Texas fisherman Tommy Martin won the 1974 Bassmaster Classic, fishing a spinnerbait, and a crankbait. He was clocked at an amazing 12 cast per minute. Using a Ranger 51/2 ft pistol grip rod, and a red ABU 5000 reel, he kept this pace up for a solid 8 hrs. Casting this fast and accurately would be impossible, if not unheard of in bass fishing today. This was the Classic, the biggest event in pro fishing. When ask about his win, Tommy Martin replied that he thought he won by keeping his baits in the strike zone, in front of the fish, more than the other competitors. To cast this fast, you've got to be in complete, total control of your tackle. I could never cast this fast, accurately, even with a newer magnetic reel, and lighter graphite rod. Most of us would never need to cast this fast on an average fishing trip. But, it makes sense as to what he said. Keeping your bait in the strike zone, in front of the fish, will catch you more bass. And, Tommy Martin is one of the all time best! Hands down! Anyone agree? Any opinions on fast casting?

Mr Van Dam has had some success Power Fishing, but that doesn't always mean fast . . . 

 

https://www.bassresource.com/fishing/crankbait-speed-kvd.html

 

A-Jay

Remember it well even though I was 13 yrs old.

It's what encouraged me to use nothing but quick fire Shimano spinning reels. 

 

Still have a few of the Syncopate spins.

4 minutes ago, A-Jay said:

Mr Van Dam has had some success Power Fishing, but that doesn't always mean fast . . . 

 

https://www.bassresource.com/fishing/crankbait-speed-kvd.html

 

A-Jay

A Jay, I thought this was pretty incredible especially with the tackle he had. Even on my very best day, I could never come close

4 minutes ago, Mobasser said:

A Jay, I thought this was pretty incredible especially with the tackle he had. Even on my very best day, I could never come close

Agreed ~

A cast every 5 seconds.

 So perhaps 1 second to present the bait, 3 seconds to work the bait and the last 1 second to reel it up the last few feet and make another cast.   

With any gear but especially THAT gear and for 8 hours ~ that's a Olympian Effort !

  

 While I don't remember this particular event, seems this would need to be a target casting deal, with dirty water and at very close range. 

A situation I'd love to try but rarely encounter in the waters I fish most. 

Either way, I'm not ashamed to know that there's no way I can come close to Mr Martin's performance 1974.

#machinegunmartin

A-Jay

 

 

1 minute ago, A-Jay said:

Agreed ~

A cast every 5 seconds.

 So perhaps 1 second to present the bait, 3 seconds to work the bait and the last 1 second to reel it up the last few feet and make another cast.   

With any gear but especially THAT gear and for 8 hours ~ that's a Olympian Effort !

  

 While I don't remember this particular event, seems this would need to be a target casting deal, with dirty water and at very close range. 

A situation I'd love to try but rarely encounter in the waters I fish most. 

Either way, I'm not ashamed to know that there's no way I can come close to Mr Martin's performance 1974.

#machinegunmartin

A-Jay

 

 

True for me also A Jay! I'd be embarrassed to try it in front of anyone. I was a Junior in high school when this was going on, but I like learning about this stuff.

6 minutes ago, Mobasser said:

True for me also A Jay! I'd be embarrassed to try it in front of anyone. I was a Junior in high school when this was going on, but I like learning about this stuff.

Me too ~ 

At 15 years old, I was still having a hard time finding my arse with both hands in broad daylight.

?

A-Jay

 

Having two bad shoulders from hockey and baseball injuries, I’m 100% certain both arms would fall off if I attempted anything like this. 

I'd have to practice this in total secrecy, for months on end. Then I still wouldn't be able to do it!?

In order to have a 5 second cast and retrieve, you would have to be making VERY short casts to even make that possible. I want to meet the person who sat there and timed him all day long and kept count of his casts. 

1 minute ago, fishballer06 said:

In order to have a 5 second cast and retrieve, you would have to be making VERY short casts to even make that possible. I want to meet the person who sat there and timed him all day long and kept count of his casts. 

Not sure on that. But agree probably short cast.

There is one article in Sports Illustrated, April 1976 that mentions this. I'll see if I can find the other article about his actual tackle. I know I read about his rod/ reel combo in another piece

20 hours ago, fishballer06 said:

In order to have a 5 second cast and retrieve, you would have to be making VERY short casts to even make that possible. I want to meet the person who sat there and timed him all day long and kept count of his casts. 

Sounds like a bit of hyperbole to me, like many fishing stories are prone to be...