Ahoy!  "Bass Boss" at 
Kansas City Show 

The making of the "Bass Boom"
with B.A.S.S. Founder Ray Scott
special feature at
January 10-12 SPORTSHOW Seminars…

KANSAS CITY - Did Ray Scott, the founder of the Bass Anglers Sportsman Society (B.A.S.S.), have any idea his brainstorm in a rainstorm would become one of the most important achievements of the past century?

OUTDOOR LIFE Magazine named Scott's idea among "Ten Keepers" as the top fishing innovations of the past 100 years.

A spark of an idea catapulted, then insurance salesman, Ray Scott of Montgomery, Alabama from his Jackson, Mississippi motel bed in March 1967, that ignited the modern-day "Bass Boom." He would make it pay-to-play at bass fishing. A rainstorm had ended his plans for fishing that day.

Three months later, on Beaver Lake in northwest Arkansas, Scott launched the All-American Invitational Bass Tournament. The $5,000 award event eventually blossomed into the multimillion-dollar Bassmaster Tournament Trail. The forming of B.A.S.S., the membership organization, followed in 1968 and in its wake the wave of tackle and boating innovations that elevated the black bass into its position as the country's No. 1 sportfish.

How Scott made his dream come true and "The Making of B.A.S.S." will be told "live" during special seminar features of the 2003 Kansas City SPORTSHOW, January 10-12, at the downtown H. Roe Bartle Hall. Four 45-minute programs are scheduled.

Scott, along with Harold Sharp, the first tournament director of the Bassmaster Tournament Trail, and Bob Cobb, former editor of BASSMASTER Magazine and producer-director of "The BASSMASTERS" TV series that ran on The Nashville Network (TNN), will share the stage. The Bassmaster trio shaped the sport of professional bass fishing during the 1967-1986 years of its growing popularity.

The Scott seminars are scheduled for the south end of Bartle Hall. Times are 7 p.m. on Friday (Jan. 10); 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. on Saturday (Jan. 11); and 1 p.m. on Sunday (Jan. 12). The SPORTSHOW seminars are sponsored by the Kansas City Star and hosted by outdoor editor Brent Frazee.

Ray Scott is appearing as a guest of TRITON Boats and the Smithville Marine dealership operated by Catfish and JoAnn Austin. Scott is national spokesman for the Ashland City, Tennessee based boat manufacturer. The newest in Triton's 2003 high performance bass boats will be on display in the Smithville Marine's show area.

Between seminar schedules Scott will be available in the Smithville Marine booth to talk bass boating and fishing, sign autographs and talk further about "The Story of B.A.S.S.".

Interested bass fishing fans will find Ray Scott's story, "Bass Boss," a book collector's treasure of information on the "Bass Boom" years. Scott will be available to autograph copies at the Smithville Marine booth.

Triton, designed by former world champion boat racer Earl Bentz, has gained the reputation as a "new breed of bass boat."

"Performance is the key," says Ray Scott. "Triton's Vortex hull offers an incredibly smooth, dry ride. And, it's built entirely wood-free with 100 percent composite construction."

Catfish Austin says the "flagship" of the TRITON fleet at this year's show is the limited edition Triton Citgo BASS Masters Classic special, the same package the pros are equipped with in the world championship of bass fishing.

"The Triton Classic edition captures all the excitement and prestige of the world's premier fishing event, the BASS Masters Classic, with special markings and features," adds Austin.

"The bass boat of a lifetime" is how Ray Scott views it. The Classic package is available in 19 to 22 foot TRITON models.

As to the question of Ray Scott's vision for bass fishing: "Honestly, I didn't have a long-range plan," says Scott. "We were day-to-day, but I realized bass fishing had a special attraction."

Why did he select Beaver Lake near Springdale, Arkansas? "Two reasons," explained Scott. "It was a long way from Alabama, and if the tournament idea flopped, chances were nobody in Montgomery would hear about it."

Beaver Lake, a new impoundment on the famed White River, grabbed Scott's attention after reading a report by Charles Elliott in the February 1967 issue of OUTDOOR LIFE. Elliott had claimed, "The new Ozark bass lake is hot right now, and the tomorrow will bring even more fabulous fishing" in the article titled: "Fishing Was Like Tomorrow."

Scott built B.A.S.S. to a 650,000-angler organization with worldwide members before stepping aside in 1998 to form Ray Scott Outdoors, Inc., a marketing-consulting firm for the fishing tackle and boating industries.

Besides Triton Boats, Scott serves as national promotional spokesman for Mercury Outboards, MotorGuide Trolling Motors, SOSPENDERS inflatable life vest and U. S. Reel, a new revolutionary lightweight with oversize spool spinning reel coming to the market in the Spring of 2003.

As a Trustee with the International Game Fish Association (IGFA), Scott is actively involved in promoting the organization's program to increase fishing interest in freshwater records.

Scott sees a need to "put the sport back in sportfishing" and is encouraging anglers to experience the thrill of fishing light-tackle and light-line (i.e. four-pound test). "The 4-pound line class record in most states is vacant in the IGFA record book," points out Scott.

More than 400 exhibitors will display, during the Kansas City SPORTSHOW, January 7-12. The event is produced by General Sports Shows, Inc., of Minneapolis, Minnesota. For show details, see their website at www.generalsportsshows.com  . Admission is $8 for adults and $4 for children. For information on the Smithville Marine's display and TRITON boats, call (816) 532-4000.