Where the heck is Bill Dance fishing?????

[boat fisher]

Yes indeed,Bill has a fine show.Can't fish in the winter so watching Bill

fish is intertaining...Can't wait till spring or a warm day in Jan...

[Strike King]

Bill Dance was fishing with Ben on the show "The Next Generation"  today ...good show.. Did anyone else see it?

[Glenn]

If you notice Roland Martin,Hank Parker and Jimmy Houston had no problem fishing against pros in tournaments and tended to put up a respectable showing.

Respectable showing against pros?  Son, I think it's time you brush up on your anglers.

Roland Martin

He holds the records for most tournaments won at 19 and most B.A.S.S. Angler-of-the-Year titles at nine. In addition, he has made 25 appearances in the BASS Masters Classic.  He also holds the record of 20, for 2nd place BASS finishes.

Roland Martin was the first professional bass fisherman to be inducted into all three Halls of Fame:

IGFA  Hall of Fame

Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame

Professional Bass Fishing Hall of Fame

Hank Parker

Hank's professional fishing career begin in 1976 when he began fishing the National Bass Association Tournament Circuit, winning their national championship in his first season. The following two years he fished both the National Bass Association and American Bass Association. Hank then began fishing the Bass Anglers' Sportsmen's Socitey (B.A.S.S.) Tournament Trail-winning the BassMaster's Classic in both 1979 and 1989. He also was the first angler to win the Grand Slam of Bass Fishing, which included the Classic, B.A.S.S. Angler of the Year, and the B.A.S.S. SuperBass Tournament. Hank finished "in the money" in 76% of all the tournaments he fished during his B.A.S.S. career

Jimmy Houston:

Since winning The Oklahoma State Championship as a college senior in 1966, Jimmy Houston has gone on to win over a million dollars in bass tournaments. He has fished 15 BASSMaster Classics and won the B.A.S.S. Angler of the Year title in both 1976 and 1986.

A legendary angler, Jimmy was inducted in to the National Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame in 1990 and the Professional Bass Fishing Hall of Fame in 2002. He was inducted into the IGFA Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame and the Legends of the Outdoors Hall of Fame in 2008. Jimmy was named King of Sports for Fishing in 1989.

In June of 2004, the Jim Thorpe Association recognized Jimmy as the Jim Thorpe Man of the Year.

I can only hope to be half as respectable as them!

[Catt]

They did it without all the gadgets & gismos of today; just simple techniques used to perfection.

But K.I.S.S. don't work  

[cart7t]

They did it without all the gadgets & gismos of today; just simple techniques used to perfection.

But K.I.S.S. don't work

No kidding.

There were no BASS universities to attend, no bass fishing DVD's, bass websites, no Bass Pro Shops, no real industry geared towards bass fishing like there is today, nor any other pro's to learn from because they were the first pro's.  They broke the ground and built the foundation.  Virtually everything they discovered in their fishing is just as relevant today as it was back then.

All of bass fishing owes them a great deal of gratitude for their accomplishments.  

[Cravin]

Sorry if I didn't come off with a little more enthusiasm and stats but honestly I don't dig that deep into who's who in this sport. I love to fish and I like to watch fishing shows, I'm just not that deep studied I guess. A few more years around you guys and I guess I'll be straightened  out on a lot of it, But saying that, I'll tell you what I have learned watching these guys, Roland Martin and a few of these guys (Hank And Houston) had a bit of angst going. The "H" guys made a few little comments referring to a said angler without naming him and the fight was on! I don't know who really started it but that was fun.  Then Jimmy stated that the style of fishing was actually "Oklahoma-rig" not "Texas-rig", More fun. Being a native "Okie" I actually met Jimmy at one of many tackle shows that these guys had me going to.  Not a very big guy, but he still seemed like a giant! Then the buying started! I have the ugliest baby blue and yellow "Fat free shad"with Bill Dance's name on it, I think he signed mine personally! My fist Zara Spook,and countless other lures and new colors. They had me switching blades on my spinners, got me to try out Spiderwire, using anus oil as a sent, checking out the farmers almanac, a barometer, checking moon phases' learned to tie a Palamar knot and trying new fishing techniques. I can say "yes" I do know how successful this men are, but only from a different angle.

I'm sure this is just a drop in the bucket as for all these guys have done for me personally and I appreciate you guys giving me the history lesson on the career's, That's why I come to these forums! 8-)

[Black Bass]

The New Year is starting out with many more fishing shows on TV.  This morning, on ESPN2, Outdoor and VS, I've watched BassMasters, Dance, Linder, Parker and Grimsby. And, there are more coming up. Today you can watch fishing shows from early am 'till 4 pm. Yahoo!

[SnowBass23]

For everyone complaining that he only catches big fish, I know what you mean!  They always do that crap on hunting shows too...  Host walks out into the woods, sets up a stand, and 10 minutes later a trophy walks along.  I'd much rather watch the other 6 hours that guy sat in the stand freezing his butt off!   8-)

[.Paxamus.]

First, I am glad that there are still sane people out there who recognize and respect what Bill Dance, Jimmy Houston, Roland Martin, Hank Parker, and others have done for our sport.  Second , it is soap box time.  I have had the privledge of meeting Bill Dance twice, once when I was about six and another when I was in my late twentys.  He was as nice at six as he was twenty years later.  When most kids were looking up to Bo Jackson, I wanted to be Bill Dance (minus the Tennesse hat).  He is a great guy and an excellent fisherman.  As far as Roland Martin, Bill Dance, and others endorsing various things,  They have to!!  The money then and the money now are on two ends of the spectrum.

Ok off of the soap box,  yes most of his fishing is done in private lakes and ponds throughout the sotheast, but it doesn't matter because I just want to be fishing with him.

[moloch16]

You know it's funny this must be thread number 150,333 wondering if Bill can catch a bass in public water.  I think Bill should do Day on the Lake.  It would be d**n entertaining.

[BassBandit35]

You know it's funny this must be thread number 150,333 wondering if Bill can catch a bass in public water.  I think Bill should do Day on the Lake.  It would be d**n entertaining.

He won't leave his Color-C-Lector home without it. :

[Jayman139]

My friends grandparents own a private lake in southern Mississippi he has used to film a few shows......I have fished there and done extremely well.  Low Pressure in private lakes....makes for good fishing.

[shagnasty]

Bill Dance is the only man that can catch a huge large jaw in a dry mud puddle on a paved road, but I love to watch him and would love to have the honor to fish with him

[RHuff]

The reason all you see is Bill Dance catching 3 and 4 pounders is:

A. he catches many bass that size and smaller, and larger in front of the camera 

B. he is has very good editors who put the episodes together for him depicting what catches he wants to showcase based on the lesson or point he's trying to make

[Big Rick]

14 years later.....

 

Wow. 

[Zcoker]

Just because these guys catch bigger fish doesn’t necessarily mean that they fish exclusively in private managed ponds. 

Probably need to watch a few of Roland Martian’s videos. He fishes public waters and catches 8-9 pounders rather frequently. Sometimes out of a canoe. I know a lot of his fishing spots. I’ve bumped into him from time to time. He has the same chances as anyone else. Yet he pulls in absolute giants. Amazing skills all these guys have! 

[volzfan59]

I love to watch Bill Dance's shows, don't care where they are filmed or how long it takes. A member of the TN Wildlife Resources Agency told me three days is allotted for each show. 

 

Anyone that says that Bill was an "average fisherman" before or during his B.A.S.S. career doesn't know their bass fishing history.