Who's the world's best? Who is the greatest bass fisherman of all time? By Craig Lamb BASSMASTER Magazine, Feb. 2005
| |
Debate Count Down
The timeline for The Greatest Angler Debate begins this month and runs through July 31, when the title will be awarded at the CITGO Bassmaster Classic in Pittsburgh. In the meantime, mark your calendars for the following important milestones:
February-March: Fans will cast their votes for the top 10 anglers.
April-July: The Greatest Angler Debate TV series airs during Bass Saturday on ESPN2.
June-July: The debate heats up as fans decide between the top two anglers during a second round of voting at www.bassmaster.com and other platforms to be announced.
July 31: On the final day of the 35th CITGO Bassmaster Classic, the Greatest Angler will be announced in a ceremony that celebrates all 35 "greats" at the final weigh-in.
|
| |
If you could pick between these three titans of professional bass fishing, who would be your choice as the greatest of all time?
None of the above? Maybe your pick would be Bill Dance, possibly bass fishing's most recognizable icon after three decades on TV. Or you might go with Larry Nixon, who came before Brauer as the first man to earn $1 million in cast-for-cash angling.
Who is the greatest bass fisherman of all time? At last year's Classic in Charlotte, ESPN and BASS unveiled a plan to determine the angler to hold the elite title through "The Greatest Angler Debate."
In this distinguished fishing event, the roles will be reversed. Instead of weighing bass to determine who is the best angler, fans will weigh in on the pros to set the record straight. And let it be known up front this is not a fantasy game in which the outcome is played out on a yet-to-be released video game.
This is the real deal. It will be a never-before-determined title and an honor that will certainly draw respect from within and outside the sport of bass fishing.
The Greatest Angler of them all will be unveiled at this year's Classic in Pittsburgh. Until then, voters will be bombarded with a dizzying array of statistics, inside information never before revealed, and other vital intel to help them sort through the list of 10 candidates.
The debate will come alive on ESPN2 through The Greatest Angler Debate series showcasing the top 10 anglers in half-hour profiles. Grab more info on www.bass master.com, where fans eventually will cast their final votes and pore over the details in upcoming issues of Bassmaster. Other promotions are planned across ESPN Outdoors, with the multimedia machine running full throttle until the Classic in Pittsburgh.
As for who made the final Top 10, that process was determined by a blue ribbon panel of outdoor sportswriters who narrowed the field from 35 anglers to the final 10 qualifiers. The criteria for making the list crossed all lines of tournament leagues to provide an unbiased representation of the sport.
The selection committee weighed the following criteria:
Bassmaster Classic championships
Bassmaster Classic qualifications
Bassmaster Angler-of-the-Year titles
BASS tournament victories
Jacobs Cup titles (FLW Tour season championship)
Jacobs Cup qualifications
FLW Angler-of-the-Year titles
FLW tournament victories
The experts who know the sport inside and out have crunched the numbers and weighed in on the qualifying criteria. Now it's your turn to decide. You have the next six months to do your homework before it's time to cast your final vote. Then, you'll want to come to Pittsburgh and meet the man you chose as the Greatest Angler of all time. Or praise your picks that didn't take the title. Either way, you'll be a winner.
BILL DANCE
Career Highlights
8 BMCs fished
8 BASS titles (he won eight of the first 21 events, 1968-1970)
BASS AOY (1970, 1974, 1977)
Cool Quote
"A legend? I'm no different than the guy next door. It embarrasses me when people say that. I've just been very fortunate to come along at the right time. Getting in on tournaments in the early days opened a lot of doors for me."
Factoid
Quit his furniture store salesman job in 1970, the year he was hired by Nick Creme to teach seminars, entertain key vendors and otherwise compete on behalf of Creme Lures. The job even came with a company car.
Career Timeline
1967: Fishes 1st tournament, the All-American
1968: Wins three BASS events
1969: Wins two BASS events
1970: Quits furniture store job, hired by Nick Creme, becomes full-time pro
1970: Wins three BASS events
1970: Wins inaugural BASS AOY title
1970: Hired by Ray Scott on his "Seminar Trail"
1974: Wins 2nd AOY
1977: Wins 3rd AOY
1980: Fishes final BASS event, retires
HANK PARKER
Career Highlights
2 BMC titles (1979, 1989)
13 BMCs fished
5 BASS titles
BASS AOY (1983)
Cool Quote
"The most discouraged I ever got was in 1982. I fished a poor tournament at Lake Wylie. I grew up on that lake and I expected much more. That was my low point, but also my turning point. Had I done well there, I'd have been Angler of the Year."
Factoid
In 1985, Bassmaster claimed Parker as the first angler to win bass fishing's "Grand Slam" after he won the 1985 Super BASS Tournament, the 1983 Angler-of-the-Year title, and the 1979 Bassmaster Classic.
