1982 Bassmaster Trail Part 1 Bass Fishing Archives B.A.S.S. -

Today in 1982 Bassmaster Trail Part 1, we’re going to look into the first half of the 1981/82 season. It was a season that was good for some of the household names on the trail, and one to be forgotten by others. For the third year in a row, the Bassmaster Tournament Trail would be split into two “Leagues” with an overall Angler of the Year determined by the pros who fished both East and West divisions.

The 1981/82 Trail would be the richest in history, with more than $650,000 in cash and prizes awarded over the 7 regular-season events and the Classic. The trail would again start in November of 1981 with an event held on Toledo Bend and then the rest of the events would be in the 1982 calendar year.

1981-82 BASS Tournament Trail Pages D and E

Each regular season event would hand out more than $75,000 based on a full field of 250 anglers. As in past years, the winner of the event would receive a cash award of $5,000 and a Ranger boat. Big fish winner would receive a Ranger boat and new this year, some lucky contestant would win a Hydra-Sports boat through a random drawing after the final weigh-in.

There would be three events in the Eastern Division and three events in the Western Division. To determine the Bassmaster Angler of the Year, they would fish the B.A.S.S. Champs event, where the top anglers from both divisions would compete for the coveted award.

Let’s look at the schedule for 1981/82.

Western League

Texas Invitational, Toledo Bend Reservoir, November 18-20, 1981

Louisiana Invitational, Lake Bistineau, February 17-19, 1982

Missouri Invitational, Lake of the Ozarks, April 21-23, 1982

Eastern League

Florida Invitational, Lake Okeechobee, March 24-26, 1982

South Carolina – Hungry Fisherman Invitational, Lake Wylie, May 26-28, 1982

Alabama Invitational, Lake Eufaula, June 16-18, 1982

East-West League B.A.S.S. Champs

Cincinnati Invitational, Ohio River, July 21-23, 1982

Chapter Federation

BASSMaster Chapter Championships, To Be Determined by each Division

BASS Masters Classic

October 10-16, 1982, Site to be determined

Due to the confusion in 1980/81 regarding what it took to qualify for the 1981 BASS Masters Classic, and probably some unhappy anglers, the rules were changed again this year.

For the 1982 Classic, the top 15 anglers in the overall AOY Race would make it into the Classic. Then the top 10 anglers from each league would also qualify. If an angler double qualified, they would go down the list in the League standings. The Classic field would also include five anglers from the Federation.

Ray Scott knew he had a goldmine in the Classic and the change in format was meant to get more local anglers involved in the events. More local anglers meant bigger fields, which meant more money. But, from the results of the 80/81 season, more new faces made it to the Classic.

Okay, on to the events.

Texas Invitational, Toledo Bend Reservoir Western League

In the past, records had fallen at Toledo Bend and the 1981/82 tournament was looking to be another one for the books. Unfortunately, no one told Mother Nature about the tournament, or maybe they did.

Weather during the practice period was picture perfect. Then, on the eve of the event, a nasty cold front blew into the area dropping the temperatures into the 30s accompanied by 30-mph winds. But Tommy Martin didn’t let a little weather get to him. After guiding on the lake for over a decade, Martin knew the patterns of the fish. On the first day of competition, Martin weight in a seven-bass limit of 35-02, breaking his one-day Bassmaster record set the year before on the same lake.

Tommy Martin captures the win on Toledo Bend, March 1982. Bassmaster Magazine.

Martin was fishing “moss,” what we’d today call grass. He was targeting contours in the grass beds in the 20- to 25-foot depths with a jig and eel. Martin’s fish were not scattered, but were bunched up, most likely due to the weather patterns that had come in.

He was only able to find four spots of fish in practice, mainly due to boat troubles he had during the practice period. After practice, he ended up having to borrow a boat for the tournament.

On day two of the event, Martin again got on the fish, but not as good as the day before. He weighed 22-03 and took a commanding lead with 57-05. To bring this into perspective, Roland martin, the winner in 1981, blanked the first two days.

The final day saw Tommy Martin again bring seven fish to the scales, this time weighing 24-05, upping his total for three days to 81-10. His margin of victory was nearly 20 pounds over former Toledo Bend guide Harold Allen, who had 63-15 (19 fish) for the three-day event.

Third place went to Louisiana angler and 1980 BASS Masters Classic winner, Bo Dowden. Dowden weighed in 20 fish for 62-10. From there, the weights dropped dramatically with Kenneth Walker (TX), weighing in 12 fish for 36-13 and fourth place, and David Wharton (TX), with 35-06 (11 fish) for fifth.

