Roland Martin Retires

johnnie crain outdoors · Thu Feb 02, 2006 6:39 am

What do you all think about Roland Martin retiring from tournament fishing?
Personally, I never could stand the guy, but what a list of accomplishments!! WOW. Just curious. Johnnie

RNE · Post by **RNE** » Thu Feb 02, 2006 12:58 pm

Given his accomplishments Martin does stand tall among the greats in the sport.

His more recent competitive performance has been somewhat short of the past.

Then again the new breed of Pros are a lot better, they learned from the best such as Martin, Hibdon, Houston ETC. Evolution in action.

I never could warm up to the man, few could.

Richard.

Table Rock Guide · Post by **Table Rock Guide** » Thu Feb 02, 2006 2:02 pm

Johnnie, I agree... Never could take the guy.. I meet him here on the Rock he has a very big head.. But with everything he has done, I guess you can get a big head.. Still hate to see him go, it shows we are all getting old!!

bassin butch · Post by **bassin butch** » Thu Feb 02, 2006 5:08 pm

I never was a big fan of his either! Will never forget Martinizms: SOnnnn, that bass was 7,8,9 pounds, I wish I brought a scale. Lets not forget the end all be all helicopter lure. His tournament accomplishments speak for themselves. Love him or not: I wish him good health and a happy retirement Can wait to see the posts the day IKE retires!

Bassin Butch

carl · Post by **carl** » Thu Feb 02, 2006 7:30 pm

Never cared for the guy myself, but as you say he did accomplish alot. Another guy like him, new to the tour is Morgathaler. On a more positive note, I was at BassPro in St. Louis looking to buy some rods. Falcons basspro was there and I asked him a few questions, and wow. He talked to me for over an hour, answering every question I had. And dang it I can't remeber his name. I've been puchasing Falcons ever since. One story I like about Martin (this is just mean jealousy), he fished Bassmaster's surprise lake series, and zero'd. Carl

johnnie crain outdoors · Fri Feb 03, 2006 2:02 am

LOL: some good comments as hoped, Roland's fish always got bigger as he was fighting them then smaller as they got closer to the camera. I wonder why he never carried a SCALE?? I know he could afford a de-liar!!! I got about as sick of him saying "SON" as I have of Jimmy Houston kissing every fish, doesn't he know he could give those bass some kind of disease?? I'd like to see him kiss a musky once. Johnnie

RNE · Post by **RNE** » Fri Feb 03, 2006 1:44 pm

Now quit pickin on Jimmy, he's Ok. And besides, he smooched a big northern pike on his show last night.

I have to be honest though, I knew Jimmy pretty well way back then. We grew up just a few miles apart, fished the same lake, cussed each other evey once in a while. Every once in a while I'll run into him at some sporting siminar or boat show and if he's not completely buried in fans he'll give me a holler.

You should have seen it when Jimmy and Don Butler (Okiebug Lures) fished together back then. Two more opposite kinds of people, and fishermen would have been hard to find.

As for Mr Martin, a lot of us tried to figure him out back in the day. Never quite got it done. He was, and still is a serious competitor. Also, his contributions to the improvement of tackle and boats over the years sould never be forgotten or dismissed.
Personality aside, Martin contributed an enormous amount to our sport.

Does anyone remember the biggest fich he ever lost on film. I mean a real, not Martinized, big fish. I felt for the man when it happened, it was a truly trophy sized fish. Hint, it wasn't a bass, but was freshwater.

Richard.

johnnie crain outdoors · Sat Feb 04, 2006 8:51 am

Martinized!! I like that!! I researched Roland for an article and he really did do a lot of incredible stuff.
It saddens me that the "older" generation is retireing or worse, especially since I'm right there with them. I can't believe all my "heroes" belong to AARP.