West Coast Mount Rushmore

[N.A.R]

If there was a West Coast Tournament Mount Rushmore who would be the 4 faces carved into the side of the mountain and what lake would it be on?

To pick your top 4 is tough. I can only think of one Mike Kennedy of WonBass his circuit jump started so many careers.

[TomAtkeson]

It would be carved into the Clear Lake Volcano and would feature Dee Thomas, Skeet Reese ... not sure who the other two spots would go to...

[Robert F]

Not sure about the pictures. It would be tough to pick four people from the west that would be considered on the level of our National heroes.

As far as location there is no doubt it is in the walls of Lake Mead. Home of what USED TO BE the ultimate bass fishing tournament the US Open. Not to mention the first Bassmaster Classic.

I actually had a landmark on Mead when the water was much higher and before I had such sophisticated gear like GPS mapping that I called Mount Rushmore.

[Ricky-S]

Tony-What kind of question/answer is that. If you put Kennedy with WON Bass then you really don't know your Western bass fishing history.

You've got to go back further than that. You can't miss out on WCB, Western Bass, or US Bass.

Back in the day those guys were fishing both WCB and WON. There are too many greats out there but Dee and Glibe would be the first two on the list hands down....

[Phil]

I'd put it kinda in the Middle, Black Butte , Butte county rock Mt. In the middle of Shasta, Clearlake, Oroville, Folsom ?
Hal Huggins, Rich Bryant, Old WCB, Kennedy, old WON, and Gary Dobyns. Kinda goes back to when I started.

[keithcant]

Do you have any clue as to what the tournament field numbers were just from Naslund to Kennedy----a real drop.............then it just got to spiralling in the bowl once 'H' touched the handle!!


Mount Rushmore?? Mead sure has the walls of rock....but aren't our historical lines making a wall at an Indian Casino a more fitting place?

[Gary Dobyns]

My thoughts on Mike Kennady. He cared about WON Bass and the fishermen more than anyone ever has or will again. It was his life, really. Yes I wanted to strangle him at times, he was as hard headed as they come, he was very fair reguardless of who you were, and he wanted to see WON Bass be the best. He did not own it or get to make many of the decisions. He was an employee BUT WON Bass was his "baby". These kind of guys are very hard to find. The hard head should be remembered for all the good he did, and yes I considered Mike Kennady a good friend.

[DanIsaac]

from a fisherman's point of view,,,,hmmmm, how bout,

Dee, Skeet, and the two Gary's? Dobyns, and Klein!

[mark poulson]

Don Iovino?

[bigbass111]

Mike Kennedy was a great guy and like Gary said, loved WON like it was his. He always was fair to EVERYONE and his love for our sport was incredible. I know Mike and Jim Sleight had alot to do with me and getting started. And for that I couldn't say enough...

As far as a mount rush on the west, it could go several ways...

We have our pioneers and we have our celebs, it would be tough..

Martens, Reese, Dobyns, Rojas, Klein, Yelas, Thomas, Gliebe, Clausen and more...

[Brian Linehan]

Martens, Reese, Dee Thomas, Dobyns, Klein, and Yelas.

[acm95301]

Since the Delta is a bit sparse on majestic rock, I'll pick either Shasta or Oroville for the monument.

My four would be Dee Thomas, Skeet Reese, Gary Dobyn's and Aaron Martens.

That said there are sure to be a ton of names from the Dee Thomas ERA that I don't know..that deserve recognition...It just seems like the west came into its own under my Favorite four.

[hippie]

all the guys who moved there adress out of state so they dont have to pay our great ca. taxes should be removed from the picks.

[bahlzar]

how bout just 1 big carved out image of cooch !!!!!!!!!!!!1

[barse41]

all the guys who moved there adress out of state so they dont have to pay our great ca. taxes should be removed from the picks.

+1

my vote, dee and dobyns and ?? on a man made mountain on the main channel of the delta

[Gumpa]

It would be carved into the Clear Lake Volcano and would feature Dee Thomas, Skeet Reese ... not sure who the other two spots would go to...

Conroy Oakley and Gary Dobyns

[TomAtkeson]

It would be carved into the Clear Lake Volcano and would feature Dee Thomas, Skeet Reese ... not sure who the other two spots would go to...

Conroy Oakley and Gary Dobyns

I can agree with having Gary Dobyns ... hes a stand up dude ... took ribbing from my old boss and everyone else for that matter like a champ, super nice dude and a fishing stud My fourth would probably be Dave Gliebe.

