Williams has continued to fish Phoenix Bass Fishing League
Mississippi Division tournaments .
While racial inequality was still prevalent in the ’ 70s and ’ 80s , Williams said he and Gracie found not only acceptance but respect , friendship and camaraderie in the bass-fishing community . The couple has never dealt with any open racial discrimination over the nearly 50 years Williams has been in the sport .
“ It was just a feeling of relief , honestly , being free to do what I loved ,” Williams said . “ After that , I just felt accepted .”
Williams showcases plaques from the 1983 Bassmaster Classic and his fifth-place finish at the 1988 Tennessee Invitational .
making classic history
Williams drew avid hunter , fisherman and NFL running back Perry Lee Dunn in that first event . He finished 33rd , only a few places from making a check .
“ That was my first tournament and my first response from the bass-fishing community , and I was absolutely hooked ,” Williams said . “ I ’ d proven myself and shown that I knew what I was doing , and I couldn ’ t wait to get back out there for the next tournament a couple weeks later .”
Williams began fishing tournaments with B . A . S . S . and Operation Bass — which later became FLW , then Major League Fishing — in 1983 and has fished a total of 98 tournaments with B . A . S . S . and 178 with MLF over the past 41 years , winning four events and earning numerous Top 10s . Williams fished professionally with B . A . S . S . from 1987- 2003 and with FLW from 1997-1998 and 2004-2008 . To this day , he enjoys fishing the occasional Phoenix Bass Fishing League tournament in the Mississippi Division .
None of the bass clubs in Mississippi in the ‘ 70s and ‘ 80s had African American members , so Williams and his fellow Black anglers fished in their own club .
“ Back then , all the bass clubs were full , and there were only three or four tournaments each spring ; they didn ’ t
Williams among a group of his contemporaries .
have one every weekend like we do now ,” Williams said . “ We had a few white guys start joining our club in the late ‘ 70s , early ‘ 80s . We won a state tournament in 1983 , which qualified me for the state team . We then fished a divisional tournament and won , and as the top team member , I qualified for the 1983 Bassmaster Classic .”
Williams was the first African American angler to qualify for the Classic , which was being held on the Ohio River that year , a fishery Williams had never visited . In fact , the Mississippi native had only fished on Ross Barnett up to that point .
“ My boat was parked with Hank Parker on one side and Rick Clunn on the other side ,” Williams said . “ I just couldn ’ t believe it at the time . I still can ’ t believe it today .”
Williams said the whole experience was something he ’ ll never forget — from being chauffeured around town ,
AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2024 | MAJORLEAGUEFISHING . COM 41