Bill Dance 2024
5 Dollar Fishing Game reply :
A guy I was talking to on the water pretty much said that Bill Dance fished local private ponds only. If you ever see his show or you tube videos, he said you only see his boat and no others. He said this is because he has permission to fish huge ponds that are stocked. He said if he went to a real lake that he would be humbled. Apparently he thinks that Bill catching several 5# and heavier bass per show has to be set up. I even heard before that he hires divers to bait his hooks. LOL. I guess haters gonna hate. Has anyone heard this to before?
SPEEDBEAD. reply :
He fishes phosphate pits.
Would I fish them? Hell yeah. Do I blame him for filming a fishing show there? Nope.
I don't believe he leads anyone to believe that he is on a public lake fishing alongside you and me. There is no doubt though that he could launch at a public lake and whoop up on 99% of the guys out there fishing I believe.
Watch for the entertainment value, filter out the blatant product pushing and see it for what it is. A fishing show.
stk reply :
I've heard from others that Bill Dance does fish private ponds for his show.
5 Dollar Fishing Game reply :
He is a trip! He could fish my parents neighborhood pond off the bank and still be hilarious. Even when he is being serious, his manurisms are off the wall. :-)
Delaware Valley Tackle reply :
So what if he does? If most people had any clue of how many hours it takes to get 24 minutes of useable film they'd be the humbled ones. A friend of mine runs a small production company and filming isn't cheap or easy. It just makes good business sense to film in a location that minimizes time, interruptions etc. Most of the theories apply to waters of any size. Personally, I like Bill and his show for the most part.
VAHunter reply :
It's no secret that a lot of his shows are filmed on private waters. However, he'll tell you when he is at a public location. He just doesn't fish public water as much as he used to. I don't see a problem with it. I, too, fish a lot of private waters and catch nice, uneducated fish. I still get more satisfaction out of fishing public waters and catching a good bass.
00 mod reply :
He has a company where he manages private lakes. Bill Dance Signature Lakes. Many of his shows are filmed in his managed lakes. But he is still one heck of a fisherman!
Jeff
Brian Needham reply :
wow, another Bill Dance thread.
here is some of Dance info for you.
1. Bill does fish private ponds, truth.....though way back when he did film shows here locally at some local lakes. more than one show was filmed Horseshoe Lake, about 30 minutes from my house and other MS River oxbows.
2. Bill won couple tournaments back to back and qualified for classic multiple times.... He KNOWS how to fish, period.
3. Rumor says ole Bill got caught cheating and was forced to retire from tourament fishing......so the story goes by some of the old timers around here
4. Bill is ALWAYS eager to talk fishing, I met him more than once. Will always help, and talk to you like he knows you.
5. Bill owns several lakes he fishes as well
6. Known as a bass fishermen.... but HE LOVES to catfish!
7. he actaully started Strike King with a friend and had to drop his half since all his time was devoted to the trails at the time.
cbass12 reply :
He may fish private lakes, but I remember at least one show where he was on a river in Tennessee just wearing out the smallies. Wherever he goes the guy knows how to catch fish.
Brian Needham reply :
On 4/29/2014 at 3:22 AM, cbass12 said:He may fish private lakes, but I remember at least one show where he was on a river in Tennessee just wearing out the smallies. Wherever he goes the guy knows how to catch fish.
probably the Tn River....... Pickwick is one of his favorite places on Earth.
Hyrule Bass reply :
i would fish those lakes if i could too. his show is more about teaching and product pushing. who cares where he is fishing? if you can learn something from him take it and put it to use...
cbass12 reply :
On 4/29/2014 at 3:40 AM, Brian Needham said:probably the Tn River....... Pickwick is one of his favorite places on Earth.
I don't think it was actually, it was a smaller river that he walked into. It was one of the more entertaining shows of his that I have seen.
roadwarrior reply :
It was probably Pickwick or the tailwaters below the dam, technically Kentucky Lake.
