BBZ Shout Out Sunday: Gary Klein "A True Legend of The Sport" And A Cool Friend

Make sure you take the time and follow Gary on his social media links below

When Gary Klein made his way east from California at the tail end of the 1970s to enter BASS competition, he had a distinct advantage over most competitors: He was one of the few practitioners of the flipping technique, most of his adversaries hadn’t even heard of it. Fans of professional bass fishing may remember the rookie campaigns of Kevin VanDam and Timmy Horton as transcendent, but Klein’s inaugural season was every bit as stout. He won an event and finished second in the angler of the year race to Roland Martin.

It was Martin’s last AOY title, and Klein later claimed the crown, but that first season still weighs on him. He had led the race all season, only to see Martin claim first place on the last day.“I ended up one pound, fourteen ounces away. Since 1979 I have logged everything I caught, and I’ve logged missed opportunities. If I get ten bites, I want to touch ten fish. That’s what separates the polished pro from the weekend fisherman.

Gary and Bill Siemantel with a great catch and a wonderful day on the water

“I looked at my missed opportunities and had to figure out why they happened. The rod was definitely a part of it.”

Since that time, he’s been noted for his perfectionist tendencies. He’s also maintained many of his sponsors, companies like Quantum, Mercury and Berkley (Trilene) for over two decades.

I started competing in bass fishing tournaments when I was a sophomore in high school. Back then, Western Bass was the association that I fished on the West Coast. I started fishing BASS in 1979. I won the second BASS tournament that I entered which was Lake Powell. I lost angler of the year to Roland Martin that year on the last day of the last tournament by a mere 1lb4oz. Since then, I have won the prestigious BASS Angler of the Year title twice.

I moved to Texas in 1988. I currently live in Weatherford, TX with my wife, Jana and my two daughters, Lakota and Kanyon.

I enjoy spending time with my family in the outdoors. I also enjoy exploring primitive survival skills. I am a highly skilled marksman Both of my girls are also outdoor enthusiasts. They hunt and fish! I would like to touch on this side of my life on the website.