COLUMN : NEWELL ’ S NOTES
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
As a freelance writer and photographer , Rob Newell has been reporting on fishing tournaments for more than 20 years , finding the stories between fish and angler to be a stretched line of triumph , heartache , torture and inspiration . god ’ s gift to bass fishing
A bout 50 years ago , tournament bass fishing was a fledging avocation trying to gain traction as a professional sport . It wanted to be like pro golf , tennis or auto racing , complete with big events , prizes , stars and audiences . But back in the 1970s and ’ 80s , it was considered more of a hobby than a legitimate way to make a living .
The biggest obstacle was the public perception of fishing being “ just luck .” The bass were the slot machines , the rod the handle – keep making casts until a big one bit for a jackpot . Convincing the average viewer that fishing was based more on human ability , skill and strategy – as opposed to luck – was a steep hill to climb . Yes , a few early pioneers turned heads on the luck-versus-skill debate . Recurring wins from icons like Roland Martin , Rick Clunn , Larry Nixon and Denny Brauer brought merit to the idea that some anglers are better than others . However , unlike other athletes , many “ pros ” still worked other jobs to afford their tournament fishing hobby . What ’ s more , tournament bass fishing was born in the South and largely based there . Consequently , it was regarded as a good old boys ’ game .
Then , in the early 1990 ’ s , Kevin VanDam walked into the competitive bass fishing arena
20 MAJORLEAGUEFISHING . COM | OCTOBER-NOVEMBER 2023