1989's Bitter/Parker Bassmaster Classic

In 1989 the Bassmaster Classic took place on the James River in Richmond, Virginia. Floridian Jim Bitter had a substantial lead going into the final day and all the other competitors hoped he would leave the door open for a major comeback. Hank Parker made a major comeback and eventual won by 2 ounces after Jim Bitter's fourth keeper slipped out of his hands and went back into the lake with just a few minutes left in the fishing day.

[@larryhorne2788]

Bass fishing was huge back then! Half a stadium 🏟 crazy! I remember watching this back then I was 10 years old.

[@J.C...]

Yep! I was 9! Bill Dance was all over TV. All those fishing shows were.

[@FrankTichenor-hz2td]

Spirit of good sportsmanship;

[@bigbore4498]

I was there that day. 7 years old. First laser show I’d ever seen. My dad worked for Forrest Wood and we rode up with him and his wife. I’ll never forget that day. Back when fishing was fun and not just one huge advertisement.

[@rickfrancis5480]

I forgot about the laser show . I have pics from that says . Met all the guys I think the day before

[@F14AB]

When Ray Scott sold it, it was still good, for a few more years but now, today it’s pathetic and what else can you say? This era is the heyday of BASS and it will never be great again, not ever..

[@davidrogers220]

I was 8 yrs old when hank won that classic. I woke up at that morning flip the tv on to TNN outdoors at 5am to watch it. I idle that man to this day and I still watch his show I’m 38 now. that theme song comes on my wife yells at me to turn it off! Cause it’s also my ringtone

[@emroberts9274]

Yeah he’s my fishing idol for sure I’m 30

[@stevenwalker9013]

Not only one of the best all around outdoorsman but one of the all time great men. Class personified

[@J.C...]

Look at all them ladies in their 80s getups 🤣 that hair! 👌

[@robertg3790]

Nobody could ever add to the drama like Ray Scott could. I miss these early days of BASS. I know fish care has come a long way since then, but dang wasn’t the sport huge considering the lack of media coverage we have nowadays.

[@FrankTichenor-g3l]

Mercy; hummingbird

[@willperryman4559]

Keep these videos of past Wins coming....I was in a tournament on Kentucky Lake during this Classic 👍

[@slabbusterrtr7690]

Put'em on the scales dewey !!😂 ol Hank gotta love him

[@rickfrancis5480]

I was there ! It was awesome

[@silviodaniel22]

What a show!

[@trunkmonkey2931]

$25,000 pay out King 👑 Hank was and still is the man!!!

[@TheBasshunter12748]

What happened to Bass fishing? Classic in the 80s was huge!

[@RonnieMooreBass]

The Classic crowds are still huge! Packed house last year at Hartwell. The same will happen in Knoxville next week.

[@TN-Vols-Fan]

Knoxville broke attendance records. Bass fishing is bigger than ever. B.A.S.S. is the predominate bass fishing league.

[@FrankTichenor-hz2td]

AD!!!u made me an winner

[@mikeoswald7031]

These pro bassmaster were real!!!!! Ray Scott was the best !!!! All of them will never be topped!!!!!

[@robswestvirginiabassfishin617]

I remember this well.

[@samgarretson]

Gives me chills

[@thebassuniversity]

Hank Parker getting it done with the pistol grip.

[@slabbusterrtr7690]

He explains why he used one in some podcasts now pretty smart to

[@jerebandmichelle]

Awesome video !

[@FrankTichenor-pr3vq]

AD u made an winner;

[@StFidjnr]

6:59 Jim's Bitter pill moment

[@gary30229]

Jim was never the same after that…. Bitter for life!

[@DongWang-m4n]

If this is the worst thing that's ever happened to him in life, he is a very lucky man.

[@michaelbarlow6062]

😂

[@gary30229]

Ol fumble fingers

[@Frank-tq4pn]

Im still not going fishing with ya; spirit of sportsmanship;

[@franktichenor-qj8eo]

AD!WE ARE WINNERS

[@FrankTichenor-g3l]

Frank makes grades;

[@FrankTichenor-hz2td]

Down to Earth;Yes Ma'am

[@Frank-tq4pn]

Autobiography Hank Parker;

[@georgeadcock2347]

I know and have fished with Jim that was a devastating loss which he never really came back from. Just horrible.

[@slabbusterrtr7690]

Man u cant dwell on the past gotta move forward

[@DeniseMcClellan-d1u]

😢sad

[@FrankTichenor-g3l]

Mercury

[@FrankTichenor-hz2td]

Auto biography Hank Parker!

[@russb296]

Remember watching that on television on a Sunday morning back in the day. I said it back in the day that I can only Imagine the heartbreak that Jim Bitter experienced when his limit fish slipped out of his hands and back into the lake.... However,.Hank went out there and had an incredible final day on the water and no matter what occurred he won the Bassmasters Classic that year! And we all know that that was the birth of the infamous Hank Parker classic series spinnerbait with the Indiana blades.. which happens to be a spinnerbait that I'm sure that quite a few of us might still have hanging in our mancave, garage or even in our spinnerbait box.... especially that split tail trailer and those #5 & #7 Indiana gold blades...lol....

[@FrankTichenor-hz2td]

Never caught an river bass; it was an overflowed river lake; I caught Seven with an 8lbs. Largemouth

[@Frank-tq4pn]

Mercury hummingbird taylorship;

[@FrankTichenor-g3l]

.98sunday

[@24-7flounderproblem]

What happened to bass fishing?????? $$$$$$$

[@FrankTichenor-r7h8013psTif]

Hummingbird mercery;

[@Frank-tq4pn]

Washington wizard program; bass membership;

[@FrankTichenor-g3l]

Brad's member;

[@FrankTichenor-hz2td]

He's the opponent of Custumoto; I'm still not going fishing with him,;

[@FrankTichenor-pr3vq]

I'm the same age you are then.

[@westtexasdave2140]

This is why MLF can’t touch Bass Master and never will.

[@FrankTichenor-hz2td]

2nd wind is up in the 200

[@FrankTichenor-g6n]

.98 sunday

[@FrankTichenor-g3l]

Bass membership;

[@FrankTichenor-r7h8013psTif]

Religion before school;

[@FrankTichenor-g6n]

Chiefs win supebowl; kansas;philidela phillies brotherly love eagle mlb penet consecitiveuly;

[@dr.awkward9075]

And his last name was Bitter. How ironic is that? 🐟👋🤦‍♂️

[@06cgmwrx]

Holding those bigger fish almost vertical he's most likely breaking their lower jaw, unable to eat they will be dead soon

[@Diego-Delgado]

no

[@Kendrix1]

Not true. It's all about weight. I did a study as a fisheries student. Bass had to over 6 lbs 3 oz to injure it's jaw by holding it horizontally....know the facts before to spread misinformation....

[@GarryWills-cn8nn]

Man,talk about the one that got away!

[@davidlarsen-tj4tn]

Remember when ESPN went all in on bass fishing? Shows like Basscenter,Loudmouth bad,Bass tech. Didn’t last very long.

[@FrankTichenor-pr3vq]

AD u made an winner;