Is B.A.S.S. declining?

[James Whalen]

I just want to put this out there.The magazine is smaller in content and there have been "double month editions. It just doesn't seem the same.I just love being a member of this organization.

[WRB]

All print magazines are declining and being replaced by digital media.

Check the membership numbers to determine if B.A.S.S. is growing or shrinking.

Tom

[Deleted account]

39 minutes ago, James Whalen said:

I just want to put this out there.The magazine is smaller in content and there have been "double month editions. It just doesn't seem the same.I just love being a member of this organization.

I'm shocked we still have magazines...

[geo g]

I used to love the magazine and for twenty years read it from cover to cover.  I still have hundreds of issues that I will return too and reread.  Like many others the economy and the internet have caused me to abandon the publications.  It’s sad, but like the newspaper times have changed.  Any info on almost anything can be found in seconds by just posting a request.

[Basser2021]

2 hours ago, Deleted account said:

I'm shocked we still have magazines...

What he said

[TnRiver46]

My wife keeps the magazine industry afloat 

[volzfan59]

B.A.S.S. (Bassmaaters magazine) has always had double month issues for October/November. I want to say that there another double month issue too, but I'm not sure when it is. I think the sister publication, B.A.S.S. Times is a twelve month subscription. You'd think that I would know, I've been subscribing to both since the late 80's. You are correct, some issues do seem a little thin. I've let go of Bass Angler and as soon as my In-Fisherman sub runs out I won't be renewing. I don't see me ever dropping B.A.S.S.

 

Like @WRB said, you would need to check the membership numbers to know if it was on the decline.

[Spankey]

I’ve been a member for as long as I remember. One of those things where I should of become I life member years ago. Done tournament fishing when I was a lot younger. Not really my bag but can say some of those guy I hung with did show me some things. 
 

I like the BassMaster format. Not a knock to MLF but I’d rather see results of five big fish. Twenty five 1 1/2 pounders doesn’t keep my attention especially when waters they are fishing have larger fish. But I understand different formats.

 

Not to compare BASS to In Fisherman but that publication has shrunk quite a bit also. 

[WRB]

Charter Life Member since 1968 and watched B.A.S.S. go to BASS when ESPN bought them after Ray Scott and staff got the boot. The ESPN period of trying to make bass fishing a NACAR event was ugly. 

Todays B.A.S.S. made it passed the FLW and now trying to stay on top of MLF is another evolution period to this sport. 

The fact B.A.S.S. always had trouble on the west coast drawing support met the western pro’s had to move east where B.A.S.S. Is located lost my support.

The original Bassmaster magazine was 6 issues annually.

Tom

 

[Captain Phil]

Back in the day, I read every B.A.S.S. magazine I could find.   I reread them numerous times and still have a few that I read today.   B.A.S.S. started to decline when Ray Scott sold out.  It was no longer about bass fishing, it was about promoting sponsors.  When the Federation split from B.A.S.S. it was the end for me.   Our bass club was divided and we lost a lot of members.  In the beginning B.A.S.S. was formed by a group of regular guys who wanted to share information and compete on a level playing field.  Today, it's just another reality TV show. 

[Gera]

People don't read anymore (don't want or know) 

 

B.A.S.S like all magazines will be gone soon.. Besides most people subscribed just to get the bag. 

 

[volzfan59]

 

4 hours ago, Gera said:

People don't read anymore (don't want or know) 

 

B.A.S.S like all magazines will be gone soon.. Besides most people subscribed just to get the bag. 

 

I still read every issue of Bassmaater cover to cover. I read all of Bass Times with the exception of the stuff in the back. I could care less about the goodies that they give away.

[DitchPanda]

Only bass stuff I really take in these days is YouTube videos and stuff on here. I will say I've heard from multiple people who read alot they still prefer holding a book instead of a phone or kindle. My girlfriend reads constantly but can't stand digital books...says it just doesn't feel right.

[cheezyridr]

i was a member from the early 80's to sometime in the mid 90's.  one day, i realized most of the content was mostly ads trying to sell me stuff, or make me want to buy  lures.  that's when i let everything go.  i never competed in a tournament ever.  i was taught to fish by a regional pro who was dating my older sister. he'd take me with him  and his partner all the time. i learned alot from those guys.  i never liked the idea of any sport being organized.  it just leads to alot of b.s. that has nothing to do with the sport.