Career Timeline
1975: Entered South Carolina Invitational on Santee Cooper (and bombed)
1978: Joins BASS trail at the age of 27
1979: Wins BMC
1983: Wins 2nd BASS event
1983: Wins BASS AOY title
1985: Wins 3rd BASS title
1985: Wins BASS "Grand Slam"
1985: Hank Parker Outdoors Magazine debuts (syndicated)
1986: Show moves to TNN and stays until 2003
1988: Wins 4th BASS event
1989: Wins BMC
1990: Retires from BASS competition
1993-95: Returns to fish annual Bassmaster SuperStars tournaments
JAY YELAS
Career Highlights
1 BMC title (2002)
14 BMCs fished
5 BASS titles
BASS AOY (2003)
FLW AOY (2002)
Cool Quote
"Looking back, I have to say the move to Texas was a must to accomplish what I have as a pro bass
fisherman."
Factoid
Holds longest "active" BMC streak at 14, tied with Kevin VanDam.
Career Timeline
1987: Moves from California to Phoenix to be more centrally located to western tournaments
1989: Fishes 1st BASS event
1990: Moves to Jasper, Texas to be more centrally located to BASS tournaments
1993: Wins 1st BASS event
1995: Wins 2nd BASS event
1997: Wins 3rd BASS event
2001: Wins 4th BASS event
2002: Wins BMC
2002: Wins FLW AOY title
2003: Wins BASS AOY title
RICK CLUNN
Career Highlights
4 BMC titles (1976, 1977, 1984, 1990)
28 BMCs fished
14 BASS titles
BASS AOY (1988)
Most BMCs Fished (28 consecutive events, a record that will stand for at least the next 14 years)
Most Consecutive BMCs Fished (28)
Heaviest Weight Caught in BMC Competition: 75-9 at 1984 BMC
Cool Quote
"Live your dream! Real dreams are dynamic. There is no final destination. It is more accurately a continuous journey where you experience your higher self in the most intimate way imaginable."
Factoid
Clunn's "business plan" was to quit his $12,000-a-year job as an Exxon computer programmer and try tournament fishing for three years. That was 1976, when he won his first BMC, followed by another the following year.
Career Timeline
1969: Joined a BASS club
1974: Joins BASS Tour
1976: Wins 1st BASS event (BMC)
1977: Wins 2nd BASS event (BMC)
1977: Wins 3rd BASS event
1983: Wins 4th BASS event
1984: Wins 3rd BMC (sets heaviest winning Classic weight with 75-9 catch)
1985: Wins 6th BASS event
1987: Wins 7th BASS event
1988: Wins 8th BASS event
1988: Wins BASS AOY title
1990: Wins 4th BMC
1991: Wins 10th BASS event
1992: Wins 11th BASS event
1994: Wins 12th BASS event
2001: Wins 13th BASS event
2001: Wins 14th BASS event
LARRY NIXON
Career Highlights
1 BMC title (1983)
23 BMCs fished
14 BASS titles
BASS AOY (1980, 1982)
Cool Quote
"I really came close to getting out of tournament fishing completely during the 1977 season. You know who kept me going? Bill Dance. Bill is one of the main reasons I'm where I am now."
Factoid
Nixon earned the nickname "Megaman" after winning four BASS MegaBucks titles in two years.
Career Timeline
1977: Joins BASS tour
1978: Wins 1st BASS event
1979: Wins 2nd BASS event
1980: Wins 3rd BASS event
1980: Wins BASS AOY title
1982: Wins two BASS events
1982: Wins 2nd BASS AOY title
1983: Wins BMC
1986: Wins 7th BASS event
1987: Wins 8th BASS event
1988: Wins 1st MegaBucks title
1990: Wins 2nd MegaBucks title
1990: Wins 3rd MegaBucks title
1991: Wins 4th MegaBucks title
1992: Wins 13th BASS event
1999: Wins 14th BASS event
DENNY BRAUER
Career Highlights
1 BMC title (1998)
18 BMCs fished
BASS AOY (1987)
FLW Tour AOY (1998)
Top Single Season BASS Money winner (1998, $347,000)
BASS All-Time Leading Money Winner
Second in BASS tournament wins (15)
Cool Quote
"It really angered me to loose the 1998 AOY title with a 31 point lead. That was the most frustrating time in my career, because it was the third or fourth AOY race I let slip away. When I get mad, I come back with a vengeance. I got mad and went on to win the '98 Classic."
Factoid
First angler to appear on a Wheaties cereal box … told by General Mills that 75 percent of the 2 million boxes sold in three days.
