COLUMN : BALOG ON BASS FISHING
the end of the specialistS ?
W
ith a noticeable transition occurring in the sport of bass fishing over the decades , we ’ ve seen a natural evolution of the tournament angler . While the transformation of the high-level bass pro has been occurring for some time – slowly at first – the change has escalated rapidly with the advent of forward-facing sonar .
Explosive expansions in technology and techniques have resulted in a need for diversification like we ’ ve never seen in the past . Gone are the days of technique specialists . Replacing them are anglers who have mastered more efficient systems and found new ways to trick bass that have seem the same old baits year after year .
But what are we losing ? With many household-name champions now aging toward retirement , will we ever again see masters of specific techniques ? By the end of this decade , professional bass fishing will have lost many of the greatest to ever play the game as some present and future Hall of Fame anglers retire . Many can be accurately lauded as the best ever with certain techniques .
Upcoming retirements will signify the end of an era for certain techniques kevin vandam
THE CONSUMMATE POWER FISHERMAN
With the 2023 retirement of Michigan pro Kevin VanDam from tournament competition came an end to a legendary chapter in bass fishing . VanDam ’ s tournament resume will likely never be eclipsed , nor will his dedication to his powerfishing style .
Sure , today ’ s best on tour can still crank and wind when necessary . But VanDam made the art of power fishing work . Looking back on his 26 major-tour-level wins and eight Angler of the Year seasons , only a handful of times did VanDam rely on anything but a cast-and-retrieve lure for his victories . Of those few where he didn ’ t flat-out cast and retrieve – I ’ m thinking of a Bassmaster Classic victory in Louisiana – VanDam power-fished with a heavy flipping rig to ensure no down time .
Somewhere in KVD ’ s basement is a giant box filled with disintegrated baitcast reels . With finesse tactics dominating more and more today , the time has seemingly passed for VanDam ’ s run-and-gun style to produce such sustained success .
shaw grigsby
THE ORIGINAL SIGHT-FISHING MAESTRO
For those who have fished with Grigsby , the story is always the same : You can ’ t believe what this guy can see . Rightfully known as one of the best sight-fishermen ever , Grigsby made a career mostly off this skill . His nine BASS wins occurred in either Texas , Florida or Georgia – places where he showcased his dominance when big female bass came to bed .
These days , many know Grigsby as much or more for his television presence and lure design contributions . But , while a few of today ’ s pros can still be called sight-fishing specialists , everyone in the 1990s and early 2000s knew Grigsby was THE angler to beat whenever bass could be spotted on spawning beds during the spring .
mark davis
THE EARLY OFFSHORE EXPERT
It ’ s anybody ’ s guess how long Hall of Famer Mark Davis will compete , though recent injuries would lead one to believe that retirement is within sight for the Arkansas angler . When he exits the sport , Davis will take with him one of the best offshore resumes in the game – compiled during a time when fishing off the bank was relatively obscure .
While deep cranking gave rise to more anglers venturing away from shore , Davis did most of his early work with a Carolina rig , the old ball-and-chain revealing places where he could settle in
18 MAJORLEAGUEFISHING . COM | AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2024