Old Bassmasters classics

[bowhunter63]

On you tube they have all the classics from the 70s and 80s.Pretty cool seeing the old days.1981 Stanley Mitchel got a classic win and we graduated High school.We came a long way.

[TheGreatOne]

I like the old classics when guys grew up fishing in ponds and streams and had to learn things pretty much on their own... Now with the Internet, high end electronics and lake map capability, anyone can just jump into fishing and be right up there with or surpass the older pros who came up actually using trial and error... Note the first elite tournament going on at Cherokee lake, these guys use high end electronics to find fish , then drop a little minnow type jig (families) straight down to the fish and a lot of times can see the fish hit the bait... No experience needed... And you look at the top ten most all "this generation " anglers experienced in electronics and Internet.... I enjoyed last years TTBC on Texoma when the lake flooded and the fish followed the rising water, go look at the top 10 there and you see the true fishermen able to find and catch bass with their instincts... Electronics didn't mean that much and that to me is a truly special deal, when you straight up have to find and catch fish without technology... It's really gotten out of hand and a brain will no longer be needed in the future if these companies continue to pump out all this high tech help.. Learn to use technology and that takes you straight to the fish... Instead of learning about the fish... Love those shallow water "real" tournaments 

[lo n slo]

4 hours ago, bowhunter63 said:

On you tube they have all the classics from the 70s and 80s.Pretty cool seeing the old days.1981 Stanley Mitchel got a classic win and we graduated High school.We came a long way.

I was a dock volunteer the year he won a top 100 at Lake Norman. super nice guy, landed a huge kicker on a floating Catalpa worm. big ol bass for that lake at the time.

[OCdockskipper]

1 hour ago, TheGreatOne said:

...anyone can just jump into fishing and be right up there with or surpass the older pros who came up actually using trial and error... Note the first elite tournament going on at Cherokee lake, ... And you look at the top ten most all "this generation " anglers experienced in electronics and Internet...

 

Like you, I personally prefer to fish shallow & watch shallow water tournaments.  However, I think the dismissal of those doing well at Lake Cherokee is a little off:

• While Jacob Wheeler is only 27, he has a tremendous amount of experience and has Aaron Martens type fish-smarts.  Listen to him talk, he is really bright.  Heck, just knowing the rules that he can fish from another guys boat shows how much work he puts into his craft.  Don't forget, he outcranked KVD fishing deep ledges at Kentucky lake a couple years back at BassFest.
   
• Jamie Hartman, while a "rookie" is 44 years old.  He has spent decades fishing and has committed everything to making it in the Elites (sold his house, put his belongings in storage, living on the road).  He was the most consistent guy out there this week.
   
• Jesse Wiggins is a rookie in both experience & age, but appears to be that rare phenom that has great instincts.  He has won in Alabama, in Florida & nearly won here.  Matt Lee described him as being much like his brother Jordan, a bit scattered in everyday life, but knows how to put fish in the boat.

 

Time will tell, but it will be interesting to see how these guys do in some of the more frequent stops like Okeechobee or Toledo Bend.  With more & more of the top FLW guys coming over as well as better & better college anglers joining, the competition level in the Elites is zooming up.

[flyingmonkie]

I've watched all the old classics on YouTube - love them!  I especially love the cheesy production!  The 1976 "Duel at Guntersville" video is narrated by a fat and sassy female bass. 

 

I would have loved to spend an hour with Ray Scott back in the day.  He strikes me as a super friendly, somewhat goofy, uber-confident guy that could sell a Whopper Plopper to a fly fisherman.

[Gundog]

8 minutes ago, flyingmonkie said:

 

 

I would have loved to spend an hour with Ray Scott back in the day.  He strikes me as a super friendly, somewhat goofy, uber-confident guy that could sell a Whopper Plopper to a fly fisherman.

I got to meet Ray Scott at a seminar back in '89 and I'll tell ya the guy is a heck of a speaker and a great showman. He's got more stories than you can believe and is a huge part of American outdoor sports history. 

[scaleface]

My favorite classic is when they put everyone on a plane  and flew them to parts unknown . Didnt announce where they were going until they boarded the plane .Man , that would have been exciting to participate in . Thats a level playing field .

[lo n slo]

I will never forget a young Bryan Kerchal throwing a red shad worm around docks on High Rock Lake. my hero. may he rest in peace.

[Airman4754]

Is that Bill Clinton standing behind Rick Clunn on stage at the 84 Classic?

[tander]

9 hours ago, Mosster47 said:

Is that Bill Clinton standing behind Rick Clunn on stage at the 84 Classic?

 

 

It is, I was there.

[Airman4754]

4 hours ago, tander said:

 

 

It is, I was there.

 

How about that! Two future presidents and Mr. Bass all one one stage.

 

If W, Jeb, and Hillary were there that's three future presidents, a governor, and a Secretary of State all at one weigh-in.

 

Super Bowls don't get that kind of power.