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  Dennis
Bryant is a 35-year veteran of the 'Bass-wars'. A fisherman
since his formative years in California, Mr. Bryant has called
Toledo Ohio on the quiet shores of the ‘monster of lakes’, Lake
Erie, his hometown for nearly a half century now. He became
addicted to Bass fishing when he caught his very first Bass
(7˝ lbs) accidentally, while fishing for Crappie, during a family
‘camp-out’ in Canada in 1965. It’s been all downhill since then!
He
joined the brand-new Bass Angler Sportsman’s’ Society in 1966,
and became a Charter Life-Member the next year. He graduated
from the original ‘American Fishing Institute’ at the Indiana
State University, in 1980. Tournament fishing seemed to come
naturally! From 1967 to ’93 he fished an average of 25 cash-tournaments
a year, and spent more than 100 days a year on the water fishing/guiding
for Bass. He was a 10-time qualifier in the State of Ohio B.A.S.S.
Federation "Mr. BASS Classic", a 6-time ‘Team-Ohio’ B.A.S.S.
Federation team-finalist qualifier, 5-time Ohio B.A.S.S. Federation
individual-team qualifier, had 14 Circuit 1st-Place finishes,
and 181 top-ten finishes; add to the Bass Fishing successes;
2 ‘Top-Ten-Team’ finishes, out of 4 entries; in the Great Lakes
Sportsman’s Assn: Lake Erie Pro. Walleye Tournaments.
Raising
a family & having to buy all those expensive lures (half of
which did not’t work straight from the package) led to making
some of his own. Taught by some of the best ‘garage-mechanic
lure-makers’ of the ‘North Coast’; he started making his own
spinnerbaits back in 1970. Sold his first lures after using
them to post an opening-tournament win on the Ohio River, in
the 1971 ‘Open-Circuit’. He’s been using and making his "made-just-for-the-buyer"
custom-lures ever since then; as the owner of the ZAP Custom
Lure Company in Toledo, Ohio.
A
"real-job" injury in 1993 forced an early-retirement, and caused
lure making to take the place of tournament angling; allowing
the business to become a full-time enterprise. Once again, fishing,
guiding, and teaching the finer points of the sport to younger
anglers; is a hobby!
Dennis
is a very welcome addition to our Pro's Section. We feel that
you will find his articles very informative. If you ever get
a chance to try his products you won't be disappointed.
If
you have a question or comment for Dennis please feel free to
drop him a line at: TheFishingProfessor@bassonhook.com
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