Career Timeline
1978: Nebraska BASS Federation State Champion
1980: Nebraska BASS Federation State Champion
1981: Moved to Lake of the Ozarks and started guiding on Truman Lake
1982: Goes pro full time
1982: Qualifies for 1st BMC
1984: Wins 1st BASS event
1985: Wins 2nd BASS event
1986: Wins 3rd BASS event
1987: Wins 4th BASS event
1987: Wins BASS AOY title
1990: Wins 5th BASS event
1992: Wins 6th BASS event
1993: Wins 7th and 8th BASS events
1998: Wins 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th BASS events
1998: Wins BMC
1998: Wins FLW AOY title
2002: Wins 13th BASS event
2003: Wins 14th BASS event
2004: Wins 15th BASS event
ROLAND MARTIN
Career Highlights
25 BMCs fished
19 BASS titles (BASS record)
9 BASS AOY titles (BASS record)
Cool Quote
Quote from the 1983 BASS Classic Report:
"I'm 43 years old and I'm in my prime but in another 10 years, I'm going to be too old to fish competitively. At least I'll be too old to fish as well as 30-year-old guys when I'm 50."
Factoid
Denny Brauer is second in BASS wins with 15 and Larry Nixon third with 14, meaning it's logical that based on age and performance, Martin's record will not be broken anytime soon.
Career Timeline
1970: Finished 2nd, 1st, 2nd, 16th , 5th and 2nd in his first BASS season tournaments
1970: Wins 1st BASS event
1971: Wins 2nd BASS event
1971: Wins 1st BASS AOY title
1972: Wins 2nd consecutive BASS AOY title
1972: Wins 3rd and 4th BASS events
1973: Wins 5th, 6th and 7th BASS events
1973: Wins 3rd consecutive BASS AOY title
1975: Wins 8th BASS event
1975: Wins 4th BASS AOY title
1977: Wins 9th BASS event
1978: Wins 10th BASS event
1978: Wins 5th BASS AOY title
1979: Wins 6th BASS AOY title
1980: Wins 11th and 12th BASS events
1981: Wins 13th and 14th BASS events
1981: Wins 7th BASS AOY title
1984: Wins 8th BASS AOY title
1984: Wins 15th and 16th BASS events
1985: Wins 9th BASS AOY title
1991: Wins 17th BASS event
1994: Wins 18th BASS event
1997: Wins 19th BASS event
KEVIN VANDAM
Career Highlights
1 BMC title (2001)
14 BMCs fished
7 BASS titles
13 FLW Championships fished
BASS AOY (1992, 1996, 1999)
ESPY Awards winner (2002)
BASS Elite 50 Points Champion (2004)
FLW AOY (2001)
Cool Quote
"Except for when my kids were born, winning the BMC ranks as the happiest day of my life."
Factoid
VanDam won his first of three BASS AOY titles at the age of 24, the youngest angler to win the title in only his second full year on the tour.
Career Timeline
1985: Michigan BASS Federation AOY runner-up
1985-89: Michigan BASS Federation AOY (twice in four years)
1988: First BASS tournament
1991: Goes full time on BASS tour
1991: Wins 1st BASS event
1992: Wins 1st BASS AOY title
1995: Wins 2nd BASS event
1996: Wins 2nd BASS AOY title
1997: Wins 3rd and 4th BASS events
1999: Wins 5th and 6th BASS events
1999: Wins 3rd BASS AOY title
2001: Wins BMC
2001: Wins FLW AOY title
2002: Wins ESPY Award
2004: BASS Elite 50 Points Champion
MARK DAVIS
Career Highlights
1 BMC title (1995)
13 BMCs fished
4 BASS titles
BASS AOY (1995, 1998, 2001)
Cool Quote
"I don't want to be rich. I don't want to be famous. All I ever wanted was to make a living and enjoy fishing, which I really do. I've never gotten tired of it and hopefully never will."
Factoid
Davis claimed the highlight of his reign as BMC champion was a trip to The White House, where his family met with fellow Arkansan President Bill Clinton.
Career Timeline
1984: Joins BASS tour
1995: Wins BMC
1995: Wins 1st BASS AOY title
1998: Wins 2nd BASS AOY title
2001: Wins 3rd BASS AOY title
2004: Wins 2nd, 3rd and 4th BASS events
GARY KLEIN
Career Highlights
22 BMCs fished
6 FLW Championships fished
8 BASS Titles
BASS AOY (1989, 1993)
Cool Quote
"When I left California in 1979, I knew that in order to succeed I had to keep a flipping stick in my hand. I never prefished anything. All I carried with me that year were five flipping sticks."
Factoid
Klein was nearly broke — down to his last $20 — when he won the 1979 BASS Arizona Invitational, an event credited for launching his stellar career.
Career Timeline
1979: Fishes 1st BASS event
1979: Wins 1st BASS event
1981: Fishes Texas Invitational in November and then returns to California to start "Tournament Lures, Inc."
1983: Returns to 1983-84 trail and qualifies for BMC
1985: Wins 2nd BASS event
1988: Wins 3rd BASS event
1989: Wins 4th BASS event
1989: Wins BASS AOY title
1990: Wins 5th BASS event
1993: Wins 6th BASS event
1993: Wins BASS AOY title
1996: Wins 7th BASS event
2003: Wins 8th BASS event
|
|
