For me, it would be two old timers.
Ohter Hamilton 82-yo, and the long since past Mr. Taylor, he owned Taylors Lil Big Horn marina and bait shop on Lake Winnsboro--- taught me how to back then.
They shared their knowledge of the lake and tackle with our eager young minds (my brother and me) and we ate it up like candy. I recall that was around the late 60’s early 70’s time frame, not a lot of high tech stuff back then.
They seemed to have a lot of instinct and common sense with worms and stick baits, we couldn’t believe how many fish they’d catch…But they did.
We owe a lot to those two men, they helped shape my brother an me into what we are today.
That ain't say'n a lot, but they tried. LOL

bluetick.

dang thats a toughie!

I gotta go with my brother the Manther...no sucking up here, when that guy is on the water he is sticking toads!

Check's in the mail, Ken.

Gary Dobyns.

The Manther! I still think thats the funniest thing ever!

Ive seen this guys website!

I've only been doing this Bass fishing for about 4 years (I'm 62)
and 98% has been at Fork, so my views are limited. But from the people I know I think Tom Redington is pretty darn good.
His knowledge and insight is obvious if you read his reports.
He loves what he does, and respects the sport. He's a true amBASSador to fishing. And he's brought in a bigun or two,..
JIMSR

KVD

Deion sanders

Thats some funny $&%T right there... ...He lives down the road from me and that pontoon boats he fishes out of takes up half the lake, so he certainly has the water covered! He's a good guy and I like that lake of his!

Kelly Jordan!!!!

dear old Dad

kvd

fouzman I assume because my grandfather (Ysavel Medina) died 20 years ago. He was pretty awesome.

OK it would be Chuck Turner in Emory,there's only one problem.He has a Real Job, If your ever in Emory,check out Service Marine.In his office he has so many plack's from tournaments there's hardly any room left,and he still keeps them coming. Hands down he is the most consistant winner on Lake Fork which is a slot lake and thats not a easy task. When it comes to electronic's and fixin boats,he's a Wizard! This is what he looks like in the mornings

Here's a towel Ronnie. Something brown on your nose.

Me

Either Chuck Norris or "The most interesting man in the world"!


Only 2 guys I know who's pillows are always cool on BOTH sides.

RedRanger

I am gonna go with my grandfather. No one knew him here probably and thats OK because he is the reason I started fishing and that means a lot to me. He could catch 'em anywhere on a crankbait and never used electronics or fancy gear. heck all he ever threw were "plugs". He never fished a tournament and never took himself too seriously when it came to fishing but he was a fishing machine when he was on the water.

I don't know any pro's, but locally I would have to say Scott Dean. I don't know him well, but he is familiar with my $$$.

I have two also Billy. My dad when I was a teenager used to take me out in our old stick steering boat on Whitney and I would watch him chunk that old spinnerbait and at night listen to stories about him fishing Possum Kingdom and other lakes in the 50's. He would usually wade and throw topwaters aroung old cedar trees etc back before they had alot of lures and no soft plastics.
Also my old buddy Robert Hargrove. I have spent a lot of time with him in a boat and the thing about Robert is that he is not just a fisherman who has fished lakes since the 60's but he is an all aroung outdoorsman. He seemed to see things you couldn't see and sense things that only someone in tune with nature could. He just grew up in the outdoors and that was a part of him. Too bad he has had to put up with his staph illness for over a year now that has kept him from doing a lot of things.

My Grandad and another man I grew up fishing with, Carl Gumm. Carl loved to bass fish way before it got popular. He would catch some great fish out of his tube with homemade cranks and spinners. Carl was a diehard fisherman. We miss you Gumbo.

kelly jordon!

Hollice Joiner

my dad and grandad. taught me everything I know about bass fishing

I know/knew his Mom amd Dad, he's from Winnsboro. Won a lot of tournaments, along with being a top guide for many years.
That's a good one David

Good choice. I would also add Russell Cecil

LOL!! Stan called and said the same thing. WOndering where my free rod is at!!!??!!! lol!!

BVD a.k.a Ben Vaughn or Kevin Marshall.

It is probably not where your looking!!

how would you know? is that how you operate ? I betcha like "noodlin",too ! weird man.

Robby Rose....always had a pattern.

Well, I am guessing since you have not found it chances are it is not there.

if the shad was a flickin,
fish he was stickin

How many times can you edit your post in 5 minutes? And it would be more like palpation than noodlin and no I have never done it.

