Today’s historical photo will be a two-part series because I came across two great pictures. The images are of Roland Martin and date back to around 1973 that were featured in a two-part Fishing Facts article that spanned 1973/1974 issues. The first one is of Roland casting what appears to be a topwater lure with a feathered treble, rod fully loaded, with Roland sitting down. You can see a flasher in the background below along with his shirt sporting both BASS and Lowrance patches. This part of the story dealt with being versatile, and needing both heavy as well as lighter, gear.
Here’s a brief excerpt from that interview:
“Versatility is my forte. Bass fishing is an ever-changing thing. One pattern might be the most efficient way to catch a bass for that particular time of day, and it might exist in two feet of water. An hour later it might change to 40 feet of water. I’m going to go where the fish are most readily caught.”
Later he said:
“…let’s talk about a tournament. On an average bass tournament lake like the Tennessee Valley Association’s lakes for example. Most of these lakes are pretty clear, clean and open. I have several spinning rods rigged up with a variety of little jigs and small worms. My line test ranges from 6 to 8 on both those spinning rods. I have several casting rods rigged up for brushy pockets, snaggy creek channels and rock piles that I might find. That line goes all the way up to 25-pound test. If I discover submerged wood, for instance, in the back of the creek where there’s dingy water due to runoff and some heavy brush, I might be throwing a spinnerbait back in this log jam. Here’s where I might need to horse a 5-pound bass right over the logs and I have at least one heavy outfit rigged up.”
That really is an outstanding photograph. Great action and so perfectly captures the time.