Celebrating their silver anniversary, the two- day event didn’t disappoint and featured the entire gamut of “newest/hottest” with more than half a dozen alabama rig manufacturers to the tried and true topwater staple of the rico from lobina lures, a favorite of U.S. open winners Mike Folkestad and rick Clunn. The same range of recent success to legendary status was met with their list of headlining pros. “That’s why we brought in guys like terry Scroggins, Mark rose and Brent ehrler and keep bringing back guys like ricky Clunn and Jimmy Houston.”
Thinking about a year that was his favorite or stood out, Grover said, “i just want to learn something every year. This year, i got to hear about fishing offshore and running crankbaits from Mark rose. one year, i got to hear Gary Klein talk about fishing the Zara Spook. There is always something i can take away and many things that i’ve learned i still use today. What is better than getting tips on topwater from a U.S. open winner fresh off their victory.”
one of the most memorable Bass-a-Thon experiences he had was in the mid-nineties with david Fritz. He described sitting both days in his seminar and taking in the theory of color selection. “He talked about choosing the right color by where and how the bass were hooked,” remembered Grover as he gave an example. “if he was fishing a white plug and they were getting hooked on the outside of the mouth, he would change to white/chartreuse to match the forage and then determine how the bite
Issue 5 December 2011
was different. Was that getting it inside the mouth now or change again.”
another striking memory for Grover occurred about five years ago. He stated, “i was listening to Mike long discussing the Huddleston and he told us how he was hiding the stinger hooks on the baits by making them the same color as the belly of the bait. information like that is just invaluable. You just have to sit down and listen.” along the line of innovative product, Grover stated Bass-a-Thon debuted go-to baits and companies such as lucky Craft, the Yamamoto Senko, the triple trout and the Huddie before they were National or even Western companies. “obviously, this year’s breakout bait is the alabama rig and they got to see it here. ingenuity never ceases to amaze. Who knows what will be next. The world is a fishermen’s oyster,” he exclaimed.
Making an appearances at both the first and 25th Bass-a-Thons were fishing icons rick Clunn and don iovino. The ‘86 premiere also included Greg Hines, Gary Klein, ricky Green and roland Martin. Grover’s final message as he discussed how anglers Marine has made bass fishing history over the past twenty- five years of Bass-a-Thon was to thank all of the people that make it possible. He stated, “Bass-a- Thon is the highlight of the year for me and i believe for others also. There are three reasons we have continued and will continue to do it and that is the customer, the vendor and the speakers. We are here for them and we couldn’t do it without them.
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