Out of 286 anglers fishing the event, 43 blanked and to get into the top 40 you only needed 17-01.

So, how did Tommy Martin catch his fish? Reading between the lines, Martin caught his fish most likely punching. He was quoted saying that most anglers couldn’t get their baits down to the fish through the grass. His gear was a Flippin’ Stik coupled with 17-pound Trilene XT line and a 1/2-ounce Mister Twister or 5/16-ounce Stanley Jig (black and blue), with an Uncle Josh 800 Lizard as a trailer.

Allen, in second place, used a jig-n-pig too, but concentrated in 18- to 20-feet of water fishing wood.

Bo Dowden mirrored Martin’s technique, concentrating on hydrilla with a jig-n-pig.

For the Top 40 standings, please see the table below.

BASS Master Texas Invitational West League Toledo Bend Scorecard - November 18-20, 1981
Place	Angler	Bass/Alive	Weight, lbs-ozs	Award
1	Thomas Martin	21/21	81 - 10	$12,000
2	Harold Allen	19/19	63 - 15	$4,000
3	Villis Dowden	20/20	62 - 10	$3,000
4	Kenneth Walker	12/12	36 - 13	$2,500
5	David Wharton	11/11	35 - 6	$1,700
6	Ken D Cook	11/11	31 - 4	$1,600
7	George Bowman	12/12	31 - 2	$1,500
8	John Torian	11/11	29 - 15	$1,400
9	Bobby Ditto	14/14	29 - 8	$1,300
10	Newton Ford	10/10	29 - 4	$1,200
11	Fred Lewis	8/8	27 - 11	$1,100
12	Ralph Yelverton	6/6	26 - 7	$1,950
13	John Mclain	7/7	26 - 6	$1,100
14	Glen Teer	8/8	26 - 3	$1,100
15	Randell Seward	8/8	25 - 8	$1,100
16	Cliff Craft	10/10	25 - 6	$1,000
17	Robert Stevenson	13/13	25 - 2	$1,000
18	Randy Behringer	8/8	24 - 6	$1,000
19	Maurice Jackson	10/10	24 - 4	$1,000
20	Greg Hines	11/11	24 - 0	$1,000
21	Ronnie Young	11/11	23 - 8	$900
22	Jerry Johnston	8/8	22 - 8	$900
23	Guy Eaker	10/10	22 - 2	$900
24	Marvin Baker	7/7	21 - 12	$900
25	Lendell Martin	10/10	21 - 11	$900
26	Larry Nixon	11/11	21 - 9	$800
27	William Vanover	9/9	21 - 7	$800
28	Robert Hale	7/7	20 - 15	$800
29	Rick Clunn	12/12	20 - 1	$750
30	Edward Schlein	8/8	19 - 7	$750
31	William Sparks	6/6	19 - 4	$600
32	Charles Hisgen	7/7	18 - 12	$7,200
33	Randy Dearman	6/6	18 - 1	$600
34	Glenn Montgomery	7/7	17 - 13	$600
35	Lonnie Stanley	7/7	17 - 13	$600
36	Clark Crenshaw	8/8	17 - 11	$600
37	Kelous Kizer	7/7	17 - 7	$500
38	Gary Klein	9/9	17 - 6	$500
39	Dave Smith	9/9	17 - 2	$500
40	Guido Hibdon	5/5	17 - 1	$500
Daily Lunker Leaders
	Angler, State		Weight, lbs-ozs	Award
Day 1	Charles Hisgen, IN		7-00	$6,600
Day 2	Ralph Yelverton, LA		7-00	$850
Day 3	Loyd McEntire, IN		6-15	$350
The Box Score
	Day 1	Day 2	Day 3	Total
Total Weight, lbs-ozs	966-14	763-10	859-07	2,589-15
Bass Weighed-in	392	330	354	1,076
7-Bass Limits	5	1	4	10
Bass Alive Weighed-in	392	330	354	1,076
NOTE: A penalty of two ounces was subtracted for each dead bass. Winner Award consisted of $5,000 Cash and a $7,000 Ranger Boat. Overall Big Fish Award was $6,600 Ranger Boat Rigged with trailer, charger, kill switch, lowrance flasher and Surface Fish-n-Temp, and Johnny Reb TectrAnchor.

Louisiana Invitational, Lake Bistineau, Western League

The second event of the season and the second event for the Western League was held at a new body of water for B.A.S.S., Lake Bistineau in Louisiana. Known as the dead sea to the locals, Bistineau would prove tough for most of the anglers, but there are always a few who catch them.

