![]() We've been buddies ever since," George said with a grin. "In our next couple of trips together Bill caught a 75, an 83 and 110. On their first trip together George said they didn't catch any monster cats, but Bill did not give up on him. He asked if he could go fishing with me and I was like, 'Well, hell yea!" "I told him my name and he said, 'Sure, I know who you are," because of the big fish I'd been catching that year. "I just happened to cross paths with Bill on the launching ramp one day and we started talking," said George. In the catfishing community, when anybody is catching monsters consistently, the word spreads. George, however, said he had been having a fantastic year catfishing, hammering numerous huge cats using his own technique and bait. But of course I didn't bother him or talk to because he was, well, Bill Dance." "I was on the river catfishing two or three times a week and I would see Bill out there a lot. "I've been good friends with Bill about six years," said George. Of course, the first thing I wanted to know was how he got to be such buddy-buddies with the world-famous Bill Dance. It took a while, but I finally got a phone call into George. I just told George I'd help him out however I could." I started asking Bill some details about the Mississippi River Monsters tournament when he said, "I'll tell you who you really need to talk to. However it seems in recent years, for his personal "fun fishing," Bill's attention has turned more and more to catfish. Of course on TV Bill mostly focuses on bass. "Bill Dance Outdoors" began in 1968 and is one of the longest-running outdoor shows on TV. Of course Bill Dance made his name fishing, and winning, Ray Scott's BASS tournaments decades ago, at least until he gave up competition and turned to TV. ![]() But the bottomline, Bill was working hard tracking down everyone he could that would help spread the message about the premier Mississippi River Monsters Catfish Tournamen t Sept. "Weather is always a factor, but these guys made it look easy on these waters.It was a great conversation about this, that and the other. Ken Freeman, as always, is very appreciative of Coca-Cola for their help and support as well as, Bob Keast and staff at Birdsong. ![]() Gifts and prizes from Plano tackle boxes to Zebco rods and reels were given away. Residents from Camden and Birdsong brought their children and participated in the kids' event. True to form, the Big Cat Quest tourney awarded more than $10,000 in cash and prizes. Rounding out the fifth place was Kenneth Darling from Pocahontas, TN. was close behind in fourth position when he presented a 13.85 pounder. Third place was deemed to Mike King from Collierville, TN. Ray had a 27.15 pound fish which won him a new Sea-Ark boat and Suzuki motor. ![]() Sure enough, in the last hour, in strolled Ray Ferguson from Knoxville, TN.,edg-ing Strickland out of the top spot into second and a $1000.00. And just like in the other Big Cat Quest hourly tournaments, the suspense continued to build. ![]() Throughout the day, every hour, catfish were weighed, and Ronnie's fish held firm. weighd in the first hour with a 21.15 pound catfish. With prevailing winds and clouds looming from an incoming cold front, the tournament started off with a bang and 82 participants despite adverse water conditions. Rain pelted down until the day of the tournament at Birdsong Resort and Marina. The Tennessee River had been on the rise and the current was fast. The weather had been less than perfect the week before the Bass ProShop's Big Cat Quest presented by Coca-Cola on May 6th, 2006 from Ken Freeman Outdoor Promotions. Strong Currents Bring Big Wins at the Bass ProShop's Big Cat Quest ![]()
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