the audience; every TV personality has their "thing", M.I. has his rants, Bill has his bloopers; personally, I'd rather watch Bill than M.I.

 

If you watch the one where he walks around the back of the truck and cracks his leg on the trailer hitch you can see the padding outline on his pantleg.  Still, the bloopers are good.