Mickey Delamar, retired MISD Athletic Director, now resides on the beautiful and ever growing shores of Lake Fork.

Edwin Evers, Tim Harp, Scott Dean, Chris McCall in no particular order. These guys have been good for a long time.

James Beach could tear 'em up when he was fishing all the time.

I have been fortunate enough to fish with a few fellow bass anglers from here on the forum, all of whom are far better anglers than am I. From tackle selection, technique, presentation and overall knowledge of the species for any given season, I am always blown away. With regard to who the best is, thats a difficult question; specifically, one who I know. My knowledge of great anglers is limited at best, however I would have to say Mark Pack. Simply an abundance of knowledge and skill, and more importantly.. still realizes and conveys that fishing is to be FUN.

Fish Fishburn!!!!!!

Towel heck, Give Ronnie some mouth wash.

Pot.....meet two Kettle's!!!

Evan O'Brien Hands Down..

I would have to say overall would be Richard Mcarty,Rick collis,Tony Clark....And I agree with you on Chuck Turner on slot lakes as he is my partner and I have been there for many of those plaques...Hands down one of the best out there on Fork. And a very good friend as well.

Zeeter. If you don't believe me, just ask him!

As far as out right fishing, not relying much on electronics, no Internet practice, and web help, no fancy equipment and $50K bassboat, I would have to say Billy Bass. I met him a couple of times talked to him and watched him fish. I really think that if he was born 50-60 years later, he would be right up there with KVD. I consider I know or at least knew Billy Bass, met KVD but can't really claim knowing him.

Gene Snider!

ok here I go no certain order...... Brady Winans, Scott Dean, Scott Wenzel, Billy Burton sometimes, Ummmmm me,,,,, lol sometimes I'm good lol, and a guy a lot of people call junior not of his full name though he fishes flw now

Keith Combs is a guy I hated to fish against and now he's big time.....

Different guys at different lakes.

I hate you guys...

Me. I am the only guy I know that can catch fish behind me.

Dont know them personally but Russel Cecil and Dicky Newberry are prolly some of the best in tx

KVD but don't know him, I would say my Dad he seems to catch fish no matter what time of the year and what the fish are doing.

well being from West Texas at the time I started bass fishing, my first fishing partner was one of the best out there. He was Robert Branson. The other guy that I would include in any West Texas fishing conversation is Jackie Touchstone from Big Spring.I doubt any of you East Texas guys have heard of either but they could hang with the best of them.

Johnny

Don't sell yourself short Zach...If you had the same opportunities keith has had...who knows....

I would like to say my Dad, he never tournament fished but every Wednesday and a few Sundays he would drive the 3 hours to Fork and fish. Sometimes he would be in his bass boat but springtime he had his pirogue in the truck We would always get funny looks when we pulled up to the hotel with that thing in the back but it was a deadly combination back in those days! He has countless pictures of 10+ lb fish, and one over 13. He also would take his good buddy from Marshall with him during the summer months to night fish and put his buddy on a 17lb a few ounces fish back in 1990 I think. It's very interesting reading all of his old notes and maps on the lake and I learn something new every time he goes with me up there. We still get excited just talking about the spot where several of those big fish came off of (my biggest fish until last year came off the same spot a week after the 17) I was blessed to be brought up hunting and fishing and I hope I can pass it on to my kids as well as my dad did for me.

Only with Evan O'Brien...it is fins down.

Bass would bow if it was possible...

I don't know him personally, but EoB seems like a great stick. His videos taught me a lot about personal confidence in a bait and sticking with it.

The gentleman that started this thread has taken my money more times than I can count!

ding ding ding - we have a winner

Actually Ken i think it was Kay that took all of your money,Billy just netted the fish ..........sorry Billy had to tell it like it is....Besides Kay was the best catch you ever made..........

I have to agree Stan, well said..
Com-on now Ken...My life got easier when you stopped fishing Media...

Dad

Catfish Johnson he is unbeatable on White Rock Lake

Big bro Brad

So has his wife!!!!!

Fun thread to read for sure.

One of my favorites to learn from for sure is my buddy David Gillham...I love it when we get to fish together.

Charlie Haralson is a stick, Lance Vick is a stick, and that Addington guy can fish as well!

