One of the most accomplished anglers to ever compete on the Bassmaster Tournament Trail is veteran pro Shaw Grigsby. The 68-year-old Florida native won nine events and qualified for 16 Bassmaster Classics … one of which was a second-place finish at Logan Martin Lake in Alabama.
Competing in over 350 B.A.S.S. events from 1985 to 2018, Shaw earned more than $2 million in prize money and amassed a cumulative weight of nearly 10,000 pounds. That’s catching them!
Shaw also hosted his own fishing show titled One More Cast, which aired for 21 years on TNN, the Outdoor Channel and Sportsman Channel. Add to that the dozens of other TV shows, podcasts and radio programs he was featured in, and, well, he’s nothing short of a superstar in the sport of fishing.
I’ve known Shaw for much of my adult life. We live in the same town and know many of the same people. And though we followed our own paths, our friendship has remained strong.
Meeting by chance
I first met Shaw in 1978, during a monthly meeting of the Bassmasters of Gator Country — a B.A.S.S.-affiliated club based in our hometown of Gainesville, Fla.
I learned about the club through one of my instructors at the University of Florida — a guy named Larry Wilson. Larry was an associate professor in the School of Fine Arts and he loved to fish. When we realized each other’s passion for the sport, we started fishing together. Not long after, he suggested I join the club.
Although I was curious about club-level fishing, I had no real intentions of participating in their tournaments. Somehow, though, my name was thrown into a hat for the next event and, as luck would have it, I drew out with Shaw.
The tournament was slated for Lake Kerr in the Ocala National Forrest, a place I had never seen or heard of. I was excited about the prospects of fishing there, and even more excited that it was a night tournament — dusk until dawn. Among the many outings I made with Larry Wilson, some were night trips. And I knew big Florida bass oftentimes bite better at night, especially in the warmer months.
As prearranged, I met Shaw at the boat ramp with all my gear. Soon after, the tournament director started the event and we were off.
As the sun sank into the horizon, we went to work — both of us throwing buzzbaits. I remember it being a still, humid night with very little visibility. Only a few lighted boathouses along the shoreline offered any type of reference to our whereabouts. I also remember losing a big bass next to the boat, and Shaw tactfully explaining the reasons for using a trailer hook, then offering me one.
Closer to midnight, things heated up when Shaw caught a 6-pounder. A little later, he added several other quality fish. By morning, he had amassed a big sack of largemouth, all of which were caught on a buzzbait with not one, but two trailer hooks.
That was the first lesson he taught me. And though it seemed costly at the time, it has since paid huge dividends.
Not long after, Shaw invited me to pre-fish with him for a team tournament — one that he was to compete in with our mutual friend, Gerry Bevis. That was my first real exposure to pattern fishing. We were on Lake Griffin — part of the Harris Chain of Lakes — and once Shaw identified the right depth and cover type, he successfully expanded the pattern to other parts of the lake.
A year or two later, we started competing in buddy tournaments together, finishing high and winning several in different locations — including the Suwannee River, Lake Rousseau and Orange Lake.
More lessons learned
When the HydraSports Team Trail was announced, we signed up for the Eastern Division. The tour began in Florida and worked its way north to Alabama, Georgia, the Carolinas and Tennessee. Some of the events occurred during the spawn, and that is when I learned much of what I know about sight fishing.
Shaw was and still is an absolute master at the technique. His vision is insanely keen, and he knows how to judge each bass by its behavior … whether it will bite and how to present the bait to provoke a strike. Watching him finesse each fish was like observing a skilled painter or sculptor at work.
We also learned many techniques together, like Carolina rigging, how to fish spoons and big crankbaits on deep structure, and throwing jerkbaits for suspended bass. The HydraSports circuit served as a great proving ground and eventual launchpad for both of us, especially after winning their East-West Championship.
That happened in 1982, on the Pascagoula River in Mississippi. Together, we weighed a two-day total of 22 pounds and narrowly edged out second place. Shaw did most of his damage with a crankbait, me with a speed-style worm. Our combined weight wasn’t much, but it was enough for the victory and the press that followed.
