historical river bass fishermen..

the comment on the post, earlier this week, about, how the river guys won’t go some where else got me thinking..

thinking of how many guys I knew who were so limited that they only won , during their time period, where ever they went..

Lets see.. Jim Lent, went to the Bassmaster CLASSIC at least two times..
Louis Cue from Lansing went once…

some of those great fishermen or teams from the past..

You start with the Foys…they won from the quad cities to LaCrosse.. Bob Toussaint.. one of the finest bass fisherman that I have ever met.. won all over the country..
Wayne Hood and Marty Vennenman.. I can tell you that even waitresses in LaCrosse were sick of hearing about Wayne and Marty.. but in a good way.. it was always.. did you hear how good Wayne and Marty did..
Frank Hood, and Dan Woodard..
Mike and Tom Tischer.. two superior teams..
Ray and Ray Grandt.. junior and Senior.. Won the first two big tourneys in the LaCrosse area.. back in 76, 77.. Later brought in like 40 plus pounds for a ten bass Limit.. in fact I think they broke like 42, 44 pounds.. for ONE DAY. On Lake Onalaska.. before the 14 inch size limit..

the LaCrosse Club had a guy by the name of Bob McFadden..
He brought in 20 pounds on 5 bass on lake Onalaska.
on that day.. caught like 8 lbs of fish on one cast.. two bass on a deep crankbait..

what I am saying is that this river produces champion bass guys.. when you fish here every day or every week, it hones you in a way that no lake can possibly do.

I site a situation.. I have a spot up river.. that for the past 20 years was really good in the fall.. however.. the river ate through the bank.. and completely changed course.. and now my spot is an oxbow so to speak..
but I can go to a lake in Waukesha County , where I grew up and those points are all still there.. 30 years later.. they are still right where I left them when I moved up here..

the other thing.. is that everyone has their time frame.. you are great for a few years.. and good for your life.. but its that very specific, fleeting time zone.. when you are one of the best.. that you know that river, and that time like no one else can..

we have guys here like Jimmy Johnson, who I have personally never met, or spoke to.. or a guy like Cade..

right now.. its their time..
Cade’s should go on for a long , long time.. barring unforseen circumstances., if only just by his age alone.. not less counting his drive..

we had another guy around here, who, had he wanted to be, could have been as good as ANYONE.. but he has choosen a HIGHER CALLING.. and I give him credit for that.. He too, was a guy who could go anywhere and find fish.. and he has now in the Middle part of the state..

all I am saying is, that Just like New York City.. if you can make it HERE.. YOU CAN MAKE IT ANYWHERE..

but its up to you to work hard enough to be that successfull. because none of these guys got this good waiting for a bus..

and the way they all spell luck is this way.

W O R K..

comments are appreciated.. no ripping please, no one was ripped here..

Real nice article. There are some real good fisherman around here. I mean real good. Im glad you wrote it so well.

some nice history there. That being said you are looking at the river through rose-colored glasses. If it produced guys that good, one of them would have won the classic by now. But they haven’t. Every region of the country produces a few great anglers and lots of average ones.

One.. I know that I missed some guys.. and for that I apologize..

two.. the comment that “they should have won a Classic…”.. only one non pro has ever won the Classic..

but how many guys from here WENT TO THE BASS MASTER CLASSIC.

Lent was there at least twice.. and that’s when there were only 25 guys..
Cue went once..

and I am sure that there are others..

you fail to see that this river is like a sharpening stone.. either you learn how to use it correctly and it makes you brillently sharp.. or it rips you up..

plus you must rise to the competition. and trust me for the past 35 years, no place in Wisconsin or Minnesota has had better bass fishermen then the river.. no where..

and that’s not a brag.. its simple truth.

interesting read, as i like the history of local fisherman. I never heard of Jim Lent, so i did an angler search on bassmaster, and i see he never fished a classic but 4 tourneys from 78-83 timeframe(not to disscredit any of his accomplishments). Maybe you mixed the two of us up for classic appearances.Hopefully i will have as decorated past as the fore mentioned in the article.

well maybe I am wrong.. but I believe that he was in two very early classics.. 74, 75, 76, 77.. in that time frame.. but I sincerly believe so..

and If I am incorrect. I sincerly apologize to anyone whom I may have offended..

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and If I am incorrect. I sincerly apologize to anyone whom I may have offended..

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I believe you are referring to Marv Miller. One of the greats from the river. Fished in the 70,71′ classics.

My bass fishing history isn’t too sharp. Does anyone know how many anglers from the greater LaCrosse area have won either a bassmaster tour and/or elite series event or a FLW Tour event? With all the legendary fishermen in the area I’m guessing it might be a pretty high number….

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but how many guys from here WENT TO THE BASS MASTER CLASSIC.

Lent was there at least twice.. and that’s when there were only 25 guys..
Cue went once..

and I am sure that there are others..

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JJ has went twice i think, and finished top 10 once