An Impossible Cast

By Shane Andrews and Jeremy Miller

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Jerry McKinnis

Shane,

Because of my business you can image how many times someone asks, "Who's the best bass fisherman you ever knew?" My answer is always, "You're probably not going to know this man, but it's a guy by the name of Glen Andrews."

Glen was the best. If he had the luxury of today's boats and equipment, he would have changed bass fishing even more than he did without it.

I had a wonderful career and I owe a lot of it to Glen Andres. A bass angler who had talents that can't be taught - You're born with it.

Jerry McKinnis

Bill Dance

It's amazing to me how you can meet someone or simply hear something the person says and it can change your whole direction in life. The one person that changed mine back in the early days, particularly in 1966, and was highly influential in kick-starting my fishing career was a big ole tall, lanky, fishing guide by the name of Glenn Andrews.

There can be absolutely no doubt that I wouldn't be doing what I am today had our lines not crossed back then. This soft spoken, country gentleman impressed me so much by his uncanny fishing abilities and I can tell you for sure that my early tournament successes were greatly influenced by it.

Glenn used to always tell me "strategy wins tournaments." And he took the time to teach me how to read both shallow and deep water, the importance of using my electronics, how to read maps, how to locate key structural features and how to catch bass on them. He knew bass habits and habitat better than anyone I had ever met.

Glenn Andrews was, and still is, my mentor, my friend, my advisor and absolutely has always been, among the top contributors to the success of the name Bill Dance!

Bill Dance

Tommy Martin

Shane,

If my memory is correct Glen Andrews and Ralph Giesow came down to Sam Rayburn lake in December 1968. Sam Rayburn was impounded in 1965 and was just full of bass. The local people had been catching plenty of bass during the summer and fall but when the water temperatures started falling and winter arrived all the catching came to a stop. The local fishermen didn't know when the water got cold the bass moved to deep water 20 to 30 feet deep and they didn't know what lures or techniques to use to catch them. Glen Andrews and Ralph Giesow put on a real fishing clinic showing locals how to catch deep water bass. They fished the Andrews Twin Spin, Jig & Eels and Jigging Spoons on creek channels, road beds and other deep structure and caught loads of 3 to 5 lb. bass and showed the local fishermen the bass were still biting during the winter but they had moved to deep water.

I also learned a lot about deepwater winter fishing from Glen & Ralph. The lessons I learned from them has helped me tremendously on the tournament trail the last 36 years.

Tommy Martin

Bobby Murray

Just before the modern era of tournament bass fishing, one angler dominated the bass fishing scene in the bass belt located in Missouri and Arkansas. In 1962, 1963, and 1965, Glen Andrews won the Missouri State Bass Championship. He also won the Arkansas State Bass Championship in 1965. Before the creation of B.A.S.S., and the BassMasters Classic, the World Series of Sport Fishing Championship was THE fishing tournament which was recognized as the test of the best anglers in the country.

Glen was runner-up in the World Series of Sport Fishing Championship tournament in 1962 and 1963, and was the only two-time winner in 1965 and 1966. He was the founder and owner of Andrews Lure Company, and author of a syndicated fishing column called "Anglers World".

Glen is probably the greatest angler that no one has ever heard of. However, his influence on modern bass fishing is unparalleled by any other angler. Glen mentored fishing greats such a Bill Dance, Jerry McKinnis, Bobby and Billy Murray, Don Butler, Ray Scott, and a host of others who were an integral part of professional bass fishing history. Glen helped Ray Scott organize the very first bass tournament, the All-American on Beaver Lake, Arkansas in 1968. Soon after, Glen disappeared obscurely due to financial constraints and went on to pursue other careers. .. only to become a faint memory in fishing legend history.

Glen may not be the best angler I have ever known, but he is certainly in the top two. And I would venture to say that if you asked Bill Dance, Jerry McKinnis, Billy Murray, or Ray Scott about Glen, they would hold him in the same esteem as I do. It would be a shame if the Hall of Fame membership did not recognize a person that mentored so many anglers that have been enshrined in the Hall of Fame. Glen was the first true, professional bass angler. His insights into seasonal fish migration, structure fishing, lure development and lure presentation helped forge the basis of many of the country's leading bass fishing authorities of today. Glen Andrews is the subject of a book that is scheduled to be published in 2009. Glen Andrews is truly a worthy candidate for nomination into the Bass Fishing Hall of Fame. Glen now resides in Lead Hill, Arkansas on Bull Shoals Lake.

Sincerely,
Bobby L Murray
2001 Inductee Bass Fishing Hall of Fame

© 2009 Bryan Miller