In today’s historical photo, the headline story read, ‘Toledo Bend guide nabs Bass Masters.’ The picture is of Tommy Martin holding up the trophy for winning the BASS Masters Classic, and standing alongside Ray Scott. The news story was dated November 1974, and was featured in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
The article detailed a little bit on Tommy’s winning pattern and baits, but especially focused on how stingy the fishery had been, and how tough a test this event ended up becoming.
Here are a few of the details from the story of Tommy’s winning efforts:
- “On the first day of competition Martin stumbled into a pattern. Working ‘crank baits’ called a Rebel Super R and a Balsa B he found he could pick up some bass, and good ones, by working it at high speed along a bluff bank.”
- “When this wasn’t working he used a Fleck spinner bait with a white skirt along what shoreline cover he could find. Even though he had the best pattern going, he still didn’t catch many bass.”
- “[Roger] Moore, who led the tournament going into the finals, said he considered the success of the pros dependent upon the following breakdown; Concentration 40 percent, skill 40 percent and luck 20 percent.”