Bill had a house just a mile or so below the dam. I have fished the same water with
him and his catfish partner James Patterson (Big Catfish) on numerous occasions.
bigbill reply :
Bill Dance is ok. But I like the InFisherman guys, Dime Store fisherman guys, Jerry McKinnis, or watching our pros here like Glenn, Hank Parker, ect explain everything to us too.
Besides what they say watch how they use the rod too.
I caught some newer guys on you tube I think it's "I Fisherman" or something like it. They seem cool too.
I like Charlie Moore too he fishes with celebs at times.
I wish Glenn would do an hour ESPN educational fishing show with the rest of the guys here but thank God we have them on you tube.
We need evening fishing shows at 4;30pm to 7:00pm. Great to watch while eating supper?
5 Dollar Fishing Game reply :
+1 Bill !!!
A specialty episode on Texas rigs about 5pm would be great for a dinner and a show. :-)
bigbill reply :
Bill Dance went head to head fishing the tornies with one of the fisherman brothers years ago. These guys are great fisherman we just didn't have the media and spotlight we have on the tournament guys like we do now. I was glued to the tv set back then too.
Bassguytom reply :
I like Bill Dance's show. It brings back memory's of when I was a kid on Saturday morning watching these shows with my pop. He still seems to change with the times pretty well. The last show I saw of his he was talking about micro guide rods and braid line. Still very informative and tries to explain techniques in a very understandable way. I bet a person new to bass fishing could watch one of his shows and go out and use the technique he showed them and catch fish.
AK-Jax86 reply :
I've heard these rumors too but he still has to catch the fish regardless if he's fishing a private stocked lake with giants.
I like watching his shows when I was younger but now I am more into other fishing shows on the Outdoor Channel like Zona, MLF, Bassmaster shows, Facts of Fishing, and others. If I happen to be home and I see Bill Dance on I will tune in when nothing else is on
Montanaro reply :
He's not fishing tournaments on those private lakes...he is teaching and pushing product. Doesn't need to be on public water...He could do the entire show from a BPS aquarium for that matter.
Hyrule Bass reply :
On 4/29/2014 at 5:25 AM, roadwarrior said:It was probably Pickwick or the tailwaters below the dam, technically Kentucky Lake.
Bill had a house just a mile or so below the dam. I have fished the same water with
him and his catfish partner James Patterson (Big Catfish) on numerous occasions.
im not sure if its the same place you mention, but i believe he was on foot wading and it was a small stream/river in TN. it was a two part episode and he was fishing for smallmouth.
Brian Needham reply :
if he was wading I HIGHLY HIGHLY doubt it was the Tn River or Pickwick.
I figured it was since Bill loves Pickwick.......but if he was wading it rules it out.
5 Dollar Fishing Game reply :
True point made that he does push product and instruct on those bodies of water.
SirSnookalot reply :
I watch Bill Dance every now and then, I think it's a pretty decent show. I have to say I was impressed one day watching one of his shows, he flat out knows how to another site. He has a saltwater series, one episode he was catching tarpon in the keys, handled them with perfection. His guide suggested using one of his bass set ups for 100#+ tarpon, it's a tv show of course he landed it. He did show the correct way to land fish that size, he was text book exact. More impressive he was about 69 at the time, about my age now, so I could relate.
boostr reply :
Who's Bill Dance?
boostr reply :
I kid, I make joke. What channel is he on now and what time, need to set the dvr. Speaking of fishing shows, is Facts of Fishing done for now with new episodes?
cbass12 reply :
On 4/29/2014 at 9:44 AM, Red Earth said:im not sure if its the same place you mention, but i believe he was on foot wading and it was a small stream/river in TN. it was a two part episode and he was fishing for smallmouth.
It was a pretty small stream, and one that I would kill to have near my home!!!!!
papajoe222 reply :
If your buddy thinks BD couldn't catch fish on a real lake, he is sadly mistaken. I wish I had 1/3 of Bill's knowledge and experience about this wonderfull sport.
Are his shows filmed on private or stocked waters? I don't really care.