I would like to say me, but that would not quite be the truth. When I first moved to Houston to work for a new employer, the President of the Company introduced me in a staff meeting and the first question was whether or not I played golf.... I said "Nope, I bass fish". One of the sales people told me she would introduce me to her husband, who ate, slept, and dreamed about bass fishing. Not long after that we were introduced, and the next weekend we fished together. Chuck has a Masters Degree in Fisheries biology, used to work for TPWD, and is every bit as good a fisherman as the game he talks. Heck when he was working on his Masters, he spent a whole summer on Table Rock on an internship with the Corps of Engineers, where he worked at night and fished in the day (He said he slept in a tent the whole summer). Chuck Mulford is without a doubt the best fisherman I have ever had the privelege of knowing. He is a considerable Smart Arse, but when it comes to chasing "ole line sides", he's as good as I've ever seen.

The best bass fisherman I know is a bigger bass.

Keith Combs. The guy can flat out catch em'. Eats, drinks, and breathes nothing but bass fishing. Scary good.

I dont know anyone else personally except those i fish against on the area lakes. It would be hard to give an honest opinion because i pay attention to whats going on in my boat and not others. Having said that you do notice who wins and who dont,yea, is it luck? Probably not, experience and hard work pays off in the end. So, that being said i would have to say me...lol...Just dont watch anyone else!

Sorry

I have not fished with any touring pros but the best fisherman I have ever fished with is Tom Mayne from the Tyler area. I fished with him on Palestine and it was unbelievable and very educational.

Mark Pack is as good as I've fished with in deep water. Especially for suspended bass--few bass fisherman can consistently catch them--but Pack casts off the back of the boat a lot of times and swims and hops jigs through them and whacks em. Catching fish after fish out of the middle of the lake where none of the rest of us even bother to cast. I've fished with Scott Martin some and he is in a whole other league. He grew up learning from his dad and spent some summers hanging with Hank Parker's kid. Gee, wonder why he is so good?! The most instinctive guy I have been around. Mention your secret lure to him and he'll tell you all the positives and negatives about it before you can even finish talking about it. Here in TX, Russell Cecil is always smashing fish and in the hunt, no matter the lake or the bite. If he didn't have such a successful business, he'd be a force at the highest levels of the sport. Ditto for the Burns brothers--they don't get to practice much but still always seem to smoke them when they do.

Rich Dalbey is one of the most consistant anglers I know. No matter the lake or time of year he will boat his share. Fish's as a non-boater in the EverStarts and the Tour. Consistant money winner and has a great local partner David Gillham who can always carry his share of the load.

Best pro I have fished with was Chris McCall on Toledo Bend, he put on a clinic for me that day. I learned a lot about the way he attacked his water. Would really enjoy spending a week in the boat with a guy like Chris.

Best up and comer would be Little E-Eric Wright, still young and has a lot to learn but loaded with raw talent. I think Eric is about 3 years from being a top contender in the EverStarts.

My kudos to IceMan Chuck Turner as well, if the fishing is tough he will get it done 90% of the time. Most patient fisherman I know.

Honorable Mention: My son Chris could have been a real threat if he wasn't so darn good looking and would have kept his head in the game. He was putting it on most of my friends and often myself when he was 14. Had a good future but got sidelined by tall skinny blondes from age 15 and up. Now he makes me proud as a hard working dedicated husband and father of 2 beautiful children.

No doubt there are more but this is enough for now.

The best I have fished with is Charlie Harleson.

I am a better fisherman than REDRANGER

The two best fishermen I know are two brothers up here in Amarillo. Greg and Justin Daniel. I swear they have tortured me for years with their fishing success and their crazy antics. They are not pros but they are dang good at catchin bass.

All joking aside, I have fished with some great fishermen through the years. Richard McCarty, Brian Duplechain, Gene Snider, to name a few.

Back in March I had the privilege to fish with Alton Jones back and he was not only an incredible stick but also a great guy. Standing shoulder to shoulder with him I was reminded how wide the gap is between weekend fishermen like myself and an Elite Pro that makes his living fishing at the highest level.

I was in awe of his fish catching abilities all day long. It was a great day for sure!

My Dad. Plane and simple.

First My Grandfather who taught me plain and simple with cane pole. Second the one I have been married to for 42 years taught me what I know about fishing tournaments against some of the best people in the world!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My father and his good friend John Wilmore. Both of these men have caught their share of big Bass and have taught me a lot. They have both gone on and are fishing the Great Lake above.

There's a pretty good stick in this area by the name of Elroy Kruger.

