1960's - Big new lakes, first Lowrance sonar, bass techniques yet to be developed, very few good fisherman - great pioneering times.

I first got excited about bass fishing when my granddad built several stock tanks on our farm west of Azle, Texas in the 1950's. There were some surprisingly big bass in them within 10 years. During college in the '60s, I discovered the east Texas lakes: flooded timber, coontail moss, dark tannic-acid water, and high bass populations.

This was also the time for more flood control and hydroelectric power; the Corps of Engineers was building many huge southern reservoirs. All these big lakes were stocked with bass and they just exploded in the fertile, newly flooded ground. Sam Rayburn TX, Ross Barnett MS, Eufaula AL: these stole the spotlight from Greers Ferry AR, Bull Shoals AR/MO, and Okeechobee FL and opened a new era of bass fishing opportunity.

I started fishing full time in 1970 and had some great days (and nights) on the water. The good old days were good!

Winter glory. Caught  over 80. Jigging spoons on tiny 36' hump.

Crankbaits. Got on strong pattern. Winter '73.

Nice bass. One of my first 9 lb class bass. Bomber Waterdog, 1968. Sam Rayburn.

Left, 13 lbs 5 oz.
Larry & I caught lots of big Texas bass but had to go to Florida to get this one back then - '69. Lake Jackson. Jumped 3 times!

Right, Spinnerbait day.
Late winter sows moving up. Had 3 over 8 lbs. Jan '72

Humongous bass.
Great night at Monticello; lizards.

100 pounds plus.
Hot July night. Full moon '74. Toledo Bend.

Surprise.
Not every bite on a big bass hole is what you expect. Plastic worm.