If you’ve paid any attention to the forward-facing sonar debates, one of the things you keep hearing is how it’s enabling the young guys to compete at the same level as the veterans. Trey McKinney just set a record at Fork for being the youngest angler to win an Elite Series event, and we also recently set the record for the youngest to qualify for the Classic (Aaron Yavorsky). So, today’s historical Classic photo ties right in with that theme.
Going back to 1981, today’s picture is of young Stanley Mitchell loading a bass into his weigh bag enroute to his Classic victory. Mitchell used a Bomber Model A, a Crocodile spoon, and a Do-Nothing Carolina rig to earn that victory at the ripe old age of 21. He currently still holds the record for the youngest to ever win a Bassmaster’s Classic title. But you have to wonder how long that’ll last. With the incredible participation and growth of high school and college bass fishing, along with the inherent FFS abilities being demonstrated by the current crop of young anglers on tour, Stanley’s record may fall sooner than later.
