When I heard about the passing of Dion Hibdon, it hurt me inside.
I was shocked because I had no idea he was in bad shape. I knew he was a lifelong diabetic and had issues with it, but he was controlling it pretty well until recently.
As tough as it is to hear of his passing at such a young age, I prefer to dwell on our friendship and what I know about his life.
I actually became friends with his father, Guido, before I fished a pro tournament. He was an excellent mentor for me and was the first full-time bass pro I got to know personally. He was a former Angler of the Year and Classic winner.
Guido was someone I could go ask a question and get an honest answer. You may not like the answer you got, but you can bet it was an honest one.
Dion was somewhat like Guido. He may not have been as outgoing as Guido, but he always was straight and honest with the people he met.
He and I were closer in age and did fun things together. We did fishing trips including some saltwater outings off the coast of South Carolina.
Guido was known for his keen ability to sight fish bedding bass and for proving to the South that the tube bait was as effective on largemouth as it is on northern smallmouth.
I’m sure it wasn’t easy living in the shadows of a legendary father, but Dion handled it well and was his own man. He proved that when he won the 1997 Bassmaster Classic by a mere ounce over Dalton Bobo.
I’ll never forget the incredible amount of water and slime that dripped off Bobo’s bass as he walked about the stage displaying them to the crowd. I kept thinking, “put those fish on the scales before they lose weight!”
I was pulling for Dion, but I always want to see winners win. It remains the closest finish in Bassmaster Classic history.
Like his father, Dion was a power fisherman and a great finesse angler but was especially adept at fishing small jigs under docks on spinning gear and light line. That is how he won the Classic.
He will be missed by the bass fishing world, especially among those of us who knew him and the great Hibdon family.
Even so, I stay positive after such a tragic loss and remain very thankful I got to know him and call him my friend.
