The "Bass Boss" Ray Scott
Set for St. Louis Boat Show

ST. LOUIS, Missouri - Ray Scott, known as "Mr. Bass" for his founding the world's largest fishing organization - the Bass Anglers Sportsman Society (B.A.S.S.) - will be on board as a special celebrity guest for the 46th Annual St. Louis Boat & Sport Show, running February 13-18 at the Transworld Dome in St. Louis.

Scott of Pintlala, Alabama is scheduled for February 16-17 at the sports show extravaganza, housed in the Americus Center, located at 701 Convention Center.

Hosting Scott's St. Louis appearance, as a representative of TRITON BOATS, are Twin City Marine and Nameoki Marine, both dealerships for the Ashland City, Tennessee-based fiberglass bass boat manufacturer.

"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 revolution 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 offers a full line of 17-to-22-foot fiberglass bass boats, ranging from $15,000 to $45,000 depending on numerous options available. The flagship of the Triton fleet is the 22-footer, the Tr-22 model, rated for a 300 horsepower outboard, and fully equipped with trolling motor, fishing electronics and riding on a matching trailer at around a $45,000 package.

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 bass 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 organizations 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 from the start," opines Scott.

Scott will be available for signing autographs and meeting showgoers stopping by the Twin City Marine of Festus, Missouri booth and the Nameoki Marine of Granite City, Illinois display at the show. Show hours on February 16th are noon to 10 p.m. and from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on February 17th. "I'll be spending time at both dealer's displays, both days, and I invite bass boys and gals to drop around for a visit," says Scott.

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 at the St. Louis show.

For more information on the Triton dealers at the St. Louis show, contact: Terry McCormick, Nameoki Marine, 4300 Nameoki Road, Granite City, IL 62040, Ph. (618) 931-3200 or Stan Tucker, Twin City Marine, 2415 Hwy 67 South, Festus, MO 63028, Ph. (636) 937-4100.