In today’s Throwback Thursday historical photo, we feature Harold Ensley, host of “The Sportsman’s Friend” television show for nearly 5 decades, and the pioneer who set the stage for most all TV fishing shows to come. This particular story from 1989 detailed some of those famous anglers, and focused especially on Ensley. A few excerpts from the story follow;
“Harold Ensley, Babe Winkelman, Bill Dance and Roland Martin all have felt that sharp barb of criticism.
“But each of them now is having the last laugh on parents, friends and critics, on a world that now can only stand back in wonder and envy.
“These are the stars of an industry: professional fishing and its related detours into television, tackle, seminars, etc. they are among the select few who have ‘made it.’
“These are the men who, in the words of the theme song of Ensley’s long-running TV fishing show, have: “Gone fishin’ instead of just-a-wishin’.”
“Who would have thought that a little freckle-faced kid from western Kansas with a willow pole would one day get the kind of job that would allow him to fish four continents?” he said. “Sometimes I have to pinch myself to make sure I’m not dreaming.”
“I’ve been fishing for bass longer than a lot of people have lived,” he said as he reeled in his catch and released it. “But I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of it.
“It’s still a thrill to watch a bass come out of the water like that.”
- For 36 years (started October 1953 on KCMO), television viewers have shared in that excitement as they have accompanied Ensley on his fishing trips. Many fishermen grew up watching his nationally syndicated “Sportsman’s Friend” series, which is recognized as the oldest fishing show in the nation.
- It still keeps him busy. Though Ensley long since has passed the age when many people retire (he won’t reveal his exact age), he continues to film his show, give promotions at Wal-Mart stores, develop and test fishing tackle and do seminars and after-dinner talks.
Nice to see this TV pioneer getting mentioned. Ensley’s Wikipedia page tells an interesting story of this affable man. He sure sounds like someone most of us would love to spend some time in a boat with. Interestingly, a week or so ago I picked up a Harold Ensley Sneaky Snake off of eBay…”Better than Rapala!” I think the bubble card said. Great article, Brian!
Thanks, David. He was slightly before my time in regard to seeing his television show, but his name comes up all the time in Midwest fishing history.
Yes, frankly, I had no idea who Harold Ensley was (or at least I don’t recall if I’d heard of him before) until reading your article. Same with guys like Gaddabout Gaddis. I actually bought that Sneaky Snake just because I thought the packaging was cool and it was cheap. lol. They were before my time, but since learning about them I really appreciate and respect them and their contributions. Virgil Ward was the first fishing TV personality I knew about, because my Grandpa used to watch him, but at the age I was when I first saw him on television I thought he was just some old guy and I didn’t have a ton of interest in him or his show. Only years later did I come to appreciate him. Same with Cal Johnson. I knew about him as the world record musky holder (because we always saw his fish mounted in the Moccasin Bar in Hayward) long before I knew of him as a great writer and radio personality. That’s why this site, Bass Fishing Archives, is so important, imo.