TV fisherman

[fatrap]

Talk about bad luck. Last Friday I made fun of a well know TV fisherman and sometime while sleeping friday night my back went out. Coundn't even tie my shoes sat morning. The truck sat next to the boat all gassed up and went no where. I did get to watch Bill Dance Sat and guess what? He is still B.O.R.I.N.G!!

Andy I did see that episode with Jerry Reed. It was hilarous. Dance should have stuck with the format IMO I loved wathing those shows back then.

BTW what ever happened to Billy Westmoreland?



fatrap

 

[Rob LaMoy]

His health is failing a bit. Not in the best of shape last I heard.

 

[Tony Payne]

It was reported on another board that Bill Westmoreland has passed away.



If I can find an official release about it, I will pass it along.

 

[gone bye bye]

Gee I hope not....that man has more knowledge of smallmouth behavior in his little pinky than I do.....



Mini

 

[Rob LaMoy]

I know, he's FORGOTTEN more than most of know collectively! He was on my list of "to fish with" someday. Dang, hope he's still alive.

 

[Tony Payne]

I still can't find a news release... but unfortunately, Billy Westmoreland has indeed passed on.



http://www.fishin.com/cgi-bin2/dcforum/dcboard.cgi?az=read_count&om=6612&forum=DCForumID16&omm=0



I Like Catchin' Smallmouth Best of All

Theme of the Billy Westmoreland Fishing Diary

Copyright 1984, Nash-Angeles Music BMI / Sweedie Music BMI



Everyone I know Loves Fishin

And Leavin Cares Behind

The Feelin' of a Big One on the Line



I Like Freshness of the Springtime and Colors of the Fall

But I like Catchin' Smallmouth Best of All



Sure do like the Easy Feel of a Lazy Summers' Day

The Sun on My Back, Wind across my Face

But I start Feelin' Warmer, Come the First Snowfall

Cause I like Catchin Smallmouth Best of All

 

[gone bye bye]

God Bless him.....I know he is now in smallie heaven. I guess the Lord wanted a guide trip!



Mini

 

[Rob LaMoy]

He'll get his record smallie now! Go get 'em Billy. Rest peacefully.

 

[Rob LaMoy]

You know we begin to see the first/original generation of bass anglers, the originators of the sport are aging and moving on. Bill Dance, Hank Parker, Billy Westmoreland, Basil Bacon, though he just won a FLW tourney. But I look at the field of new, young competitors and think.....whew, this looks tougher and tougher each year. And yet I keep hearing that George Jones song, "Who's gonna fill their shoes?" From the looks of the aspiring pros coming up through the ranks, bass fishing will continue it's legacy as a sport of integrity. And one for anyone who has the grit and determination to hang in there. I love our sport!

 

[Rob LaMoy]

Oh and Fatrap, I whole heartedly agree with you on the Bill Dance thing. Gee how hard is it to catch fish on a TN private, stocked farm pond? Ever see any other boats in the back ground of his show? NO! ALL the fish are 5-8 lbs??? Give me a break. They bite ANYTHING he throws and you can always see shore just a few feet away. So why is he in a 20 foot procraft when the pond he's on isn't long enough to get it on plane anyway? They stock the pond with FL strain LM, pump them full of shiners and pumpkinseed all year and then along comes good ole Bill claiming to be the best. I have lost all respect for him if he can't go out and catch fish like the rest of us. You could throw a bottle cap with a hook on it in that pond and limit out.

 

[Andrew Zuber]

Bring back Fish Fishburne's show!!!

He doesn't even have to catch any fish...

What a crack up!!!



az

 

[Texas Transplant]

Rob,



Boy, I couldn't agree more on your point about Dance. I have had to explain this fact to my wife. She thought that everyone should be able to go out there and just chunk and wind that reel, landing fish after fish.



Once I got her to start watching closely, she realized the same thing.



Tex

 

[Rob LaMoy]

It's an insult to our intelligence to think that we won't figure it out. When I ran the sporting goods at Wal-Mart years ago, Bill Dance was and I think still is sponsored by Wal-Mart, at least his show. So I called his agent to have him in for an appearance for our spring fishing kick-off. It was $5k a day plus expenses. We pay for his flight, food, and hotel, and he gets $5k for showing up for the day. Which by the way, a "day" for Mr. Bill Dance is only 4-6 hours. Gee, $1,000 per hour, I could get by on that. Especially for just fishing stock ponds. We have trout ponds like that up here. My boy can catch 5lb trout on every cast. Maybe I ought to work something out with the owner and start a show! LOL

 

[James D.]

just make sure you don't wear the hat with the big orange T on it. put on that good crimson sooner cap with the OU on it when you do your show.



jd