The "Bass Boss" Ray Scott
Set for Dallas Boat Show

DALLAS - Ray Scott, known as "Mr. Bass" for his founding of the world's largest fishing organization - the Bass Anglers Sportsman Society (B.A.S.S.) - will be on board as a special celebrity guest during the annual Dallas Boat Show, February 2 - 11 at the Market Hall in Dallas.

Scott of Pintlala, Alabama is scheduled to appear from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Friday (February 2), and during the 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. show hours on Saturday (February 3) at the boat show extravaganza, located on Stemmons Freeway, across from the Anatole Hotel.

Hosting Scott's Dallas appearance, as a representative of TRITON BOATS, is the North Texas Marine headed by Joe Wallace, a Gainesville, Texas dealership.

"We'll be talking bass fishing, signing autographs and showing off the fishing features on Triton's lineup of high performance bass boats," says Scott, who started the bass boat craze with his first All-American Bass Tournament at Beaver Lake, Arkansas in 1967.

"Back then most folks didn't dream about today's modern fishing machines. A johnboat, that didn't leak, with a paddle was a 'good boat'," opines Scott.

"Triton, an Ashland City, Tennessee-based boat manufacturer, offers a full line of 17-to-22-foot models and is the No. 1 selling fiberglass bass boat on the market," points out Joe Wallace.

Ranging from $15,000 to $45,000 depending on the numerous options available, the flagship of the Triton fleet is the Tr-22 model rated for a 300 horsepower outboard.

"Bass fishermen can see the fully-rigged models and examine the fishing features on these rigs being used by the top-ranked professional fishermen on the Tournament Trail," adds Wallace.

Scott serves as national spokesman for TRITON BOATS, Mercury Outboards, MotorGuide trolling motors and SOSPENDERS, the U.S. Coast Guard approved inflatable life vest by Sporting Lives, Inc., of Fruitland, Idaho.

After building B.A.S.S. to a worldwide membership of over 650,000 anglers, Scott left the Montgomery, Alabama-based organization in 1998 to form Ray Scott Outdoors™, a marketing and consulting group for the marine and fishing industry.

Scott has continued to be a leader in the bass fishing industry, an advocate of catch-and-release bass fishing, promoting safer boating and lobbying for the "mandatory wearing of life jackets when engaged in recreational fishing and boating."

Scott points out, "Statistics compiled by the U.S. Coast Guard predicts that over 800 lives will be lost in boating accidents this year. The biggest loss of life will be due to drowning. Not WEARING a life vest is the major factor."

Scott's Bassmaster Tournament Trail pioneered the "wearing" of life jackets in B.A.S.S. competition "anytime the big motor is cranked" and many tournament groups have followed the example.

"Bass fishing pros are excellent role models for boating safe, but it's the general boating public that fails to buckle-up and boat smart form the start," opines Scott, who hopes a "mandatory law" will soon require the wearing of life vests, when on the water.

The story of Ray Scott's founding of the Bass Anglers Sportsman Society and the growing bass fishing industry he created is told in Bass Boss, a biographical account written by Robert H. Boyle, a Sports Illustrated writer. Autographed copies of the 336-page book will be made available during Scott's appearance in the North Texas Marine's display.

For additional information, contact: Joe Wallace at North Texas Marine, East Hwy 82, Gainesville, TX, telephone (940) 665-9331.