Separate paths
About that time, Backlash Inc. announced its Florida Draw Trail. Shaw and I both entered and realized quick success. Each of us won an event and I became Angler of the Year, winning my first bass boat.
In 1983, Operation Bass (later FLW and now Major League Fishing) launched the Red Man Tournament Trail (now the Bass Fishing League), which consisted of 10 different divisions. Ours was called the Gator Division, which included six separate qualifying events. Among them were the St. Johns River, Harris Chain, Kissimmee Chain and Okeechobee.
By season’s end, I qualified for the Red Man All American on Kentucky Lake and won a fully rigged Ranger Boat. Seeing my success, Shaw entered the following year and won the Red Man All American and $100,000.
Soon after, he entered the B.A.S.S. Invitationals, qualifying for the Bassmaster Classic in his second full year on tour. It took me a bit longer, but I finally joined in 1987 and qualified for my first Classic on the James River in 1989.
Shaw’s rise was nothing less than meteoric.
By applying his skills at sight fishing, he won numerous events across the county, while garnering considerable media attention. Our mutual friend and Bassmaster Senior Writer, the late Tim Tucker, featured Shaw in countless articles, even several books. Other outdoor writers swarmed him as well. In lockstep, his sponsors utilized his endorsement in numerous print and television ad campaigns.
Realizing so much success, it was only fitting that he launch his One More Cast TV show, which further increased his celebrity.
Accolades and next steps
In 2017, Shaw was inducted into the Bass Fishing Hall of Fame. His likeness and accomplishments are engraved on a plaque, displayed at Wonders of Wildlife in Springfield, Mo. Alongside are legends Ray Scott, Forrest Wood, Bill Dance, Roland Martin, Hank Parker, Denny Brauer, Woo Daves, and many others. He was also inducted into the Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame and later he became an honorary member of Legends of the Outdoors.
In 2018, Shaw left the Bassmaster Elite Series to compete on Major League Fishing’s Bass Pro Tour. Similar to the PGA-LIV split in professional golf, many of our sport’s best left for MLF. Despite the split, Shaw remained a friend to many on the Bassmaster Elite Series. In fact, he still attends the Bassmaster Classic Outdoors Expo each year to greet fans and represent his sponsors.
Now at the age of 68, he has decided this will be his final year of competition. When asked, “What’s next?” He’s quick to respond, “Gator hunting!”
Shaw is licensed by the State of Florida to trap and remove nuisance alligators, and many of those he extracts are massive. He and his grandson Bryce have caught and relocated some exceeding 10 feet in length and weighing as much as 600 pounds.
It’s a form of conservation he takes great pride in, knowing he’s protecting vulnerable livestock, pets and landowners … as well as the gators he relocates. In many ways, he says it’s just as rewarding as fishing.
Looking back, it’s not just the on-the-water lessons I gained from our friendship. It’s also his attitude and approach to the sport and the outdoors in general. He’s a true teacher with a driving passion to share his knowledge.
Shaw is also a sportsman and conservationist. He’s involved with several state agencies tasked with the management and protection of our fisheries — both inland and along the coast. He’s a supporter of the Coastal Conservation Association, Duck’s Unlimited and other protective groups … and he’s making a difference.
That’s a lesson we should all learn, and a path we can all follow.
For more Lessons from Legends, follow these links:
https://www.bassmaster.com/news/lessons-from-legends-aaron-martens/
https://www.bassmaster.com/news/lessons-from-legends-rick-clunn/
https://www.bassmaster.com/news/lessons-from-legends-forrest-wood/
https://www.bassmaster.com/news/lessons-from-legends-ken-cook/
https://www.bassmaster.com/news/lessons-from-legends-guido-hibdon/
https://www.bassmaster.com/news/lessons-from-legends-roland-martin/
https://www.bassmaster.com/news/lessons-from-legends-charlie-campbell/
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