[barse41]

robert Lee? mike long?

[Kevin]

Will Rakowitz, Mitch Southern, Mike Phua, and Kyle Grover

[tunaman]

Since the Delta is a bit sparse on majestic rock, I'll pick either Shasta or Oroville for the monument.

Baloney... Mount Diablo looms over all the Delta, for miles and miles, so it would be the fitting location to be seen from near and far.

Roger

[acm95301]

I considered Mount Diablo, and If you limited it to one face you might be able to make it big enough to recognise it from the Delta...and By delta I mean like from Mildred or something. If your gonna put four faces on it It will need to loom large and nearby. ergo my opinion that the high cliffs or bluffs of Shasta or Oroville would make easier canvass.

[Kevin]

You guys are funny. Shasta? The Delta? I don't consider these locations to be majestic at all. The island at Lake Perris would be the ultimate site. There isn't a more beautiful lake in the state.

[tunaman]

Come on up here Kevin, and I'll show you some views of Diablo you may not have seen yet... probably get a newly-strengthened afinity for the landmark?

Roger

[sTony]

If we're talking strictly west coast and not solely looking at the competitive aspect but what's been given to the sport in various ways, my picks would be easy...


Gary Loomis, Ken Huddleston, Dee Thomas, Don Iovino

There's my vote for whatever monument you decide to build.

sTony

[Hardshell]

My thoughts on Mike Kennady. He cared about WON Bass and the fishermen more than anyone ever has or will again. It was his life, really. Yes I wanted to strangle him at times, he was as hard headed as they come, he was very fair reguardless of who you were, and he wanted to see WON Bass be the best. He did not own it or get to make many of the decisions. He was an employee BUT WON Bass was his "baby". These kind of guys are very hard to find. The hard head should be remembered for all the good he did, and yes I considered Mike Kennady a good friend.

My thoughts too, 100% Ditto.

Hardshell

[Stretch1]

um dont you have to be DEAD first to have a mountain of your face done with some catching tag line...like its not how he finished, its how he set the hook ...Im going to throw out a circuit name....Newbass?

[2ndsuks]

Gary Dobyns, Dee Thomas, Skeet Reese and Dave Gliebe.

Thomas and Gliebe for their enormous accomplishments and putting flippin on the map. Reese because of his AOY and Classic victory.
Dobyns, what can ya say, the west’s all time leading money winner and recent U.S. open champion, I’d just like to have a dollar for every Evinrude motor and Ranger boat that man has sold or the boats he's won!

[Rick G]

Rich Schultz, started it all, Don Lee, kept it funded, Dee Thomas, our first superstar, and Don Iovino for being the Godfather. Rick G.

[Brian Linehan]

I say carve the faces on the floating crapper at DVL.

[Kevin]

That idea totally stinks.

[Colebass]

Since you said Tournament.

Dee Thomas, Dave Gleibe, Gary Klein and Gary Dobyns!

And others Could be Jay Yelas, Mike Folkstead, Don Iovino, The Garland Brothers and John Murray. A lot of people forget how good Murray really was when he fished out west. He won a lot of tournaments all over the west from Folsom to Havasu.

Of the newer guys who have went back east and made great names for themselves and the sport. Time will tell, but the odds are good there will need to be another mountain built:

Skeet Reese, Aaron Martens, Dean Rojas.

There is a lot of great history with a lot of great fishermen from the west.

I think an easier question would be to start a west coast fishing hall of fame so to speak. Then you could add guys like Mike Reynolds, Robert Lee, Jimmy Reese, Brent Ehrler, Gabe Bolivar, Russ Meyer, Dave Rush, Mike Baldwin, Byron Velvick, Gary Yamamoto, Bobby Barrack, Steve Klein and several others.

Good conversation, that's what this board use to be about.

[C.O. BASS]

My pop conroy oakley live for sport of bass fishing and pass on the water with a rod in his hand.

[kane-o]

no one mentioned ish monroe....

[Bev Payne]

Don't forget DON PAYNE. He has been a great teacher and if it wasn't for his and my health, he would be out there with the best of them.

[Wolfeman]

You guys are funny. Shasta? The Delta? I don't consider these locations to be majestic at all. The island at Lake Perris would be the ultimate site. There isn't a more beautiful lake in the state.

Have you been to Lake Tahoe? That's the most beautiful lake in CA even if some of it is in Nevervada.