Rangerphil Posted February 18, 2014 Posted February 18, 2014 Lately on sportscenter they have been talking about who they would put on their Mt. Rushmore of basketball players. So I thought we should do one for bass fishermen! Mine would go like this: 1. KVD 2. Roland Martin 3. Rick Clunn 4. Bill Dance. Quote
RAMBLER Posted February 18, 2014 Posted February 18, 2014 1. Jimmy Houston 2. Bill Dance 3. Roland Martin 4. Denny Brauer Quote
Hanover_Yakker Posted February 18, 2014 Posted February 18, 2014 Interesting topic.....  I would think the tribute should also include influences on the bass fishing industry as a whole in my book.......  So, I would contend the tribute should include some other important icons in the history of our sport:  1. Ray Scott - BASS founder 2. Forrest L. Wood - founder of Ranger boats 3. Holden Illingworth - creator of the first spinning reel which led to development of the Mitchell 300 4. Gote Borgstrom - creator of the Abu Garcia round baitcast reel (1947)  If we were keeping it to just bass anglers, then I would think the tribute would be subjective to your upbringing and when you were born.....  For me, it would be simple........  1. Hank Parker 2. Roland Martin 3. Bill Dance 4. Jimmy Houston  I grew up in the 70's watching all of their shows. Quote
Super User aavery2 Posted February 18, 2014 Super User Posted February 18, 2014 I think any monument of this type without KVD included on it would be a complete fail. 2 Quote
mrmacwvu1 Posted February 18, 2014 Posted February 18, 2014 Lauri Rapala should have a place on there Quote
Super User deaknh03 Posted February 18, 2014 Super User Posted February 18, 2014 Me + 3 other guys. 3 Quote
Super User Jrob78 Posted February 18, 2014 Super User Posted February 18, 2014 KVD Rick Clunn Roland Martin Bill Dance Quote
Brian Needham Posted February 18, 2014 Posted February 18, 2014 IMO Clunn is a lock..........the other 3 is a big argument. 1 Quote
Super User aavery2 Posted February 18, 2014 Super User Posted February 18, 2014 IMO Clunn is a lock..........the other 3 is a big argument. So just for the sake of discussion what more would a guy like KVD have to do to be considered worthy of this honor? Quote
Brian Needham Posted February 18, 2014 Posted February 18, 2014 So just for the sake of discussion what more would a guy like KVD have to do to be considered worthy of this honor?  I understand that........but ........ when you say Mt. Rushmore, I am thinking founders, trailblazers, profound members that formed the sport into what it is...... just like the Presidents on the mountain.  I just think older........... granted KVD has more than enough "weight" to be included, but perhaps there are some real trailblazing old timers that propelled the sport to the point where KVD even had a chance to fish 20 years ago. IDK cause I am too young to know the early stages of the sport.  that said I don't think we can discount Buck Perry (comes to mind) and those like him to "auto-included" a modern hero, and even still I think KVD could be a great 4th  1 Quote
Super User aavery2 Posted February 18, 2014 Super User Posted February 18, 2014 I understand that........but ........ when you say Mt. Rushmore, I am thinking founders, trailblazers, profound members that formed the sport into what it is...... just like the Presidents on the mountain. Â I just think older........... granted KVD has more than enough "weight" to be included, but perhaps there are some real trailblazing old timers that propelled the sport to the point where KVD even had a chance to fish 20 years ago. IDK cause I am too young to know the early stages of the sport. Â that said I don't think we can discount Buck Perry (comes to mind) and those like him to "auto-included" a modern hero, and even still I think KVD could be a great 4th I understand your point, I was not looking at in that way, I had focused more on the modern era greats. Thanks for the perspective. 1 Quote
Super User flyfisher Posted February 19, 2014 Super User Posted February 19, 2014 Clunn Parker Dance Houston   To me you can't have someone who is not even done their career on a list like this...that and while KVD is good he hasn't changed anything about the game of fishing. Quote
The Rooster Posted February 19, 2014 Posted February 19, 2014 Mount Rushmore is the wrong model to portray the bass anglers. There are just way way too many well deserving people to put on it to limit it to four only. I'm thinking something more along the lines of Easter Island. Google it an you'll understand. 2 Quote
Rangerphil Posted February 19, 2014 Author Posted February 19, 2014 I like seeing everyone's opinion! One thing though to not have KVD on this list whether you like him or not would be a disgrace in my opinion. It would be like not having Jordan on a list for basketball! Thanks for all the replies and keep them coming! Quote
Super User flyfisher Posted February 19, 2014 Super User Posted February 19, 2014 jordan would be 5th on my list as well..... Quote