Chick childress of Clearlake Ca
He passed on in the early 80's
But he was the only man that I knew could constantly catch double digits almost every cast

He taught me a lot about fishing that lake
I grew up on clearlake and I know I can out fish any pro that fishes that lake !!!!!!!!!!!!!

my grandson, he is 11 years old now, his biggest 13lbs 6 when he was 7 years old, cought at fork. he will be in the middle of the boat between my son and i and out fish both of us. and that is no bull. and i love him every much along with the rest of my grandkids.fred c.

My Father: 83 yrs on July 14th
Pictures from this May 2011, on my semi annual trip to Lake Fork. Unfortunately, we only get to fish together 2X per year as he lives in Quitman and I live in AZ.

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i have to say steviejoe smith. i bet he could build a house with the wood, from all the plaques, he and trudy have racked up. seriously!

jack w. , wimpy, roy, jason, richard l.,dinty, houge,cook. and me. eric ...pay attention

id have to say my grandfather. i swear that man can catch more fish than me using a old wooden plug with oversize spinners on both ends than i can with anything!...... and yes ive tried the wooden plugs he uses and i can never get a strike??? it doesnt make sense to me but the man knows how to catch em i guess!

Vince Repola

Leslie Kennedy. He is without a doubt the best I have ever been in the boat with. He is a very well rounded angler who can catch them everywhere he goes. He is also a great teacher of the sport.

o9rady

Thanks for the kind words Mark. Your check is in the mail. LOL They say that even a blind hog can find an acorn every now and then. I would probably have to say that Russell Cecil would be my choice. Of all the people I have shared a boat with, I believe without a doubt that he could be just as dominant on the FLW Tour or Bassmaster Elites level. I would also have to give a big shout out to my team partner David Gillham. Great fisherman but an even better person.

Bill and Hub Coleman. I have fished with many of good fishermen in the past 42 years, even a few Elite Pros, but Bill and Hub could figure the fish out anywhere.

When i was growing up my Uncle Keith as I got older started fishing with Ranger Holly and Pete Hernandez both are great fisherman and are always on some pigs and have taught me alot.

Did Tom pay you to say this? lol

Evan O'Brien/Baylorbassguy

If I would have paid he would atleast had to write a couple of paragraphs I like to get my moneys worth. Lol

Billy Dyson. He taught me alot when i first started bass fishing

EOB, KenA, and baylorbassguy (Barrett)

seriously

Thad Rains.

Bill Wilcox's ability to scout out a lake and FIND fish is the best I've seen. He is definitley the best deep water fisherman I know. Couple that with his comittment to practicing, and he has to be one of the best I know. Everyone takes off from their hobby a little bit in their lifetime, but Bill has NEVER took a break! Through jobs, kids and a few (or alot) of divorces; Bill still gets on the lake almost everyday. Wether its a smallmouth tournament in Canada (where he currently is) or a TV show filming, or practice for a simple kids tournament to a serious Bass Champs event- he is always going at 110%. I dont know anyone who can hang with his relentless pursuit of the bass. Even during practice days he is the first one on the water and the last one off before dark. I still call him the Cal Ripkin of fishing.... A true Iron Man. Plus he's old......
Also as a springtime bed fisherman, I got to go with Cody Bird. Even at the risk of him reading this and calling me to offer his freakin autograph.
As far as adaptability to changing conditions on the lakes- My man Alton Jones gets my vote.
If we are talking about catching big fish, then I say Speedy Collett. Some may say he has an advantage because he knows every tree, rock, and Mexican on Falcon, but you still have to get the big ones to bite and more inportantly, land them in the boat. Speedy has a technique like no one elses and and I've got to spend many days with him doing what he does best. He's also the best teacher for young angler's I've ever been around. My 12 year old son Braxton has become quite an angler catching big fish (10.5; 8.12; multiple 6 & 7's) because of the way Speedy works with him. Speedy is a great ambassador to the future of our sport through the young people coming up.
That's my list of guys that I would say are my role models.
Jeff

since I am more of a big fish person than a tournament person, I'd have to say Randy Oldfield



Big Bass McClendon second though

#1 in our hearts

The older he gets, the better he was!

absolutely

paying attention... been paying attention and one thing I have figured out... big difference between fishing and catching! Seems like all I do is the fishing part! hahaha!!

+1 on the list!! (and about 100 other guys....)

I'll have to say my uncle Jackie Walker. He could probally catch fish in the city swimming pool.

Some of the greatest Texas bass fishermen were Tracey Woods, Tom Butler, Jackie Hewlett, and Johnny Mayes.