Bass Fishing History

[Big Hands]

On one of my trips to fish in Texas back in the mid-90's, I got the chance to be be introduced to and chat at length with, a gentleman by the name of Earl Golding. Here is a short video about Mr. Golding's contribution to bass fishing.

 

 

[soflabasser]

On 9/9/2020 at 4:14 PM, Mobasser said:

 Do you think that learning about the history of our sport can make you a better fisherman?                                

There are things you can learn about bass fishing history that can make you a better fisherman. For example there are lures that have been used for decades and they still work great today and will continue catching fish in the future. 

[lo n slo]

what an awesome thread ?

[soflabasser]

On 9/9/2020 at 5:57 PM, BrianMDTX said:

History teaches those who are willing to learn. 
 

The ones who figured out how to pattern and catch bass before the modern era learned by experience and observing the natural world. Many anglers, like hunters, tend to forget how fish, fowl and game actually live in nature vs locating them on fish finders or game cameras. 
 

Modern gear is great, but learning how things were done in the past can always help improve the present. 

The best bass fishermen I have met are able to consistently catch bass since they learned how to read the water without the help of modern day fish finders. They can look at a place and tell you where the bass will most likely be while others have to use electronics and get fishing reports to find where the fish are.

[BrianMDTX]

Until I joined BR, I never knew this about Roland Martin:

 

One of those spots paid off big for his Maryland fraternity brother, Chuck Reigner. In 1960, Martin led him to a house foundation in Loch Raven Reservoir, where he later landed the Maryland state record smallmouth at 8-14. Another of Martin’s  college friends, Jerry Sauter, caught a 10-4 largemouth out of Liberty Reservoir from one of his spots.

 

I grew up fishing at Loch Raven and Liberty reservoirs (especially Loch Raven, which was a 60 minute bike ride from my house in Baltimore City. I never knew we fished the same waters. 

[Spankey]

Not that I feel he had the greatest show going at the time but as a man I liked him and sort of liked his message he was sending. That was Jerry McGinnis. I got to meet him on the Delaware River when he was filming for a few days. It was a neat thing at the time. Got a good tip he was going to be there and made it a point to be there. Many moons ago, talking smallies with him was great. His production crew was really not that big on site. 

[Columbia Craw]

I love the history !!!!!!

 

There are so many pioneers that young anglers have never heard of and those innovators paved the way.  NO computer design, no off shore production.  Just trial and error.  Nick Creme, Tom Mann, Bobby Garland, Lonnie Stanley, Cotton Cordell, Gary Yamamoto and the list just goes on.  Rod builders, reel designers, boat makers, electronics.  Remember wearing a vest with patches?  Great memories man. Keep it coming!

[Big Hands]

7 hours ago, Columbia Craw said:

Remember wearing a vest with patches?

 

Great memories man. Keep it coming!

I fished a Pro-Am at Lake Mead in 1991 as a co-angler. I drew Duane "Doc" Watson (ever hear of 'Watson's Wrat'?) for Day 2 who was leading after Day 1. The guy I had fished the first day was pretty average in most respects (probably why I couldn't tell you his name if I tried), but Doc Watson was a pro in every sense of the word. Incredibly detailed in his preparation and focus on what he was there to do. One of the things that really stuck with me (among many) was that his wife met us at the end of the dock and had a fresh polo shirt and vest with all of his sponsors patches on it so he would look sharp for the recorded interview at the weigh-in.

[Guitarfish]

Quite a few years back now I use to shop at Manteca Bass Shop (can't remember the name, but it's Fisherman's Warehouse now, I think).  I asked about flipping and they told me 'You want to talk to Dee Thomas'. There were a bunch of killer bass guys hanging out all the time and Dee had just left.

 

I called him and he took me out, scared the hell out of me speeding thru the delta, and then proceeded to catch big bass all day.  I remember thinking 'why are there no seat belts'? Truly thought he was crazy, lol.

 

He pretty much just fished and talked.  I struggled to catch anything so he finally put me in a spot where I couldn't miss.  I couldn't afford to pay that much too often, but I did learn the basics. I stopped at the store on my way home and bought a Team Daiwa flippin' stick, which I still have. 

 

Just a good ole boy.  And to this day I've never gone on another high powered bass boat.

[Jleebesaw]

Imagine the hrs spent dragging bottom to find structure and cover back in the days before electronics. I know i never fished offshore for bass before i had them. I would think that if you knew a few good offshore spots back then, you could really catch them because few others would know those spots. No secrets out there anymore. 

[DaubsNU1]

Loved learning about fishing from my Dad, Uncle and Grandpa. Watched Virgil Ward, and can probably still sing the entire song : )

 

Crazy how much fishing changes over the years...I haven't fished much in the past 15 years (family and kids stuff).

 

Now just getting back in to it...and loving this forum! I've already placed two big orders from TW...I never heard of Senkos, Houdini shad, or whopper ploppers until recently. Glad that the old worms, spinner baits, jigs, Slug-Go, cranks still catch fish.