After coming from a dismal showing at the opener on Toledo Bend, Roland Martin opened up the first two rounds as the leader with 33-04. Larry Nixon, of the fearless Hemphill Gang and 1980 AOY, was in second place, after weighing only one fish the first day, with 28-11. In 3rd place sat Rick Clunn with 25-09. Lonnie Stanley took up the fourth spot and Denny Brauer rounded out the top five.

At the end of the final day of competition, Roland Martin was only able to bring two fish (7-04, to the scales. With a total of 40-08, this opened the door for Nixon and possibly Clunn.

Nixon then came to the scales with six bass weighing 18-06. This gave him a total of 14 bass and 47-01. Lonnie Stanley would move past Clunn and take the third-place spot with 11 bass weighing 36-15. Clunn dropped a position and weighed 36-07, and Denny Brauer placed in fifth.

Larry Nixon triumphs on Lake Bistineau. May-June Bassmaster Magazine.

Nixon’s winning pattern for the event consisted of fishing grass with, you guessed it, a jig-n-pig. His jig of choice was a 3/8-ounce Arkie Jig (black and blue and black and red) tipped with a #11 Uncle Josh pork frog (black).

Overall the event was a tough nut to crack and to get into the top 40, one only needed 12-05. Out of 228 anglers, 70 blanked.

For the complete listing of the top 40, please see the table below.

BASS Master Louisiana Invitational West League Lake Bistineau Scorecard - February 17-19, 1982
Place	Angler, State	Bass/Alive	Weight, lbs	Award
1	Larry Nixon	14/14	47.0625	$12,350
2	Roland Martin	13/13	40.5	$4,000
3	Lonnie Stanley	11/11	36.9375	$3,000
4	Rick Clunn	11/11	36.4375	$2,500
5	Denny Brauer	14/14	36.25	$1,700
6	H J Stevens	9/9	29.5625	$1,600
7	Marvin Baker	10/10	29.0625	$1,500
8	Ralph Yelverton	9/9	27.5	$1,400
9	Cliff Craft	10/10	24.9375	$1,300
10	Rayborn Waits	9/9	24.75	$1,200
11	Jim Culp	6/6	23.875	$1,100
12	Charles Branton	7/7	23.4375	$1,100
13	Newton Ford	6/6	23.3125	$1,100
14	Maurice Jackson	9/9	22.0625	$1,100
15	Hank Parker	5/5	20.1875	$1,100
16	Bill Ward	8/8	19.8125	$1,000
17	Gary Yelverton	6/6	19.6875	$1,000
18	Ronnie Young	8/8	19.1875	$1,000
19	John Mckinnon	8/8	18.0625	$1,000
20	Jerry Rhyne	4/4	17.375	$7,600
21	Villis Dowden	6/6	17.0625	$8,900
22	Kenneth Walker	5/5	17.0625	$900
23	Harold Allen	6/6	17	$900
24	Thomas Martin	7/7	16.6875	$900
25	Jack Westberry	5/5	16.5625	$850
26	Guy Eaker	7/7	16.5625	$850
27	Mark Evans	6/6	15.9375	$800
28	James Brower	4/4	15.6875	$800
29	David Wharton	6/6	15.5	$750
30	Russell Floyd	5/5	15	$750
31	Tommy Griffis	7/7	14.9375	$600
32	Randy Fite	3/3	14.6875	$1,450
33	Shorty Evans	5/5	14.5625	$600
34	Jim Mckay	5/5	14.375	$600
35	Lendell Martin	5/5	14.1875	$600
36	William Sparks	6/6	14	$600
37	Robert Stevenson	4/4	13.1875	$500
38	J A Hinely	5/5	12.6875	$500
39	Gordon Kralovetz	5/4	12.375	$500
40	Eddie Bowden	4/4	12.3125	$500
41	Roy Mccollough	?/?	12.1875	$500
Daily Lunker Leaders
	Angler, State		Weight, lbs-ozs	Award
Day 1	Jerry Rhyne, NC		6-15	$6,600
Day 2	Randy Fite, TX		6-10	$850
Day 3	Larry Nixon, TX		6-03	$350
The Box Score
	Day 1	Day 2	Day 3	Total
Total Weight, lbs-ozs	397-05	599-09	534-10	1,531-08
Bass Weighed-in	140	216	187	543
7-Bass Limits	0	3	1	4
Bass Alive Weighed-in	140	216	186	542
NOTE: Two penalty ounces are deducted for each dead fish. Winner Award consisted of $5,000 Cash and a $7,000 Ranger Boat. Overall Big Fish Award was $6,600 Ranger Boat Rigged with trailer, charger, kill switch, lowrance flasher and Surface Fish-n-Temp, and Johnny Reb TectrAnchor.

