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DANIA,
Florida
—The International Game Fish Association (IGFA) apparently in a move to
expand its interest in fresh water fishing has landed one of the biggest
fish in the bass fishing pond.
Ray Scott, the founder of the Bass Anglers
Sportsman Society (B.A.S.S.), and known around the fishing world as the
“Bass Boss,” has been named to the IGFA’s elite Board of Directors.
Scott, now head of the Ray Scott Outdoors,
Inc., a marketing and consulting group based in
Pintlala
,
Alabama
, is among four new members elected to the IGFA’s board at their meeting
here at worldwide headquarters, located at
300 Gulf Stream Way
, near
Fort Lauderdale
.
Mike Levitt, chairman of the IGFA board,
said, “We’re delighted to have the best known promoter of bass fishing
in the world, Ray Scott, join our board.”
Since its beginning in 1939, the IGFA’s
stayed true to its course and mission:
“To preserve and conserve fish species and
their habitats. To promote
environmental education, ethical fishing standards, and worldwide
stewardship in recreational angling.”
True, the IGFA is, without doubt, recognized
as the sport fishing authority on worldwide fishing records and standards,
but most of its past has been embedded in the angling achievements of
saltwater anglers in their pursuits.
Thus, enters Ray Scott, who in 1967 set out
to popularize the sport of professional bass tournament fishing.
Scott is the godfather of today’s mega-dollars bass fishing
tournaments, spawned from his first All-American Invitational Bass
Tournament at
Beaver Lake
,
Arkansas
, June 5-7, 1967.
From the 106 fishermen assembled from 13
states, Scott built the Bass Anglers Sportsman Society with a worldwide
membership reaching over 650,000 anglers.
Since leaving the helm of B.A.S.S., Inc., Scott continues to be a
leader in promoting bass fishing, conservation issues and a marketing
consultant for the fishing tackle and bass boat industry.
“I’m concerned about a seemingly
declining growth in fresh water fishing interest,” says Scott.
“Overall fishing licenses are sliding, and fewer and fewer kids
are being introduced to the sport of fishing.
Lifestyles change and less opportunities for the fishing
experience.”
Scott says professional bass fishing has
reached a scale beyond “my wildest dreams” with its new-found
television exposure over the ESPN cable network and mega-dollars being
committed by non-fishing related sponsors.
The Entertainment Sports Network (ESPN)
purchased the Montgomery, Alabama-based B.A.S.S., Inc. and has brought its
NASCAR-type coverage and hype to the CITGO Bassmaster Tournament Tour
coverage.
“For the sport of pro fishing and its
fishermen, this is super,” believes Scott, “but for the average angler
it’s a wishful dream to fish for a living, but interesting entertainment
for Saturday morning television.”
However, to boost fresh water fishing
interest Scott says the need is to “put the sport back into sportfishing.”
To get his message out, Scott teamed with the
IGFA’s Senior Vice President Don Watts, the association’s Chief
Operating Officer, to conduct a light-line largemouth bass record quest at
the 2002 Professional Bass Fishing Hall of Fame Championship at
Lake Ouachita
,
Arkansas
this past May.
“Among the IGFA’s many chores,”
explains Scott, “is to be the keepers of world record catches and to
certify line class record fish. For
the most part, fresh water fishermen are missing out in getting their name
in the IGFA Record Book.”
“For several years,” continues Scott,
“I’ve concentrated on the idea of light-line (Sportackle™) fishing
and using only 4-pound test line. You’ll
get far more strikes on the smaller line and you’ll be amazed at how
much fun and excitement to challenge a big bass on light tackle and
4-pound test.”
With the IGFA’s backing, Scott lured the 60
pros on hand for the Hall of Fame Championship to give his 4-pound test
theory a try during a practice day on
Lake
Ouachita
for the Championship event.
With the faith of a tight-rope walker, Scott
bet his pride-and-joy cowboy hat, the existing 4-pound class
Arkansas
state record for largemouth bass would be wiped off the IGFA slate.
The record of 1-pound 14-ounces had been
established by a Hope,
Arkansas
angler. Former BASS Masters
Classic champion, Paul Elias of Mississippi, not only broke the old mark,
but blew the field away with a 4.16 pounds largemouth bass reeled in on
4-pound test Stren monofilament line.
Obviously, Scott’s trademark Stetson
wasn’t lost, or even in danger. Of
the 60 pros fishing, 21 of them actually bettered the old mark of 1-14.
And, Byron Velvick, a Boulder City, Nevada
pro, proved the “more bites on light line” theory, winning the
overall, with five bass and 11.07 pounds.
All caught on 4-pound test line.
As a footnote, Velvick fished the Hall of
Fame Championship with “heavier” line, and didn’t make the money.
For his light-line win, Velvick and record-setter Paul Elias were
presented Rolex watches and a Mercury Outboard by the IGFA and Don Watts,
who officiated the record application catch.
“These pros can adapt to just about any
challenge and conditions,” remarked Scott.
“With big money on the line, not many will be playing with
4-pound test
line, but they all talked about the fun and
excitement of fishing light-line.”
As Don Watts flipped the pages of the
IGFA’s 2002 World Record Game Fishes book, the explanation “vacant”
was readily listed among the state records for the 4-pound line class for
largemouth bass.
According to the IGFA’s state line records,
33 states have no record (vacant) for the 4-pound line class for
largemouth bass. If you’re
living or fishing in
California
, don’t get too fired up. The
California
4-pound line class record is an amazing mark of 17-pounds, 1-ounce caught
by Robert J. Crupi at
Castaic
Lake
on December 28, 1990.
What does Ray Scott think about the future of
fishing? “I’m always
optimistic, and excited about the opportunity to serve on the IGFA’s
Board of Directors. For over
six decades the IGFA has been at the forefront of ethical fishing rules,
records and conservation of our fishing resources and habitat.
And, what better way to continue that spirit and heritage than to
put the sport back into sportfishing by promoting light-line fishing and
having fun?”
For information on the International Game
Fish Association, telephone (954) 927-2628 or visit the IGFA’s website:
www.igfa.org or personally visit
the IGFA’s Fishing Hall of Fame and Museum, a hands-on and virtual
reality exhibits, located off I-95 to Griffin Road exit, next to Bass Pro
Shop’s Outdoor World in Dania Beach, Florida.
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