https://www.bassmaster.com/elite/news/larry-nixon-retires-from-bassmaster-elite-series/

here is my Larry Nixon story...

back in late 80's my fishing partner from columbus,Ga. Clarence Callier entered one of the BASS tournys as a no-boater on lake martin....Clarence had only been bass fishing a few years but had developed into a pretty good C-rig fisherman....first couple of days of the tourny, Clarence had good sacks of fish and was going into the last day in second place...He drew larry Nixon who also was contending for the win...Larry was catching fish on a crankbait just running the bank and the boat was just moving too fast for Clarence to fish the C-rig effectively and he hadn't caught anything....
after couple hours Larry offered Clarence one of his crankbaits and told him he would have to re-spool to lighter line for it to work....it was a bitter cold day,Clarence had been in car wreck previously and had broke his hands up so his fingers were numb and he was really struggling to re-spool his rod...Larry saw what was happening,stopped fishing and re-spooled clarences rod for him and tied one of his crankbaits on clarences rod....Clarence managed to catch enough fish to remain in either second or third place........Larry also finished high in the tourny....after the tourny,I walked over to help clarence get his stuff out of larry's boat and he introduced me to Larry..I was immediately impressed with what a down to earth and really nice guy he was....

FWIW...this was in mid 80's and Nixon was running a Nitro boat....he told us he was being paid $85,000.00 a year plus free boat to run the nitro and Rick Clunn was getting $125,000.00 plus free boat....I believe this was right after Bass Pro bought Nitro boats....keep in mind this was mid 80's and that was a lot of money and why some pro fishermen were paid very well even back then and able to buy ranches/hunting lands (Klein,ken cook,denny brauer,rick clunn,timmy horton plus others)....

I got to meet Larry at a tournament and was able to talk to him. Super nice guy. I have an autographed hat hung up in the closet he signed for me. Great fisherman.

At what point does Gleason get another shot????

I think three or four more have to quit.

Oh man...I thought he was only two or maybe three down the list. Had no clue he was that far down. I would've thought Hallman might have saved him. I thought this one would go to another legend first and then down the list if a legend didn't get it. This stuff gets a little too confusing. They need to just put a simple list out there who's on the chopping block after every event etc... be a whole lot easier to keep up with. Some one has to have an excel spreadsheet for this.

Bet few anglers get deals like that anymore.

Nixon was always one of my favorites. Loved to see him the last couple of years on the big stage again.

Enjoy your retirement, you defiantly have earned it!

Board Pro just texted me that he's retiring because of this Milkening fella.

The General was my favorite growing up, loved watching his videos on VHS. I hope they can work him into a broadcast booth.


Sorry, if my comment isn’t pertinent enough for you Beartrap…

Larry is as good as they come

Met Mr. Nixon in 1996 at a boat dealers open house... He'd been my hero since he won the Classic on the Ohio River in 1983... Very nice guy... Dan

He entered the invitational as a nonboater? And finished top 3?

One of my all time favorite BASS guys. Super nice guy and great angler.

back then these were boater /non boater tournys ,,boaters competed against other boaters…no boaters against other no boaters…

I know there were boater/nonboater tournaments. I fished Redman. I never heard of a nonboater in the invitationals