Famous Fisherman Who Inspired You

[NavyToad]

I saw Denny Brauer at a Bass Master 3 day seminar back in the ‘90s. I don’t know that he inspired me, but he made a lasting impression and is my all-time favorite.

[Darth-Baiter]

Roland and Bill Dance back in the day.  I would be so amazed at how many fish they got.  magic of film editing, a concept that escaped my young impressionable mind.  but I would NOT say they influenced me in any way.

 

today?  I credit Blanchard for getting me off the covid-couch routine and into a kayak.  he fishes local to me, and made it look fun as heck.  I had that, "hey, I can do that" epiphany and the rest is history. 

[TomG73]

On 1/25/2023 at 10:48 AM, Jar11591 said:

I grew up watching Bill Dance and Roland Martin, so those 2 really stick out in my mind. I think watching them really enforced my love of bass fishing. I will never forget the theme songs for those 2 shows. Not many days go by without me singing them at least once. 
 

I was always appreciative of Aaron Marten’s finesse, northern style of fishing. I felt like I could really relate to that. His calm, soft spoken demeanor was a welcome contrast to some of the more animated folks on the tours. Made his information much more digestible. RIP. 
 

Honorable mention goes to Larry Czonka. I know, he’s a famous football player, not fisherman. Not sure how many remember his show “North to Alaska”, where he would fish and hunt the whole state, but I was hooked on that show. Watching it before I went to school or any chance I got really helped foster a love for the outdoors and being a sportsman as well. 

Who can forget the hank Parker music / jingle also lol. Hank, bill, Roland are some good oldies, but I have to say my favorite fishing show of all time is Zonas worlds greatest fishing show.

[TomG73]

On 1/25/2023 at 11:51 AM, Zcoker said:

I met Roland Martin some 30 years ago at a local tackle store in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. He was giving some sort of seminar there, so I stuck around for a while and listened to his speech. Seemed interesting enough and did get my attention. I really can't say that he "inspired" me, as I was more into the salty side of the world. Remained in that world for a long, long time. It was some 30 years later that I got back into freshwater bass fishing and started watching some of his fishing videos. My, how things had changed! He had changed hardly at all! Roland didn't seem a year older lol. Anyhow, I watched some of his current videos more because they related to my fishing area, which is the Florida Everglades and Fellsmere. His topics and presentations were spot on for those areas. So I guess he inspired me in that kind of way. 

Roland’s son Scott Martin has a great YouTube selection as well, I met Scott at my work(Bucee’s) about two months ago. I seen the fancy rig pulling up and ran out there to meet him and got a pic, checked out his rig which was awesome.

[Justbass11]

Growing up I would say Bill dance and Roland Martin. I watch these guys when I was a kid. When I started local tournaments back in 2000 It was Hank Parker. And then I would say Gerald Swindell. Those are the three I would watch most. I Was able to meet Gerald Swindell and Hank Parker within the last couple years, and Bill dance at the bass master classic expo and 2018 when it was at Lake Hartwell. But my wife would say I love watching fishing if I’m not fishing for Bass.

[Woody B]

I've never "followed" fishing.  When I was a kid I watched Virgil Ward all the time.  I've got the song from the show in my head right now.   

 

[T-Billy]

Bill, Roland, Jerry, Babe... Saturday mornings when I was a kid. Right after cartoons and before big time rasslin. Also the Linders with Fishing Facts magazine.

[WRB]

On 1/25/2023 at 8:35 AM, LrgmouthShad said:

I was familiar with members on here before I was familiar with members on the pro circuit. For that reason, the first fisherman that inspired me is @WRB. There are a lot of great fisherman on this site, but @WRB’s big bass and his intricate knowledge of bass fishing was just stunning to me when I first scrolled bassresource. So, thank you sir for what you continue to contribute. 
 

After that, as I became familiar with the pro circuit, Greg Hackney inspired me because of his fishing style.

 

Bill Murphy then inspired me because of his book

I can’t express how good this compliment makes me feel, it’s the reason I share my experience??

Tom

[N Florida Mike]

Bill Dance, Roland Martin, Hank Parker , Shaw Grigsby.

I used to enjoy in fisherman too, to find out how the heck they did fishing up there. I think their show was the first time I ever heard of walleyes and muskys, lol.

My dad taught me the basics. 2 friends probably influenced me the most with bass fishing: Bob Scott taught me bass fishing basics, and Billy Hood taught me the finer points…

And Ive learned a lot on my own, and on bass resource, of course…

[Woody B]

In my previous post I was talking about when I was a kid.   Several people here influence me.  I hate to name them because I'm sure I'd leave someone out.  

 

I love fishing, but have conversations with myself in my head while I'm fishing.   Terms and phrases like "life zone",  "learn to catch pressured fish", and "don't leave bass to find bass".  Go through my mind almost every fishing trip.   

My boat and fishing tackle are somewhat of a mess, but one certain smallmouth slayer is an inspiration for organization.   My stuff would be an even bigger mess if it weren't for this person.  

[DogBone_384]

Bill Dance, Roland Martin, and @Fishing Rhino.

[Catt]

Understanding the spawn

Ken Cook & Shaw Grigsby 

 

Ken Cook probably understood the spawn better than anyone I ever talked to.

 

Shaw Grigsby is one of the best sight fishermen ever. He taught me the 3 tap theory. Shaw would talk your ears off on any fishing related story.

 

On a few occasions I met Gary Yamamoto, Ben Matsubu, & Takahiro Omori at the cafes and boat launches around Toledo Bend and Rayburn.

[OkobojiEagle]

most influential to my fishing... Al Lindner and Jerry McKinnis, but none more than Dick Bengraff.

