WesternBass Magazine December 2011, Page 44

WesternBass Magazine December 2011, Page 44

Bas s- a- Tho n:

bASS-A-thon

by jody only

Then & Now

“We want to give fishermen everything from the newest and hottest products from the tournament pros that has have the most recent success to the old favorites from the bass fishing legends,” exclaimed rick Grover from anglers Marine as he described the ongoing objective of Bass-a-Thon. He continued saying, “and that is something i think we have done for the past 25-years that the show has been around.”

reminiscing about the annual event that over the past quarter of a century has become a staple to the bass fishing industry in the West, Grover said, “i think the biggest difference is that we are more

seminar-oriented than we used to be.”

lowrance class is the biggest draw. Three years ago

Grover explained that the inaugural Bass-a-Thon i asked the people to raise their hands if they had an

basically got its start when competitive bass fishing

HdS and only two did; this year i don’t think there were

in Southern California was still in its infancy and that

two that didn’t have one,” said fishing icon don iovino.

the original event was focused on lowrance and

Grover attributes the information craze to the

promoting the electronics.

theory that the fishermen with the most knowledge

“over the years we have become more seminar

will have the most success. He elaborated saying, “it

oriented to meet the needs of the customer. These

is a lot different type of bass fishing down here in than

days fishermen have a quest for fishing knowledge

it is in other places, like Northern California. We are all

that just wasn’t there in the past,” said Grover. The

competing for fish on really small lakes that have a lot of

lowrance promotion has developed into an electronics pressure. We always have to be on the cutting edge to

school worthy of a pricey tuition. “i think, the

catch fish. as a fishermen, you can never learn enough.”

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