Are His shows just one long commercial? "
The reason I watch is to be entertained and possibly learn something. You gotta admit, he is entertaining.
boostr reply :
Love the one episode where he gets a nose full of trebles.
Ohio Dave reply :
On 4/29/2014 at 9:00 AM, Bassguytom said:I like Bill Dance's show. It brings back memory's of when I was a kid on Saturday morning watching these shows with my pop. He still seems to change with the times pretty well. The last show I saw of his he was talking about micro guide rods and braid line. Still very informative and tries to explain techniques in a very understandable way. I bet a person new to bass fishing could watch one of his shows and go out and use the technique he showed them and catch fish.
I grew up on the same couch with my dad as well. Jerry and Bill are great guys: I would not care if they had someone putting fish on their hooks. they are two respectful polite men who I have never heard a single bleep out of on any of their shows.
5 Dollar Fishing Game reply :
Bill is still my favorite. He is down to earth and really catches some hogs! I love the "mule" episode. 13 pound monster!!!
Steveo-1969 reply :
How could anyone hate on Bill Dance? That's just plain un-American!!!!!
Alonerankin2 reply :
Bill Dance is the Godfather of bass fishing media!
He's very smart and fishing on private lakes, ponds,etc is just plain smart!
The man is a legend!!
5 Dollar Fishing Game reply :
Gotta love the Tennessee "T" ball cap. :--)
basscatcher8 reply :
Alot of shows are going to private waters. It doesnt bug me cause they are trying to teach and fish catches better illustrate and solidify their point. Hank Parker seems to be doing more and more shows on private waters. But like Bill hes also in the pond management business and is using it showcase some of his ponds he builds and educate. These guys can still fish they are just trying to produce the entertainment easier. His catfish shows are fun to watch though on the mississippi river.
5 Dollar Fishing Game reply :
Someone mentioned here that Bill Dance fishes "phosphate pits". What are they?
WIGuide reply :
Quite a few shows are filmed in private waters. You have to remember some of the older guys aren't fishing the tours anymore so they aren't traveling all around the country. It takes more time and ton of money not only to go around the country fishing and then have the expense of a film crew on top of it. Some are saying his show is just one long commercial, but it's more educational than given credit for on here. Yes he's putting in plugs for his sponsors, he's sponsored....that's kind of a requirement. He's teaching you how to catch more fish though. Fishing private waters helps that because he can go out and get enough fish for show fishing however he wants to for that show. The man can still flat out fish though! If the man is such a hater, he should try fishing against him.
SPEEDBEAD. reply :
On 4/30/2014 at 3:28 AM, 5 Dollar Fishing Game said:Someone mentioned here that Bill Dance fishes "phosphate pits". What are they?
Think of a rock quarry. Kinda the same thing but really nutient rich water.
5 Dollar Fishing Game reply :
Cool! Thanks speedbead. ;-)
carlm01 reply :
I think his show is great and as stated ,He's not the only one fishing on private waters , I've never seen any boats around the crew of Hook & Look and Facts of fishing ,The Bassmaster stuff has boats around as they tend to fish bigger waters on their shows but it's all technique for them and they rarely catch anything .. As for pushing products, that's how he makes his living and ALL of them do it ...
Grizzn N Bassin reply :
Mr.Bill dance is awesome. I love watching his stuff. I don't care where he's fishing. Like mentioned before Its a fishing show I take it for what it is and enjoy the entertainment
5 Dollar Fishing Game reply :
It may be a show designated to some instruction with the occasional inundation of advertisements. However he keeps me entertained with his goofy maneurisms (including plenty of out takes) and he is also smart. I even have one of his books that I thoroughly enjoy.
bigbill reply :
Now after watching Bill Dance with my little kids with me being glued to the tv set now decades later every time bills music comes on the tv my kids laugh at me. My kids are in there late 30's now.
