Asked how he feels about being voted the best tournament bass angler of all time by BassFans, Denny Brauer says that "it's just a tremendous honor," especially because it's a vote by the fans.

"I have a tremendous amount of respect for the fans of bass fishing," he says. "I've always felt that they were the No. 1 ingredient in our system: the fans, the media, sponsors and the fishermen, in that order, with the promoters at the bottom. That gets turned around once in a while (laughs), but that's the way I feel."

Brauer also says he feels it's an honor to be voted the best over such unbelievable anglers as Rick Clunn, Larry Nixon, Gary Klein, Roland Martin and Kevin VanDam. "I just look at us all as being very successful," he says.

What Hasn't He Won?

A brief list of Brauer's achievements in the sport reads exactly like it is: a list of every major honor in bass fishing, and then some. They are:

> BASS Masters Classic win (1998)
> FLW Angler of the Year and first pro angler on the Wheaties box (1998)
> BASSMASTER Superstars win (1993)
> BASSMASTER MegaBucks win (1992)
> B.A.S.S. Angler of the Year (1987)

Plus he's achieved the following:

> Currently No. 1 on the B.A.S.S. all-time money list ($1.5 million)

> More than $2 million in winnings in his career

> Holds the single-season money winnings record on the B.A.S.S. circuit ($347,900 in 1997-98)

> Won four out of five BASSMASTER Top 150 tournaments in a row, including the Classic (1998)

> A whopping 68 Top 10 finishes, 12 of which were wins. Only Clunn (13), Nixon (13) and Martin (19) have more wins on the BASSMASTER circuits.

> The only pro angler ever to have been on "Late Night with David Letterman" (twice) or any network talk show, and doubtless the only angler ever to attempt to teach Ozzy Osbourne (on the same show) how to flip.

Tough Competition

Certainly many fans will argue that Clunn's achievements (notably 28 consecutive Classics fished and 4 wins) are more impressive, and a few pointed out that if the voting was held in 10 years VanDam would likely be the hands-down winner.

But for here and now, Brauer -- who has fished the last two years with tremendous back pain (see stories here and here) -- takes it home. With that in mind, we asked him a few questions.

BassFan: What do you consider the biggest achievement of your career to date?

Brauer: "This may have been it. The sport has been very good to me, and as I look back it seems like every step along the way was very important at that particular time in building a career. The one thing that becomes important is the one thing that eludes you, and for a while that was the BASS Masters Classic. When I won it I thought it was great payback for the fans who had pulled for me over the years and the sponsors who had supported me. That event gives you the opportunity to pay back so many people at once. But to me this is quite an honor, when the fans step up and nominate you for something like this."

BassFan: Have you ever thought about being the best fisherman ever?

Brauer: "No. You just go out and try to do the best job you possibly can. We're all very competitive individuals -- you just don't expect honors like this. And it really kind of surprises me. With my back problems and the surgery over the last couple of years, I haven't been at the top of my game. When that happens you can fade from people's memories. But now that I'm getting back into condition, hopefully I can play the game like I want to."

BassFan: What's your best fishing memory?

Brauer: "Probably the time I spend down here on my farm pond with my grandson. It's awesome and relaxing. We fish for whatever bites, and we do it quite often."

BassFan: When will the fans see you back in the winner's circle?

Brauer: "I think I'm getting close. I'm getting to the point where I can stand again and fish -- not all day, but a fairly good percentage of the day. Now it just boils down to me finding the winning bunch of fish. Physically I'm back to where I'm capable -- presenting and fishing a bait with that intensity. And mentally I know I'm there. I want it bad. But even when you're healthy you can go a couple of years without winning and then, boom, you go and win two or three of them. So some of it is beyond your control. But right now I think I have the back situation in check. By this spring I should be back at 100 percent. And I think I'll be better than I was before these problems started because I'm in better shape. I've dropped some weight and have been working out. Hopefully that will compensate for aging a few years, and I'll play the game a little better."

Brauer is host of "The Bass Class with Denny Brauer" on ESPN2 Saturday mornings (8:30 EST), and with son Chad has his own web site.

On Sunday (10/14) read what Kevin VanDam has to say about Brauer.