 

oe

[Team9nine]

3 hours ago, OkobojiEagle said:

most influential to my fishing... Al Lindner and Jerry McKinnis, but none more than Dick Bengraff.

 

oe

“Mr. Jig” ?

[bulldog1935]

When I gave a talk on white bass to a local fly fishing club, described myself as "Always been the tough to mentor type." 

I know I offended Joe Robinson on more than one occasion - I balk when someone wants to take me under their wing. 

When I kept a fishing journal, the first line was, "I've been trying to teach my dad to fish since I was 12." 

As a kid we had 3 channels, plus bullfights on UHF.  Tough to call Virgil Ward inspirational. 

But I was inspired watching Jim Thomas Outdoors. 

[OkobojiEagle]

51 minutes ago, Team9nine said:

“Mr. Jig” ?

Yes indeed... a wealth of knowledge about fishing smallmouth in the clear waters of Lake Beauchene. He's quietly passed from any social media presence that I've found.

[Johnbt]

The guy that's taught me to bass fish during the past 45 years used to be with a Shimano-affiliated group that fished a regional circuit and worked shows and such. I heard about a bunch of people that influenced him. I've never fished a tournament fwiw. One time when Roland Martin came to town they asked my friend to take Roland to Lake Anna (13000 acres) and show him how the fishing was - largemouth and striped bass/rockfish. I've heard a lot of secondhand stuff over the decades.

 

This is the guy who got me a real deal (among many) on the original Shimano Bait Runner 4500 I showed the other day in the Shimano thread. It was a show sample, in the box and for less than half price it looked new.

_____________

 

And I'd like to mention regional tv star Franc White, The Southern Sportsman. Not because he taught me to bass fish, but because he was a weekly reminder to go outside and do something.

 

"RALEIGH, N.C. — “Do yourself a favor, take a kid fishing.”

The words were uttered so routinely by Franc White. He closed his weekly show, “The Southern Sportsman,” with them 1,087 times over 24 years {'72 - '96}. They carried such little burden but such profound fervor."

 

"However, he is best known as an expert outdoor sportsman, writer, and conservationist. He made the Southern Sportsman show an institution in households throughout the South and even as far as California for over 25 years."

 

 

[jbmaine]

Not so much bass, I grew up watching the American Sportsman, Lee Wulf, Curt Goudy. I also Liked Gadabout Gaddis.

Gadabout Gaddis - Fishing USA part 1- Maine - circa 1969. - Bing video

[heavyduty]

20 hours ago, T-Billy said:

 Right after cartoons and before big time rasslin. 

Rasslin....Love it!!

[a1712]

I don't think most would think he was famous, but the Man who tought me the most about Bass fishing was a local gentleman named Don Shade. He was on the Pro Staff of some different Companies. Like Mepp's etc.. Being I didn't have anyone in my family that seriously fished, and I loved to fish, my Mother knew him and ask him to take me. He mentored me a lot and I cherished every time he'd take me and I hope he knew how much it meant to me. He's now passed but I still think back on our many trips and truly miss my Pap Shade. Brian. 

As a side note. Look up the PA State Record Largemouth Bass, that's him.

[Hook2Jaw]

I'm a big fan of Gerald Swindle, the man is hilarious and he's the reason I carry a TON of jig colors; a black one and a brown one.  A-Mart, RIP, is another big favorite of mine for the already mentioned soft-spoken nature and his finesse fishing abilities.  I also like to watch Takahiro Omori throw a bladed jig around in addition to his squarebills.

[Zcoker]

On 1/27/2023 at 5:16 PM, TomG73 said:

Roland’s son Scott Martin has a great YouTube selection as well, I met Scott at my work(Bucee’s) about two months ago. I seen the fancy rig pulling up and ran out there to meet him and got a pic, checked out his rig which was awesome.

 

I've seen some of his son's videos. Seems like he's following in his father's footsteps! Out of curiosity, I've always wondered if there's some sort of bad blood between the two because I hardly ever hear Roland speak about his son or include him in any of his many videos. Heck, if any of my sons shared the same vigor that I have about bass fishing they'd be in every video that I made! Yet I never see Roland share any of that kind of family enthusiasm with his son. Maybe that's just the way it is in the YouTube world lol.

 

 

 

[killobet]

For me its Arron Martens. Bless his soul.. He was a Castaic lake fisherman  which happens to be my home lake.

Learn alot specially drop shotting from him.

[TomG73]

7 hours ago, Zcoker said:

 

I've seen some of his son's videos. Seems like he's following in his father's footsteps! Out of curiosity, I've always wondered if there's some sort of bad blood between the two because I hardly ever hear Roland speak about his son or include him in any of his many videos. Heck, if any of my sons shared the same vigor that I have about bass fishing they'd be in every video that I made! Yet I never see Roland share any of that kind of family enthusiasm with his son. Maybe that's just the way it is in the YouTube world lol.

 

 

 

I was wondering the same thing because it seems none of the videos in the past year or more from either have them together. 

[WRB]

2 people got me into bass fishing, Jason Lucas of Sports Afield Fishing editor of magazine and my older brothers boss Red manager of Pleasure Point Boat Landing Big Bear Lake, California. 

Red subscribed to Sports Afield and I read the magazine at the Boat Landing while my bother worked there. Red encourage me to bass fish and thought me how to cast.

Jason Lucas became my pen pale answering my letters writing back to me. I was 12 when buying my 1st rod & reel that Jay suggested by helping my brother at the Landing all summer. My 1st combo was a Langley 340 Target reel and Connolin Feather Lite rod. The 340 Target didn’t have a level wind so I bought a 330 Lure Cast the next summer. 

Sold my Target 2 year ago to a BR member, still have my Lure Cast, the rod is long gone.

Tom