Super User Fishing Rhino Posted February 19, 2014 Super User Posted February 19, 2014 You'd have to go back further in time than any on the original post. Rushmore is a tribute to our founding fathers.  While all mentioned are notable, any list that does not include Gadabout Gaddis, the Flying Fisherman is incomplete. He was a pioneer in television fishing shows, bringing the sport to the masses.  Without him, and others like him KVD, and his fellow pros would not be where they are today.  The pioneers of fishing belong on Mount Fishmore, not those who are the beneficiaries of the visionary, ground breakers, who made huge contributions that produced fishng as we know it today.   "Roscoe Vernon Gaddis (January 28, 1896 - October 21, 1986), known professionally as Gadabout Gaddis, was a 20th-century American fisherman and television pioneer.[1] Gaddis, an avid fisherman since his youth in Illinois,[2] was also a pilot and adventurer. He began his career in the early days of television by showing his home movies of his fishing expeditions.[3] His show Outdoors with Liberty Mutual was first broadcast in 1939 and was only the second sponsored television show (Lowell Thomas's was the first). The show was eventually carried on 73 stations. Going Places with Gadabout Gaddis in the 1950s was less successful,[4] but beginning in the early 1960s Gaddis starred in The Flying Fisherman, also sponsored by Liberty Mutual. Gaddis would fly to a different location, and fish. The shows were filmed without sound, and Gaddis would add his low-key and folksy narration in the studio.[4] Gaddis was nominated for an Emmy in 1968.[2] Gaddis lived in Bingham, Maine, and Gadabout Gaddis Airport in that town[5] was his base of operations. The airport was built about 1950 and later bought by Gaddis."   http://www.gadaboutgaddis.com/ 3 Quote
dave Posted February 20, 2014 Posted February 20, 2014 Lately on sportscenter they have been talking about who they would put on their Mt. Rushmore of basketball players. So I thought we should do one for bass fishermen! Mine would go like this: 1. KVD 2. Roland Martin 3. Rick Clunn 4. Bill Dance. KVD is the greatest TOURNAMENT fisherman ever. Â A few years ago, Â right before a Classic, Â a very well know pro said that KVD is the only pro that is in every head of every guy in any given tournament. Â Quote
Super User flyfisher Posted February 20, 2014 Super User Posted February 20, 2014 KVD is the greatest TOURNAMENT fisherman ever. Â A few years ago, Â right before a Classic, Â a very well know pro said that KVD is the only pro that is in every head of every guy in any given tournament. Â ehhh....no use arguing because there is no way to ever say who is the best tournament fisherman ever, even if my opinion he is not the best ever. Quote
Super User Catt Posted February 20, 2014 Super User Posted February 20, 2014 Mine would be people who changed bass fishing! Elwood "Buck" Perry: Father of Structure Fishing Dee Thomas: Father of Flipping Nick Creme: Father of Plastics Bill Lewis: Changed Lipless Cranks Alan Stinson: Shaped the future of bass boats in 1978 with Skeeter's Wrangler. Designed Nitro, Champion, & Stratos 2 Quote
Super User Jrob78 Posted February 20, 2014 Super User Posted February 20, 2014 The OP asked about "pro bass fishing."  If it had just been "bass fishing," I don't know that any tournament guys would necessarily belong.  To me, pro bass fishing means tournament fishermen only.  Currently fishing or not, I don't know how you could leave KVD off the list.  Rick Clunn, KVD and Roland Martin are the best (most successful) tournament fishermen to ever fish.  The 4th spot is debatable. 1 Quote
Super User Jrob78 Posted February 20, 2014 Super User Posted February 20, 2014 ehhh....no use arguing because there is no way to ever say who is the best tournament fisherman ever, even if my opinion he is not the best ever. Who would you say is the best tournament fisherman ever? Quote
Super User flyfisher Posted February 20, 2014 Super User Posted February 20, 2014 Who would you say is the best tournament fisherman ever? I am gonna go with rick clunn. To win the biggest tourney on the biggest stage in three different decades with all the new tecnology, gear, baits and increasing competition each year is very impressive. He won his first bassmaster classic when KVD was 8. To be an all time great longevity comes in to play in my mind and while KVD will probably get there evenetually, he just isn't there for me yet. 1 Quote
Super User Oregon Native Posted February 20, 2014 Super User Posted February 20, 2014 Hmmmmmm most influential to the sport of tournament bass fishing: Ray Scott Forest Wood Bass Pro Shops ( dang coffee not strong enough this morning...can't remember his name) Quote
Super User Catt Posted February 20, 2014 Super User Posted February 20, 2014 Uhh tournament fishing started long before Ray Scott! Quote
Super User Fishing Rhino Posted February 20, 2014 Super User Posted February 20, 2014 The old geezers (some deceased) that have been named were professional fishermen in every sense of the word. Without them, or pioneers of the sport like them, there would be no tournament fishing today.  While it may be argued that KVD, or Roland Martin, or (fill in the blank) is the best fisherman of all time, none of them has had the impact on the sport, be it the growth of the sport, or the growth of knowledge about fish and their habits.  The old geezers are the foundation of modern fishing. And there can be no doubt that the foundation of any structure is the most important part of said structure.  Having said that, if you want to discuss tournament anglers, that's another matter. Quote
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.