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RAY SCOTT OUTDOORS, Inc. Eagles of Angling
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Eagles of Angling: Tom Mann's Fish Story Biggest Catch on Record Expect to hear more than one fish story at the Ray Scott's Eagles of Angling Senior Bass Tournament. After all, these fishermen must be 62 years or older to qualify. They've had a lifetime of fishing experience. The legendary Tom Mann of Eufaula, Alabama has been wetting a fish hook most of his 68 years. For sure, Tom Mann, who operates his Fishing World tourist attraction near Lake Eufaula, can swap fish tales with anyone. A noted lure designer, manufacturer of the scented Jelly Worms, television outdoor show host, and winner of national bass fishing tournaments. Along with some 100 seasoned veterans Mann will take part in the May 18th special Eagles of Angling Senior Bass Tournament at Ray Scott's 55-acre bass factory near Pintlala, Alabama. The contestants will plunk down $500 each to fish with the Pintlala Elementary School the big winner. Funds generated from the tournament will go to aid educational needs at the country school, located about one mile from the lake. Anglers will fish from the shoreline. No boats will be used. Each contestant will get a fishing location with the luck of the draw. Ray Scott says Tom Mann fished his lake previously, but won't have any advantage under the draw format. "Tom would probably just soon wipe out the memory of his last fishing trip here," offered Scott. "Tom may not own up to what happened," says Scott, "but I'm telling the truth." During a break in the taping for Tom Mann's TV show, a friend fishing in another boat called out: "Tom, I need some help." "What's wrong," asked Mann. "I've got a hook in my hand," was the urgent reply. Mann hollered "come over here," and turned to Scott to confide, "I can get it out real easy. I've taken a bunch out." Cutting off a piece of heavy monofilament line, Mann looped the line around the hook and told his friend: "You might want to turn your head." Normally, with pressure on the area and the pull on the line, the hook "backs" right out with the barb forced down and out. Scott continued, "Tom gave me a big wink. Got hold of the line and jerked. His buddy let out a yell. The hook didn't come out." Tom said, "Hold on we'll get it this time." Two more jerks, squeals of pain and then Tom Mann let out a startled cry. "This is the part Tom doesn't like being told," laughed Scott. "Tom hooked himself with the other set of hooks on the crank bait. Buried the barb out of sight." Scott confesses, "It wasn't a bit funny, but I couldn't keep from laughing. Tom and his buddy hooked together on the same plug." ************ Back in 1969, Pete Henson of Marietta, Georgia boated 124-pounds, 3-ounces of bass to win the Rebel Invitational Bass Tournament on Ross Barnett Reservoir near Jackson, Mississippi. Henson may have been ahead of his time. As an entrant in the Eagle of Angling Senior Bass Tournament, Pete knows the value of "camping on a spot." The Senior contestants will fish from numbered stakes and must be able to touch their stake with the rod tip before casting. They'll have 50 minutes to fish each "hole." For sure, Pete Henson won't worry about wearing out his fishing spot. "He'll take his bites as they come," opines Ray Scott, who remembers Henson's unique tactic at Ross Barnett. "Pete stopped on a spot, threw out a rod rigged with a blue Fliptail worm and set up his checker board," says Scott. "He and his partner played checkers waiting for the bass to move in." Henson had located a prime migration route, a creek channel, where the bass schools were active. ************ Watching The President Fish, No Fun for Agent Dick Hulcher of Jacksonville, Florida, a retired Secret Service agent, looks forward to finally getting to fish Ray Scott's "Presidential Lake," so called for the fact that two U.S. Presidents have fished here. Hulcher was assigned to the Secret Service detail for then President George Bush's trip to Pintlala for the Eagles of Angling benefit for the Pintlala Baptist Church. Former President Bush will participate again. Both Bush and Hulcher will be fishing this time. Now, 64-years old, Hulcher's association with Ray Scott and bass fishing dates back to 1970. At the prompting of Scott, Hulcher organized the St. Johns Bass Anglers, a Jacksonville-based bass club, still operating for over 30 years. It's the fifth oldest B.A.S.S. affiliated club in the country. "Our club has a lot of tradition," says Hulcher. "It's not a club where you can just sign up to join and get a pretty jacket and a hat. It has to be a high priority with you. We were pioneers in working with kids and we're still doing it." ************ Bass Fishing On the Edge With 4-Lb. Line Limit Rules of the Eagles of Angling Senior Bass Tournament limit the fishermen to using only four-pound test line. Reels will all be spooled with the "official line", supplied by STREN® Fishing Lines. Bass measuring 12-inches and under will be the only "tournament size" fish to be weighed-in. Other large fish must be released immediately. And, there are big bass in the lake. The lake record is a 13-pound, 15-ounce largemouth caught by the four-time world champion Rick Clunn. With "four-pound test" line only, there's not much chance of erasing the lake record. But, don't dismiss the plus side of fishing "light line." With smaller diameter size line, the pay-off is more strikes and that's the name of the game in this contest. Hook and land as many undersize 12-inch fish as possible in four hours of fishing. One thing you can count on in fishing Ray Scott's fishery, some angler will get a big bite. Catching it will be the trick on four-pound test line. Oh yes, there's an established lake record for
four-pound test. Paul Elias, the former BASS Master Classic world champion,
landed an 8-pound, 6-ounce largemouth here in March 2000. A bass twice the
size of the line-breaking strength. ************ Scott's Secrets For Building Trophy Bass Lakes on Video Ray Scott may be best known as the founder of the Bass Anglers Sportsman Society (B.A.S.S.), but as the "Bass Boss" also is gaining a reputation as the creator - the pond builder - of "Great Small Waters." Scott's three-set video series offers a complete guide to pond and small lake construction. The tape series, "Ray Scott's Complete Guide to Creating Great Small Waters," is being heralded by anglers and fishery biologists for its informative how-to steps for designing, constructing and managing a small lake. Structure and forage are two of the more important things in developing a world-class bass fishery, according to Scott. Anglers fishing the Eagles of Angling Senior Bass Tournament will find numerous "stickups", possible bass-holding structure, put in the lake. "Bass are ambush critters," explains Scott, "and like to hide in cover and attack their prey. For that reason, I've planted man-made objects, including an old car body, all over the lake." Here's a Scott's solution to place structure in a new pond or established body of water. Scott calls it "pickle-barrel habitat." Using a five-gallon pickle container, a plastic bucket picked up at a local restaurant, Scott builds a vertical structure out of limbs and cement. With a long angle iron that runs through the bottom of the bucket, the structure is hammered into the bottom of the lake. For more information or to order the three-set video tapes on "Creating Great Small Waters" ($69.95) call 1-800-518-7222. Here's another tip: When fishing with four-pound test line, cast outside the cover. Knock on the door and invite the bigmouth, inside, to come out and play.
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