Florida Invitational, Lake Okeechobee, Eastern League

After two tough events in the western league, the anglers were looking forward to a better event in southern Florida on Lake Okeechobee. But would Okeechobee cooperate? The water level had been historically low, but would it hinder the fishing?

For Ron Shearer, it didn’t seem like the low water affected the bass at all.

On the first day of competition, Shearer weighed in a meager string of 13-08. But on the second day, he switched up his tactics and put a 7-fish limit on the scales that went 36-08. That weight shattered the record for a 7-fish limit set by Tommy Martin only a few months before on Toledo Bend. Shearer’s total after two days of fishing went 50-00. His closest competitor, was nearly 18 pounds off the pace.

The final day proved not to be like the second day. Shearer was in the last flight and by the time he’d gotten to his spot, locals had moved in. He stuck with the program and by the end of the day was only able to scratch out three fish for 7 pounds. He felt that he needed 10 pounds to lock up the win.

Ron Shearer wins on Lake Okeechobee. May-June 1982 Bassmaster Magazine.

Tommy Martin came to the scales with a limit of fish that stretched the spring down to 23-01, giving him a total of 53-00. Not enough to outdistance Shearer’s 57-00. Martin ended up in 2nd place.

Larry Nixon, hot off a win on lake Bistineau, took the third spot with 49-01, Billy Noah landed in 4th place with 46-10, and Linwood Thornhill rounded out the top 5 with 43-05.

Shearer reported catching his fish the first day on a 7-inch curl-tail worm and a Rat-L-Trap. On the second day, with cloud cover, ho moved shallower and fished a Johnson Silver Minnow spoon with a rubber skirt to catch his record limit. He continued with that bait on the third day.

Out of 278 angler who fished the Okeechobee event, only five blanked and it took 27-12 to make the top 40. For the final top-40 standings, look at the table below.

BASS Master Florida Invitational East League Lake Okeechobee Scorecard - March 24-26, 1982
Place	Angler, State	Bass/Alive	Weight, lbs-ozs	Award
1	Ron Shearer	15/12	57 - 0	$12,000
2	Thomas Martin	19/17	53 - 0	$4,000
3	Larry Nixon	18/18	49 - 1	$3,000
4	Billy Noah	21/21	46 - 10	$2,500
5	Linwood Thornhill	16/16	43 - 5	$1,700
6	Sam Griffin	15/15	38 - 14	$1,600
7	Al Waldron	18/17	38 - 11	$1,500
8	Ted Capra	14/14	36 - 10	$1,400
9	Paul Elias	13/13	36 - 2	$1,300
10	Jim Palmer	12/11	36 - 0	$1,200
11	Stephen Ambrose	14/8	34 - 8	$1,100
12	Jack Chancellor	11/10	33 - 8	$1,100
13	Theodore Adams	10/9	32 - 12	$1,100
14	H Kenneth Mcintosh	10/9	32 - 0	$1,100
15	Carroll Head	11/9	31 - 14	$1,050
16	Jeff Boyd	10/10	31 - 14	$1,050
17	Jack Westberry	12/8	31 - 8	$1,000
18	Robert Stephens	13/11	31 - 3	$1,000
19	Darrel Maggard	15/15	30 - 15	$1,000
20	Ken Patterson	10/7	30 - 15	$1,000
21	Bill Mccormack	12/8	30 - 4	$900
22	Roland Martin	13/13	29 - 13	$900
23	Woo Daves	12/12	29 - 12	$900
24	Jimmy Houston	13/9	29 - 10	$900
25	Ricky Green	12/10	29 - 8	$900
26	Larry Pierce	11/11	29 - 5	$800
27	H J Stevens	9/7	29 - 4	$800
28	Kelous Kizer	13/13	29 - 0	$775
29	Steve Loyd	13/12	29 - 0	$775
30	Gerald Blackman	8/7	28 - 14	$750
31	Hank Parker	14/12	28 - 13	$600
32	Llewelly Hallamore	11/6	28 - 8	$600
33	Richard Koert	12/12	28 - 7	$600
34	Jim Taube	8/6	28 - 7	$600
35	Richard Arcari	12/10	28 - 6	$600
36	Cliff Craft	12/9	28 - 2	$600
37	Mark Evans	11/8	28 - 1	$500
38	Barry Cummins	8/8	27 - 15	$500
39	Bruce Cunagin	11/11	27 - 14	$500
40	Gary Van Nostrand	11/11	27 - 12	$250
41	Guido Hibdon	9/8	27 - 12	$250
Daily Lunker Leaders
	Angler, State		Weight, lbs-ozs	Award
Day 1	David Smith, FL		9-12	$6,600
Day 2	Jim Palmer, IN		9-08	$850
Day 3	Walt Sawicki, GA		9-07	$350
The Box Score
	Day 1	Day 2	Day 3	Total
Total Weight, lbs-ozs	1,557-11	1,487-08	1,466-14	4,512-01
Bass Weighed-in	687	599	562	1,868
7-Bass Limits	10	7	11	28
Bass Alive Weighed-in	580	522	542	1,644
NOTE: Two penalty ounces are deducted for each dead fish. Winner Award consisted of $5,000 Cash and a $7,000 Ranger Boat. Overall Big Fish Award was $6,600 Ranger Boat Rigged with trailer, charger, kill switch, lowrance flasher and Surface Fish-n-Temp, and Johnny Reb TectrAnchor.

