If you’re an astute fan of bass fishing history, then you’ll probably be able to make a good guess as to the approximate time frame of today’s Throwback Thursday historical photo. The big clues come from the “short shorts” and the white collared dress shirt adorned with patches that our featured angler is wearing. The angler in this photo, David Fenton, might also clue you in.
Ironically though, the lengthy article that appeared with the photo doesn’t even mention David. Instead, this piece from the August 1985 Fort Worth Star-Telegram was about the sudden increase in payouts in professional bass fishing at the time. It also has numerous other interesting mentions.
For example, it mentions both the U.S. Bass World Championship as well as the Bass Anglers Sportsman Society’s Classic on the Arkansas River at Pine Bluff. Both events featured $50,000 payouts to the winners, and total payouts to the field in excess of $100,000.
Another interesting mention was the quotes and stats in the piece from Larry Nixon. Nixon stated, “I make about $50,000 a year in a poor year – that’s based on about $20,000 tournament winnings. I’ve made six figures some years. And the way prize money is going up, we’re looking at some years coming up where a guy can make $200,000 a year.”
As for the stats, Larry had been on tour since 1977, and had “won six events on the Bass Anglers circuit (including the 1983 Classic) and one U.S. Bass tournament, has twice been the Bass Angler-of-the-Year and twice led the now defunct Ford Dealers circuit in Louisiana.” The latter was a new to me circuit mention I’ll have to do some more research on.
Other interesting mentions in the piece included the failed first attempt at a Megabucks event in 1985, Ray Scott’s rule “banning patches and insignia on the hats and clothing of the competitors unless the company was an official tournament sponsor,” a rule that almost sank the Bassmaster Classic that same year until Ray rescinded it, and mentions of the long defunct Professional Bass Anglers Association (PBAA), with quotes from then vice president, Rick Clunn.
