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Bass Anglers Sportsman Society (B.A.S.S.)
B.A.S.S. Federation is a fishing membership organization that holds more than a half a million memberships. Since 1968, groups of bass fishermen throughout many parts of the United States and throughout parts of the world have joined together in the B.A.S.S. Federation with one common goal--to learn how to become a better fisherman. B.A.S.S. has grown into a multibillion fishing industry that has created a publishing giant with Bassmaster Magazine and a few other publications. B.A.S.S. also produces "The Bassmasters" weekly television program which is recognized around the globe as fishing's world championship.

When Ray Scott founded B.A.S.S in 1968, his main purposes were:

1. To organize the bass anglers of America.

2. To stimulate public awareness of bass fishing as a major participation sport and elevate it to a place of prominence.

3. To improve our skills as bass anglers through the exchange of expert bass catching techniques and ideas.

4. To offer our state conservation departments our organized moral and political support and encouragement. To promote full adherence to all conservation codes.

5. To demand adequate water standards and legal enforcement of existing regulatory standards. To detect and report any polluter and call public and political attention to the crime.

6. To encourage private and governmental study necessary to maintain quality fishing and fish habitat and to ensure quality fisheries for ourselves and future generations.

7. To promote and encourage youth fishing. Kids don't just go fishing — they are taken fishing. We must instill in our youth an interest in and love for this great sport.

8. To present national championship bass fishing tournaments. These tournaments will bring together the nation's most dedicated bass fishermen, and the publicity derived from them will stimulate public interest in bass angling.

HISTORY

The B.A.S.S Federation was founded by Ray Scott in 1967 in Montgomery, Alabama. His goals were to create a credible and honorable tournament trial and to improve our environment by unifying ourselves with youth. This federation has accomplished many goals over the years, which brought many of its members to the federation. During the years of 1972, the B.A.S.S. Federation initiated a program called "Don't kill your catch." This program proclaims that you, as a fisherman, should catch then release your catch. This is practiced by all anglers. Since the year 1968, the B.A.S.S. Federation has ben very involved with all local, state, and national conservation issues. The majority of all Ray Scott's goals were directed towards protecting our natural resources. Over the years, the B.A.S.S. Federation members have accomplished many goals that relate to their fishing tournaments. 

TOURNAMENTS

The first ever B.A.S.S. Federation tournament was held in June, 1967 on Beaver Lake, Arkansas. It was recorded that ther were 106 anglers from thirteen different states. When Ray Scott started this first tournament, he would not have ever thought it would have reached to a point that it has reached today. In that All-American Bass Tournament, Scott charged a one hundred dollar entry fee with a chance to win two thousand dollars cash and a trip to Acapulco. The winner of this first tournament was Steve Sloan. B.A.S.S Federations holds a Series of tournaments:

Bassmaster Classic

This is considered the "SuperBowl" of fishing. This world championship event is held once every year and has become a fan favorite. This tournament has a first place prize of $500,000.

Bassmaster Elite Series

This series has a total of eleven events with a total of $11 million to give away in prizes. This makes up bass fishing's most competitive lucrative league. This series schedule runs from coast to coast through all phases of he seasons of bass fishing.

Bassmaster Opens

This series sets a platform for amateur anglers to emerge as aspiring pros. Both boaters and nonboaters compete in the Bassmaster Opens which provides advancement to the Bassmasters Elite Series.

Women's Bassmaster Tour

This tour is presented by Triton Boats. The winner of each WBT takes home a fully rigged Triton boat valued at $50,000. The total payout for the whole season is totaled at more than $640,000.