Top-40 Western League Standings

After two events in the Western League, spots for the coveted BASS Masters Classic were starting to take shape. Below Is the list of the top 40 anglers in contention.

1981/82 BASS Master Western League Standings after Two Events
Place	Angler	Weight, lbs
1	Thomas Martin	98.3125
2	Harold Allen	80.9375
3	Villis Dowden	79.6875
4	Larry Nixon	68.625
5	Rick Clunn	56.5
6	Lonnie Stanley	54.75
7	Ralph Yelverton	53.9375
8	Kenneth Walker	53.875
9	Newton Ford	52.5625
10	David Wharton	50.875
11	Marvin Baker	50.8125
12	Cliff Craft	50.3125
13	Denny Brauer	49.1875
14	Maurice Jackson	46.3125
15	Roland Martin	43.375
16	Ronnie Young	42.6875
17	H J Stevens	40.5
18	Guy Eaker	38.6875
19	George Bowman	38.625
20	Robert Stevenson	38.3125
21	Bobby Ditto	36.5
22	Ken D Cook	36.3125
23	Lendell Martin	35.875
24	Bill Ward	35.25
25	William Sparks	33.25
26	Rayborn Waits	32.125
27	Jim Culp	31.9375
28	Fred Lewis	31.5
29	Randy Behringer	30.5
30	Jerry Rhyne	30.3125
31	John Torian	29.9375
32	Glen Teer	29.75
33	Jerry Johnston	29.1875
34	Shorty Evans	29.1875
35	Randy Dearman	29.125
36	William Vanover	28.25
37	Jim Mckay	28.125
38	Jack Westberry	27.8125
39	Kelous Kizer	26.6875
40	John Mclain	26.375

Top-40 Angler of the Year

The Angler of the year race was also shaping up with Tommy Martin seeming to run away with the title after three events. For the top 40 anglers in that race, check out the table below.

1981/82 BASS Master Angler of the Year Race after Three Events
Place	Angler	Weight, lbs
1	Thomas Martin	151.3125
2	Larry Nixon	117.6875
3	Harold Allen	107.125
4	Villis Dowden	93.9375
5	Rick Clunn	80.9375
6	Cliff Craft	78.4375
7	Roland Martin	73.1875
8	Ron Shearer	71.9375
9	H J Stevens	69.75
10	Ronnie Young	68.6875
11	Guy Eaker	62.8125
12	Bobby Ditto	61.5
13	Bill Ward	60.875
14	Lendell Martin	59.5625
15	Jack Westberry	59.3125
16	Kelous Kizer	55.6875
17	Jimmy Houston	54.8125
18	Lonnie Stanley	54.75
19	Hank Parker	54.6875
20	Ralph Yelverton	53.9375
21	Kenneth Walker	53.875
22	Newton Ford	52.5625
23	Guido Hibdon	51.75
24	David Wharton	50.875
25	Marvin Baker	50.8125
26	Rayborn Waits	49.375
27	Denny Brauer	49.1875
28	Paul Elias	48.125
29	Mark Evans	47.9375
30	Jim Smith	47.0625
31	Billy Noah	46.625
32	Shorty Evans	46.375
33	Maurice Jackson	46.3125
34	Jerry Rhyne	45.6875
35	Randy Fite	44.375
36	Linwood Thornhill	43.3125
37	Al Waldron	42.9375
38	Jim Palmer	42.625
39	Gary Van Nostrand	42.1875
40	Ricky Green	41.875