Bill Dance

[retiredbosn]

I liked the "A Day at a Lake" he did for BassMasters magazine awhile back. The writer even referenced the stocked pond shows and how surprised he was that Bill could find and catch fish on a lake he had never seen or fished. People want too see big fish on his shows, but he still knows his stuff. He fished the first classic and was a pioneer in formatting tournaments to return their catches. When he started his live well was a plastic drum with an aireator.

[eyedabassman]

I did get to meet Bill more that a few times as I do some work for BPS and some of my sponsers. Bill is a CLASS ACT and then some! When you meet him you start to think is this a act! And I can tell you it is not, that is the way he is! Bill and KVD are my top two of the pro's that I did get to be with and Jimmy Houston at # 3.

[Quillback]

I think a great tournament/show would be to get together all the old guys, Dance, Martin, Clunn, Houston, etc., and have them fish a "Senior" tournament.  Like what the old pro golfers do.

[basscatcher8]

He did a show last year where he was wading a river in his jeans fishing for smallmouth. I think it was actually a two part episode. was cool to see him outside of the ponds like everybody else has stated.

[Diggy]

I used to watch him when I was a little kid. I actually started watching again recently and tried downloading his app based on his show and all I got was a pic with a bass with a hat on it lol.

 

He always has a few hogs per show. My mom and I always wondered if he had divers on set hooking these fish onto the line....the power of editing 

[keith71]

Bill,Roland,Orlando,Jimmy and Hank will always have a place in my heart.What they preached on TNN or TBS before the age of the internet I would take to my local lake more confident than the week before because I just knew that what I learned from them today would make me a more dangerous angler. Texas rigs,slowrolling a spinnerbait,fishing structure,lessons never forgot.I never have been lucky to meet any of these guys but if I did I would say thanks for sharing your boat with me because in my mind I was casting right along with them ever ready to grab the net.

[WRB]

Bill Dance was the first of his bass tournament buddies to recognize that more money could be made with TV then fishing tournaments. Bill was and is a good bass fisherman, however it's his personality that made him a household name. Hank Parker followed Bill's lead and rode his bass tournament success to a career in TV fishing promotions and both are still going strong.

One of the forgotten names during the early years of Bassmaster tournaments is Tom Mann of Mann's Tackle. Tom was the most creative of those early tournament anglers. Did you know Tom started up Hummin Bird Electronics! Bill Dance, Jimmy Houston and Roland Marten were a lot of fun to be around, however Tom Mann was the all time prankster and maybe the best bass angler amoung them.

Tom

[flippin and pitchin]

What an icon. Anyone who can where a hover hat like that deserves some love.

[Bluebasser86]

I think a great tournament/show would be to get together all the old guys, Dance, Martin, Clunn, Houston, etc., and have them fish a "Senior" tournament.  Like what the old pro golfers do.

I like that idea. I'd enjoy watching the legends of the sport out there showing that they still got it. 

 

Bill is also credited with catching the first bass in a BASS tournament.

http://www.bassmaster.com/news/legend-profile-bill-dance

[rockchalk06]

I met Bill Dance and Jimmy Houston when I was 12 or 13 back in Kansas City Kansas at some big boat show. Bill was stressed out with all the people, and was kinda short on his answers, but he never lost his smile, Laughed at my Dad and I when I was nervous. Even took my KU hat off and made a comment about TN.

 

Now Jimmy Houston was a nice as all get out too, but with all the Bling he wore and the 14#'s of old man Cologne he was wearing.!!

[South FLA]

Bill Dance=Class Act

[etommy28]

Bill's show is not as legit as you might think, those big fish are not always caught by his doing, he fishes stocked plantation lakes like Bienville plantion here in Fl and in many cases has divers hooking fish on to his line. but as others said he did fish tournys and one point and was quite good.

[gripnrip]

Bill's show is not as legit as you might think, those big fish are not always caught by his doing, he fishes stocked plantation lakes like Bienville plantion here in Fl and in many cases has divers hooking fish on to his line. but as others said he did fish tournys and one point and was quite good.

Where's your proof?

[5 Dollar Fishing Game]

A diver can locate, catch, and hook a bass? Wow. New to me. :-/ maybe I should lose the rod and reel and get a snorkel. Lol

[Gatorbassman]

Flukemaster, I still haven't forgot about the autographs

Neither have I. 

[etommy28]

they have guides catch the fish before hand, put them in a pen on the bottom, a diver takes a hook down and hooks one of the fish. think about how often you do not see him set the hook. It was told to me by some one who used to help produce his show. im not saying that happens with every fish but some.

[5 Dollar Fishing Game]

I see him set the hook over 99% of the time. I also see him cast 99.9% of the time.

[SirSnookalot]

A few years ago I had a neighbor claiming to be a pro bass fisherman, I say claim as he never impressed me by being better than any average fisherman.  He also had claimed to work on some production crews and did say sometimes those fish were pre hooked underwater, I honestly took everything he said with a grain of salt.

[CoBass]

Bill's show is not as legit as you might think, those big fish are not always caught by his doing, he fishes stocked plantation lakes like Bienville plantion here in Fl and in many cases has divers hooking fish on to his line. but as others said he did fish tournys and one point and was quite good.

I agree that a lot of his shows are filmed on private waters. When you get to fish waters that are full of big fish that get very little pressure there's no need for divers. I always looked at his show as him featuring a particular presentation and teaching how to catch fish on that presentation. I'm sure he was paid well to feature certain baits but I really doubt there were divers hooking fish for him.

[rockchalk06]

Bill's show is not as legit as you might think, those big fish are not always caught by his doing, he fishes stocked plantation lakes like Bienville plantion here in Fl and in many cases has divers hooking fish on to his line. but as others said he did fish tournys and one point and was quite good.

That's about the dumbest thing I've ever heard. Prove it or move along.

[PondBoss]

And his shows are shot over several days,  He may shoot an occasional show in one day but I guarantee you most are shot in entirety over the span of a week.  

[gripnrip]

Haters gonna hate. I've fished unpressured ponds and lakes before. You can pull some big fish out when you get the opportunities. To say an ethical man and icon is basically cheating is a bold statement. Proove it or move along.

[5 Dollar Fishing Game]

Just FYI I am watching an episode of bill dance right now. He has legitimately casted and set the hook on every fish. He also has been using the same boat here for 30 minutes. I did not see a diver or one snorkel. :-)

[gripnrip]

Just FYI I am watching an episode of bill dance right now. He has legitimately casted and set the hook on every fish. He also has been using the same boat here for 30 minutes. I did not see a diver or one snorkel. :-)

I'm sure some divers hooked up the fish for these 2 guys as well. 

http://www.tulsaworld.com/sportsextra/article.aspx?subjectid=764&articleid=20130124_29_B2_CUTLIN159487

[SirSnookalot]

Bill Dance et al are simply entertainment, I do find he may be more educational than some of other shows.  Whether the shows are shot in 30 minutes or 30 days, I don't really care.  I'm just watching TV, and when I get tired I change the channel.