“I’m ready to devote my time and energies to designing Legacy Lakes.”

“Where do you take your kids or grandkids to go fishing?”

“…Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer design golf courses for millions of dollars.”

BASS IN THE 'BURBS

B.A.S.S. Founder Sees Bright Future for Residential Fishing

Developers of resort and residential communities have long known the value of designing their projects around a golf course to attract golf addicts to buy and build.

But Ray Scott, founder of the 600,000-member Bass Anglers Sportsman Society® (B.A.S.S.®) and guru to millions of fishing fans around the world, has a new and refreshing idea for developers.  Great fishing waters.

“The market is wide open,” says Scott, “with far more fishermen than golfers to lure as potential residents.”  According to Scott, there are some 52 million to draw from and over the last 35 years he has heard firsthand from countless people how they yearn for their own “personal fishing waters.”

“The lure of water is just inborn,” says Scott “and the love of fishing is universal.  It is an idea whose time has come.”

In recent years he has been persuaded to design for residential developers as well as individuals.  Interest in his lake design and marketing services has been so strong, he has officially gone into the lake design business with the recent launch of Ray Scott’s Legacy Lakes.

“It’s official now,” says Scott.  “I’m ready to devote my time and energies to designing Legacy Lakes.  It’s something I’ve wanted to do for a long time.”

Scott’s own 55-acre fishing lake near Montgomery, Alabama is called “Presidents Lake” because of past fishing trips by fishing friends Presidents George Bush and George W. Bush.  The Scott-designed trophy-bass factory has gained worldwide attention as the ideal man-made impoundment.

As evidence of this Legacy Lake fame, Rick Clunn, arguably one of the best bass fishing pros of all time and four-time winner of the prestigious Bassmaster Classic® World Championship caught his personal best – a 13-pound 15-ounce largemouth bass in Scott’s showcase lake.  And, in a five-hour charity fund-raising tournament, eight among 20 top-ranked BASS fishing pros caught the largest bass of their professional careers.

According to Scott, he achieved his success by “making every mistake in the book.”  He says, “I dealt with the best in their respective fields from engineers, bulldozer artists and fisheries biologists.  But no one could put all the pieces together.  And not just for good fishing waters, but for beautiful fishing waters as well – lakes and ponds that fit the terrain and truly enhance the total landscape.  It’s all part of the same package as far as I’m concerned.”

Scott has often been acclaimed as a visionary in the outdoor world and indeed he sees a bright future for residential and resort fishing and has promoted the idea of “personal fishing waters” for many years.

He is especially excited about designing fishing lakes that are the centerpiece for residential developments.  “Lakes are a terrific amenity for today’s homeowners,” he says.  “Where do you go for a quiet morning of fishing?  Where do you take your kids or grandkids to go fishing?” he asks.

Scott believes “small waters” are especially relevant today as public waters become increasingly congested and dangerous with speedboats and jet skis.  Plus they’re often just hard to get to and trailering and launching boats can be inconvenient and time consuming.

“It really makes sense,” says Scott.  “Stop to think.  How many great residential and resort communities are built around a golf course?  I did a little research and found that Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer design golf courses for millions of dollars.  But that’s just the tip of the iceberg.  The average upkeep of a good 19-hole golf course is over $500,000 a year.

“Not so with fishing waters.  And lakes have so many other recreational uses that can be enjoyed by the whole family, not just golfers.  I’ve always said ‘grow bass, not grass.’”