Famous fisherman who inspired you

[KDW96]

My dad first, Denny Brauer, Rick Clunn

[Brad in Texas]

I'd likely list Jimmy Houston as my top TV fishing personality inspiration. He's a fine angler, for certain, doesn't have a big tournament record that approaches, say, Roland Martin or Bill Dance (not many do), but he is one heck of a good teacher and that is a special skill in and of itself. And, like the other two I've named, he is funny and very personable. If you watch Houston's shows you will note that he boils things down to the essentials in a very clear manner.  

 

From the anglers with great competitive records side of things, Rick Clunn is very insightful as is Aaron Martens who is a real student of the sport and he is constantly sharing his "latest" ideas and refinements. 

 

Brad

[whitwolf]

My daddy introduced me to the sport. He was a meat fisherman and never understood catch and release. That said he taught me the basics and mechanics of fishing, fish identification, how-to clean and fry fish, and a healthy appreciation for the great outdoors. 

 

I would also add the community in general had a great influence on my fishing. I grew up in the rural South and at that time you could ride your bike to numerous fishing spots and there was never a worry about your safety. That community looked out for everyone. There was never a time when l didn't know that if I needed anything on these adventures the nearest house would kindly oblige. And they knew the reverse was true. It was a tremendous time and an outstanding place to grow up. 

 

There were many that would gladly take any fish you took to them and were always more than happy to share their fishing knowledge and on occasion a bait. My daddy and those folks laid the foundation for me to be the fisherman I am today.

[Munkin]

Grew up watching BassMasters on TNN and the Fishing Hole. While I disliked how many times Mcinnis said "Many" on his show it was still good. Jimmy Houston with his spinnerbaits and Rick Clunn were my favorites overall to watch. I must of spent every dime I had as a young teenager on Strike King spinnerbaits and Poes RC baits because they worked on the shows I watched. 

 

Allen

[the reel ess]

BD, Roland, Jimmy. Among active pros (I know Jimmy still competes too) Rick Clunn still inspires me. He's such a student of the game, so to speak. He's no spring chicken and he says he's managed to stay competitive by using his mind and always being open to new ideas and techniques. He's definitely one smart cookie.

 

I've really enjoyed following Takahiro Omori's carreer as well. The first I remember hearing about him was in a documentary about the sport. He had requested through an interpreter to spend some days in the boat with Clunn. They met and Omori went with Clunn in the boat and he only observed. He didn't even bring a rod. RC said it was really odd being watched like that all day. But the two became good friends.

13 hours ago, whitwolf said:

My daddy introduced me to the sport. He was a meat fisherman and never understood catch and release. That said he taught me the basics and mechanics of fishing, fish identification, how-to clean and fry fish, and a healthy appreciation for the great outdoors. 

 

I would also add the community in general had a great influence on my fishing. I grew up in the rural South and at that time you could ride your bike to numerous fishing spots and there was never a worry about your safety. That community looked out for everyone. There was never a time when l didn't know that if I needed anything on these adventures the nearest house would kindly oblige. And they knew the reverse was true. It was a tremendous time and an outstanding place to grow up. 

 

There were many that would gladly take any fish you took to them and were always more than happy to share their fishing knowledge and on occasion a bait. My daddy and those folks laid the foundation for me to be the fisherman I am today.

I grew up in a similar place (not far from you). And my dad also had no use for catch and release. He had this idea that if you didn't eat the fish, it really was never caught. LOL. You don't get to choose where you're born and grow up. But looking back on my early life, I would not have chosen anything different.

[BCline]

On 3/16/2018 at 4:44 PM, DogBone_384 said:

Bill Dance.  It was the only fishing show on up here in the north that I knew of.  

Bill Dance was mine as well.  Now that I am older with a family of my own I realize that his famous tagline may have been slightly errant.  He should have signed off every show with "Do the fish a favor and take a kid fishing"

[DogBone_384]

Glenn took care of that.

[Mr.Gump]

I love Scott Martin YouTube videos. He inspires me a lot tbh.

[J.Vincent]

Saint Peter, Bryan Kerchal, Rick Clunn, Mike Iaconelli, KVD, Jordan Lee and Al Linder

[Rpratt]

 The early days was Bill Dance, Hank Parker, Rick Clunn and Roland Martin. I highly suggest even if you read it years ago, to read Roland Martin's 101 Bass Catching Secrets from I think 1980. I am rereading it now after all these years and it's an eye opener on how they fished then, and how relavant things still are today. 

