GODFATHER OF PROFESSIONAL BASS FISHING - RAY W. SCOTT JR.

Ray W. Scott (1933-2022) was the founder of the Bass Anglers Sportsman Society (B.A.S.S.) of which I am a life member, BASSMASTER Tournament, BASSMASTERS television show, the BASS Federation and BASSMASTER Magazine. He died on May 8^th of 2022. In 2003 he was honored with the Horatio Alger Award and author of Prospecting and Selling From a Fishing Hole to a Pot of Gold. Robert H. Boyle wrote a book about this extraordinary man: Bass Boss: The Inspiring Story of Ray Scott and the Sport Fishing Industry He Created. Scott was 88 years old, dying peacefully in his sleep. His legacy is the Bass Anglers Sportsman Society (B.A.S.S.) - the world's largest angling organization.

RAY SCOTT & BARBARA BUSH

Scott became good friends with President George H.W. Bush, his son George W. Bush and wife Barbara who were avid anglers and celebrities often joined Scott on tournaments and fishing at Ray Scott's private lake. Barbara Bush and George W. Bush joined George senior on fishing incursions.

Known as the “Godfather of Bass Fishing” and earned the nickname “Bass Boss”, he turned what he loved into an international sport. The story of all it began occurred in 1967 when on a fishing trip at Jackson, Mississippi, Scott and his fishing partner were rained out and Scott was disappointed that the only thing on TV in his motel room was professional basketball. He thought it was time that there was an organization dedicated to what he loved – bass fishing.

Scott's earliest memories of fishing was with a cane pole and a can of worms near his Montgomery, Alabama home. I can relate because the first fishing pole I had was an old-fashioned cane pole.

RAY SCOTT & ROY CLARK (HEE-HAW) 1973 CLASSICS

One day he hooked a whopper of a fish that was bigger and stronger than anything he caught before. He didn't know what it was until his mother identified it as a largemouth bass. It was then that bass fishing became his passion. Later when he was older, Ray used his knowledge and love for angling for bass and formed tournament angling – a competition that would catch on around the world. His format for tournaments was formulated and similar to golf tournaments. In the summer of 1967 (I was 17 at the time), Ray organized the first tournament in Arkansas. From that moment on, the BASSMASTER Classic grew to a multi-billion dollar industry and the Bass Anglers Sportsman Society, what we have come to know as B.A.S.S. Scott sold B.A.S.S. In 1986, but he stayed on as its president until he retired in the late 1990s.

Ray Scott was a natural entertainer and spread his love for bass fishing with others. Veteran pro angler Randy Blaukat said:

"Onstage at the weigh-ins, he was a master showman and would entertain the crowd with his own brand of Alabama flavor. He could generate drama on the stage like no other. His cowboy hat, scarfs, stiffly pressed jeans and shirts all added to his aura as a promoter. But it worked. He developed a loyal following and grew B.A.S.S. memberships to huge levels."

BILL DANCE OUTDOORS SHOW

I know, Scott and his organization and magazine as well as pros like Bill Dance and Hank Parker, sure inspired me to become a life-long bass angler practicing catch and release bass angling. I only kept catfish, salmon, tuna and trout to eat. While serving in the U.S. Army, I did not have the opportunity to own a bass boat (couldn't take it wherever I was assigned anyway); but I did rent a bass boat (or a canoe) wherever I was stationed in the U.S. Overseas, I had tackle and fished in places like the Mediterranean Sea offshore. When I was stationed at Fort Ord, California I chartered a boat to fish for tuna. While living in Georgia, I fished on Lake Lanier and Lake Allatoona as well as Lake Hartwell, Carolina, various lakes in Minnesota and Florida Everglade canals while driving an 18-wheeler. While in Wisconsin, I fished Lake Michigan and Kangaroo Lake.

But I digress. ...

RAY SCOTT & GEORGE H. BUSH, WHITETAIL INSTITUTE

Ray Scott had another passion – deer hunting. In 1988, he founded the Whitetail Institute of North America.

Ray Scott used his years of experience of fish management and lake design to produce Legacy Lake that covers 200 acres of which 74 acres is managed bass lakes. In honor of President Bush (senior), he named the 55-acre lake, President's Lake claimed to be the “best bass lake in the United States” by Outdoor Life magazine. In 1994, Hank Parker ranking veteran angler pro who had his own TV show, did a video with Ray Scott concerning the private lake and how to develop and manage a lake.

Over the years, B.A.S.S. accomplished several important achievements:

• B.A.S.S. lobbied Congress in support of the Wallop-Breaux amendment to the Sport Fish Restoration Act, which generates more than $600 million annually for state fisheries in 1984.

• Has been active in local, state and national conservation issues since 1968.

• Made “Catch and Release” popular and is practiced at all tournaments.

• Created goals of natural resource protection and highlighted the Clean Water, Clean Air and Endangered Species acts.

• Installed 19 state federations and began the B.A.S.S. Nation program in 1972.

• Currently there are B.A.S.S. Nation clubs in 46 states of the United States and organizations in Canada, Mexico, Italy, Japan, South Africa and Zimbabwe.

• Today, tens of thousands of bass fishing fans routinely cram into coliseums to watch the current daily tournament weigh-ins, with $1,000,000 awarded to the anglers - $300,000 of which goes to the champion.

• Made watching bass fishing on TV popular.

• Fisherman joining B.A.S.S. got $50 worth of free gear and one-year subscription to Bassmaster magazine. After retiring from the Army I paid for a lifetime membership to B.A.S.S. And receive the Bassmaster magazine for life.

The magazine's staff over the years have provided important angling tips, articles about boat safety and maintenance and the hilarious adventures of “Harry 'n' Charlie”.

Thanks to Scott, pro anglers and TV personalities came to the forefront for fans like Bill Dance, Jimmy Houston, Hank Parker, Roland Martin, Rick Clunn and the all-time Bass Classic pro, Kevin VanDam who became ambassadors of the sport of bass fishing.

In 1975, Roland Martin was the leading money winner. Kevin VanDam surpassed them all earning $6.2 million dollars as of 2017 and winning the most tournaments. With all the competition, becoming a professional angler and tournament winner becomes slim.

According to Field & Stream magazine:

“Ray Scott has become an outdoor legend like Teddy Roosevelt and Rachel Carson. … Ray Scott is among the twenty who have made a difference in American outdoors over the past century. … Following in the footsteps of such American legends, Ray W. Scott, Jr. has achieved his own legacy as the Bass Boss, the founder of the Bass Anglers Sportsman Society, the Whitetail Institute of North America, and as publisher framed the foundation for successful outdoor publications, including BASSMASTER magazine, Southern Outdoors, Fishing Tackle Retailer, and the award-winning national television series THE BASSMASTERS, the highest rated program on The Nashville Network (TNN).”

Thank you, Ray Scott. Rest in Peace.

The following is a video that Ray Scott filmed in 1994 (year I retired from U.S. Army) with Hank Parker concerning private lakes and how to properly maintain them.