I still watch Bill Dance.
geo g reply :
Bill is one well respected fishman from the old days. He could fish almost any body of water and do respectable. He has 50 years of experience behind him. Nice guy and good fisherman. He does take forever to land a 2 pound fish! 
phototex reply :
I've never heard this before, but it could be true. After all, TV is TV. However, Bill - in his early days - also did quite well on the Bassmaster tournament trail.
mjseverson24 reply :
Bill Dance, Rowland Martin, and hank parker are the bass equivalent to golfs Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, and Gary player... They are legends of the sport, they paved the way for future generations to grow and enjoy the sport... they also do a great job of promoting and teaching... I enjoy all of them, and would rather watch re runs of bill dance than a new episode of real housewives of atlanta...
Mitch
Basswhippa reply :
I believe it is the Strike King ponds Bill fishes. I've heard the rumors of him having scuba divers put fish on his hooks in public waters, but never really believed it. He is probably the only fisherman who I've ever seen produce quality shows on Reelfoot Lake, due to it being unkind to boats and kind of out of the way. He always produced a great show there every few seasons and I'm sure there were no scuba divers attaching fish to his line in those waters. LOL
A reel fishing show pioneer and I too recall watching his shows when I was a kid. I always was suspicious of his big fish catching but it's entertaining and a lot of it was private waters, so it made sense and gave me something to hope for. That said, I've seen many a show on Pickwick and on the Mississippi River.
Bill Dance, Jimmy Houston, Roland Martin are true pioneers of the modern fishing show.
Any of you all buy a Dance's Eel? I think YUM or somebody still makes that lure. LOL
Jrob78 reply :
This is no secret, he's been fishing those phosphate pits for years. Think about it, he's an older fella now and probably doesn't want to spend 3 days on the water to film an episode. We get to see a load of huge fish and he gets to teach in an efficient manner. Anyone who thinks BD couldn't catch fish on public water is sadly mistaken. He doesn't have to prove anything to anyone.
OntarioFishingGuy reply :
It doesnt matter WHERE he catches bass, it matters IF he can catch bass and HOW he can catch bass. 
5 Dollar Fishing Game reply :
I can watch his outtakes all day lol
OK Bass Hunter reply :
When I first came to the states 30 years ago,Bill Dance was one of my favorites. He still is. I watch a bunch of other fishing shows but when Bill is on I still tune in. He's like the uncle who always took you fishing. I know he's pushing product, but he also imparts knowledge in a way that's easily understood.
tatertester reply :
I'll take Bill Dance anyday over Charlie Moore or Moaning Mona.
bigbill reply :
Jerry McKinnis was one of the first trail blazers bass fisherman on tv. We have the bass masters because of him. All the rest that followed took the gauntlet and raised the bar even more.
hoosierbass07 reply :
I guess I'm a fan of Bill Dance. I can usually watch most of his show. Other fishing shows I usually fast forward through or delete after watching four seconds.
I don't usually watch Jimmy Houston but I recorded one of his programs Saturday and it was rather bizarre. Or maybe I should say Houston is a bizarre man always laughing like he's on laughing gas. lol. The odd thing was he was kissing every fish before he released it and the military veteran was kissing every fish before he released his fish and Jimmy kept telling the kid in the boat to kiss all the fish before he releases them. lol. Odd and yet funny.
boostr reply :
That would be what you call "Taboo"
bigbill reply :
Jimmy has probably made millions kissing fishes so why change now.
5 Dollar Fishing Game reply :
I don't buy the scuba diver stuff. ;-)
Pete-K reply :
Bill used to do a lot of shows on Pickwick lake or the River below Pickwick dam. But it got where everytime he did a show, people would flock to where he was fishing. So that I bet is part of the reason hes fishing private waters.
And don't think for s second the old man could not show all of us a thing or 5. I bet he can still catch fish on any water he fishes.. And yes he had a house by his uncles place at the Botel. As Bill Belles was his uncle.
Pete
jhoffman reply :
Yeah I can imagine trying to film would get old having guys all over you. Imagine if KVD, Ike, Ish, Martins or someone like that had a weekly show on known lakes. There would always be some yahoo in the background.
The hunting industry thrives on hunting private land and yet people buy into it thinking every property holds a 150" buck.
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