 

Always been a fan of KVD but I am kind of drawn also to how people teach and how genuine seems to be. Case in point someone like Shaw Grigsby who just oozes genuine excitement after all these years about what he does for a living. It comes across loud and clear that this sport is fun, sometimes extremely frustrating but worth my time, and that I want to pass this on to my kids nephews, nieces friends etc with the same fervor as he does

 

[EGbassing]

Scott Martin, KVD, and Gary Klein.

[Hez]

20 hours ago, Rpratt said:

I highly suggest even if you read it years ago, to read Roland Martin's 101 Bass Catching Secrets from I think 1980. I am rereading it now after all these years and it's an eye opener on how they fished then, and how relavant things still are today. 

 

 

I have that book...but in the beginning of it...Roland makes a statement about Buck Perry and Spoonplugging and how it is non-sense.  

 

Did not agree with that part from Roland and have not picked the book back up since.  

[J Francho]

There's been a few.

 

My Grandpa

My Dad

The guy in a bass boat who was nice enough to explain a Texas rig worm to me, and give me some hooks, weights, and Culprit worms as he passed by our dock

The Hibdons

Denny Brauer

Larry Nixon

[bish0p]

Ernest Hemingway and Gary Loomis.

[toni63]

All of them. Some I don't personally care much for (Ish, Ike to name two) but I still listen to what they say when they pass on tips and advice and watching them be successful doing it gets me itching to go fishing. Regardless of personality, you don't get to that level without knowing a thing or two because you've done a thing or two.

[scaleface]

On 3/21/2018 at 3:42 PM, Active_Outdoors said:

Bryan Kerchal

Heck yeah . He wasnt just happy to be there , he wanted to win .

[shovelmouth83]

Hank Parker was one that really took me in.

[slonezp]

Early inspirations were family. Growing up there was 1 tv in the house and about all I can remember is watching Fred Bear bow hunting before World of Disney came on the tv. Later on we had the Lindners, Babe Winkleman, and Midwest Outdoors. Babe Winkleman was the first pro I ever shook hands with and all I can remember is how tall he was. Can't really say I've been inspired by any pros, just being inspired by the sport itself.

[Shadowfoot]

My Dad, my Grandmother,

and Bill Dance have all been huge influences.

[greentrout]

Many many years ago I received for a Christmas a book by Babe Winkleman on how to catch Large & Small mouth bass. 

 

He devoted an entire chapter to Pattern Fishing How To. The best I've ever read. 

 

In my mind to this day....

[ZebcoZak]

Without a doubt for me it was Babe Winkleman.  I was given the VHS series of his "Good Fishing" show when I was about 12 and I watched them all pretty much non stop for several years.  To this day my brother and I will joke when we say good bye and act like we have a cup of coffee in our hand and say "hey, good fishin'"

 

 

[DINK WHISPERER]

Bill Dance, Roland Martin and Al Lidner. 

[scaleface]

Tom Mann is the only celebrity fisherman I ever met . He Emceed a tourney I was in  and won  . Bad part is I am an avid  Jelly Worm user but that tourney I used a lizard from another manufacturer .I should have used the Jelly worm . He might have rewarded me with a bunch .

[Senko lover]

I don't remember how long ago I joined BR, but in terms of maturity and when I started fishing, I more or less grew up on these forums. Between YouTube and the members on here, my fishing heroes include people like Scott Martin, AJay, Deep, Catt, Buzzed Bait, Bluebasser, the list could go on. 

 

I got to meet Scott Martin a couple years ago. He's a pretty cool guy. And everyone on here has taught me a ton about the sport. One of the coolest things about bass fishing is the way that people pass it on to the next generation .

[A-Jay]

On 3/27/2018 at 7:39 AM, Senko lover said:

I don't remember how long ago I joined BR, but in terms of maturity and when I started fishing, I more or less grew up on these forums. Between YouTube and the members on here, my fishing heroes include people like Gene Jenson, Scott Martin, AJay, Deep, Catt, Buzzed Bait, Bluebasser, the list could go on. 

 

I got to meet Scott Martin a couple years ago. He's a pretty cool guy. And everyone on here has taught me a ton about the sport. One of the coolest things about bass fishing is the way that people pass it on to the next generation .

@Senko lover  ~ September 29, 2014.

You reap what you sow my friend.

A-Jay