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Bill Dance is a name and a face known by anglers from all over the United States.

Hailing from Tennessee, Bill Dance was originally going to be a doctor, like his father and grandfather before him. In the 1960’s, he happened upon a grizzly motorcycle accident that turned him off to that idea, and started competing in bass fishing tournaments.

Luckily for us anglers, this would prove to be his true calling. Not only did he do very well in bass fishing tournaments, a lure manufacturer that sponsored him approached him about doing a television show to promote the lure.

Bill Dance Outdoors originally aired on an ABC affiliate in Memphis, Tennessee. Eventually, the show went national and can now be seen coast to coast on different networks.

My Early Bass Fishing Education

When I first got started in the sport of bass fishing, Bill Dance Outdoors was pretty much my classroom. I was amazed at how this guy could pull fish in seemingly every condition known to man.

Back then, I didn’t know about the behind the scenes action that goes into a television fishing show. Sure, a show can take up to a week to film, getting only the best fish on camera. To a 12 year old kid, this wouldn’t have mattered anyway. I was mesmerized every time I tuned in.

Bill Dance will always hold a special place in my heart, and in the hearts of anglers everywhere. He focuses on the fun of fishing, and always seems to be able to capture that magic when he’s on the water.

The Bill Dance Look

Bill is known for his trademark look, which includes his signature series sunglasses, and a Tennessee Volunteers hat.

The original hat was actually given to Bill by the head coach of the Vols, the great Doug Dickey, back in the ’60’s.

When I was 12, seeing Bill Dance with his polarized sunglasses made me have to get a pair. Somewhere, Pops still has a picture of me wearing my Bill Dance shades, which were way too big for me, holding up a bluegill that I caught on a very early fishing trip.

I figured if Bill Dance was wearing ’em, I had to do the same!

The Bill Dance Outdoors Outtakes

Some of the funniest video you will ever watch are Bill Dance Outdoors outtakes. It just goes to show, we are all human, and Bill takes them in stride.

I’ve compiled some of my favorites here for you.

And Some More

And yet even more…

Bill Dance We Salute You

In the spirit of everything that makes fishing great, Man Versus Fish salutes Bill Dance and Bill Dance Outdoors!

See ya on the water…