BASSMASTERS CLASSIC DATES, lAKES AND WINNERS

1 Oct. 20-22, 1971 Lake Mead, Las Vegas, Nev. Bobby Murray

2 Oct. 25-27, 1972 Percy Priest Reservoir, Nashville, Tenn. Don Butler

3 Oct. 24-26, 1973 Clark Hill Reservoir, McCormick, S.C. Rayo Breckenridge

4 Oct. 30 - Nov. 1, 1974 Wheeler Lake, Rogersville, Ala. Tommy Martin

5 Oct. 29-31, 1975 Currituck Sound, Nags Head, N.C. Jack Hains

6 Nov. 3-5, 1976 Lake Guntersville, Guntersville, Ala. Rick Clunn

7 Oct. 26-28, 1977 Lake Tohopekaliga, Kissimmee, Fla. Rick Clunn

8 Oct. 25-27, 1978 Ross Barnett Reservoir, Jackson, Miss. Bobby Murray

9 Sept. 26-28, 1979 Lake Texoma, Pottsboro, Texas Hank Parker

10 Sept. 24-26, 1980 St. Lawrence River, Alexandria Bay, N.Y. Bo Dowden

11 Oct. 15-17, 1981 Alabama River, Montgomery, Ala. Stanley Mitchell

12 2Oct. 14-16, 1982 Alabama River, Montgomery, Ala. Paul Elias

13 Aug. 4-6, 1983 Ohio River, Cincinnati, Ohio Larry Nixon

14 Aug. 16-18, 1984 Arkansas River, Pine Bluff, Ark. Rick Clunn

15 Aug. 15-17, 1985 Arkansas River, Pine Bluff, Ark. Jack Chancellor

16 Aug. 14-16, 1986 Tennessee River, Chattanooga, Tenn. Charlie Reed

17 Aug. 13-15, 1987 Ohio River, Louisville, Ky. George Cochran

18 Aug. 25-27, 1988 James River, Richmond, Va. Guido Hibdon

19 Aug. 17-19, 1989 James River, Richmond, Va. Hank Parker

20 Aug. 23-25, 1990 James River, Richmond, Va. Rick Clunn

21 Aug. 22-24, 1991 Chesapeake Bay, Baltimore, Md. Ken Cook

22 July 30 - Aug. 1, 1992 Lake Logan Martin, Birmingham, Ala. Robert Hamilton

23 Aug. 12-14, 1993 Lake Logan Martin, Birmingham, Ala. David Fritts

24 July 28-30, 1994 High Rock Lake, Greensboro, N.C. Bryan Kerchal

25 Aug. 3-5, 1995 High Rock Lake, Greensboro, N.C. Mark Davis

26 Aug. 8-10, 1996 Lay Lake, Birmingham, Ala. George Cochran

27 Aug. 7-9, 1997 Lake Logan Martin, Birmingham, Ala. Dion Hibdon

28 Aug. 6-8, 1998 High Rock Lake, Greensboro, N.C. Denny Brauer

29 July 29-31, 1999 Louisiana Delta, New Orleans, La. Davy Hite

30 July 20-22, 2000 Lake Michigan, Chicago, Ill. Woo Daves

31 Aug. 2-4, 2001 Louisiana Delta, New Orleans, La. Kevin VanDam

32 July 25-27, 2002 Lay Lake, Birmingham, Ala. Jay Yelas

33 Aug. 1-3, 2003 Louisiana Delta, New Orleans, La. Michael Iaconelli

34 July 30 - Aug. 1, 2004 Lake Wylie, Charlotte, N.C. Takahiro Omori

35 July 29-31, 2005 Three Rivers, Pittsburgh, Pa. Kevin VanDam

36 Feb. 24-26, 2006 Lake Tohopekaliga, Orlando, Fla. Luke Clausen

37 Feb. 23-25, 2007 Lay Lake, Birmingham, Ala. Boyd Duckett

GEOGRAPHY When B.A.S.S sets up its lakes shedule for its tournment season, it trys to choose its lakes carefully. They do that to make the fishing suitable for the anglers and also challenging for the anglers. They can't always predict the weather, but they have got to work with what they have. The lakes are scattered from coast to coast with great fishing in between.

REFERENCES

http://sports.espn.go/outdoors/bassmanster/about/news/story?page=about_bass http://sports.espn.go.com/outdoors/bassmaster/about/news/story?page=bass_about_founding_priniciples http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/print?id=2566683&type=Story&imagesPrint=off http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/print?id=2797007&type=story http://sports.espn.go.com/outdoors/bassmaster/about/news/story?page=bass_about_history