[Gera]

Most people of a certain age will definitely rather pick up print media, however its now the minority. unfortunately for BASS and other magazines. The proportion of new people interested in the sport that will actually pick up a magazine is less every day, I'm sure their new subscription are decelerating at an alarming rate. They know they're dying. 

People now a days will prefer to watch a YouTube video by a random guy than actually seat down and read what a pro has to say, its visual and its free.

 

 

[Bankc]

I work for a print shop.  We print a LOT of magazines.  We're even printing new magazines that weren't around 5 years ago.  The death of the printed media is greatly exaggerated.  

 

That's not to say that the industry hasn't shrunk considerably.  But younger people these days love the old forms of media.  Magazines, books, vinyl records, film cameras, etc.  They grew up in a digital world where everything is 1's and 0's.  So they tend to prefer physical media when available.  It's more than just a novelty to them.  It's something real in a world where not much is.  It's ownership of something and an investment in your future.  In fact, our company is busier than it ever has been in its nearly 50 years of existence!  Part of that is due, of course, to the shuttering of so much of our competition.  But a lot of that is due to the younger generation and their appreciation for the printed page.  You can easily pull a 100-year-old book off a shelf and read it like it was new.  Try finding a digital article written 20 years ago.  

 

As for the decline of B.A.S.S., I think MLF and the rise of the social media influencers has a lot to do with it.  Even before all of that, B.A.S.S. hasn't exactly worked to keep up with current trends.  They're too focused on appeasing their dwindling audience and sticking to the old formula and not focused enough on engaging with a new audience on their terms.  Printed media will never replace digital media, but it can supplement it.  A lot of older companies see print and digital at odds with one another, and don't understand how one can support the other for a greater user experience.  It's a mistake that will hurt them in ways they can't understand.  The world is constantly changing, and those who won't adapt, won't survive.  In the end, nothing's really changed in this world, other than the pace of change itself.    

[MassBass]

On 10/27/2022 at 12:48 PM, WRB said:

The ESPN period of trying to make bass fishing a NACAR event was ugly. 

I remember this, and yes it was kind of ugly. I thought they should have modeled the sport after the MLB season. Of course not so many games, but the timeline; it starts in the spring, goes through the summer, ramps up, cuts (playoffs) and then you have the Classic in the fall. 

[bowhunter63]

Hope not , No matter how small

i look forward to it. Been a member since 1980. 

[volzfan59]

4 hours ago, Bankc said:

I work for a print shop.  We print a LOT of magazines.  We're even printing new magazines that weren't around 5 years ago.  The death of the printed media is greatly exaggerated.  

 

That's not to say that the industry hasn't shrunk considerably.  But younger people these days love the old forms of media.  Magazines, books, vinyl records, film cameras, etc.  They grew up in a digital world where everything is 1's and 0's.  So they tend to prefer physical media when available.  It's more than just a novelty to them.  It's something real in a world where not much is.  It's ownership of something and an investment in your future.  In fact, our company is busier than it ever has been in its nearly 50 years of existence!  Part of that is due, of course, to the shuttering of so much of our competition.  But a lot of that is due to the younger generation and their appreciation for the printed page.  You can easily pull a 100-year-old book off a shelf and read it like it was new.  Try finding a digital article written 20 years ago.  

 

As for the decline of B.A.S.S., I think MLF and the rise of the social media influencers has a lot to do with it.  Even before all of that, B.A.S.S. hasn't exactly worked to keep up with current trends.  They're too focused on appeasing their dwindling audience and sticking to the old formula and not focused enough on engaging with a new audience on their terms.  Printed media will never replace digital media, but it can supplement it.  A lot of older companies see print and digital at odds with one another, and don't understand how one can support the other for a greater user experience.  It's a mistake that will hurt them in ways they can't understand.  The world is constantly changing, and those who won't adapt, won't survive.  In the end, nothing's really changed in this world, other than the pace of change itself.    

I love old books, especially fishing books. Actually own a pretty nice fishing book library and you're right, I refer back to some books often.

[James Whalen]

I want to thank everyone for their responses.Someone mentioned that you should measure how an organization is doing by the number of their members not the size of the magazine. That makes sense since Newspapers have less content because people use the internet more often. I want to make another point some cable providers have dropped channels such as the Outdoor channel and the Sportsmen channel. The reason they  told me was that people do not like to see animals and fish being killed on television. I stream outdoor channels through a Roku.

[T-Billy]

On 10/27/2022 at 8:36 PM, DitchPanda said:

My girlfriend reads constantly but can't stand digital books...says it just doesn't feel right.

I'm in agreement with your girlfriend. I pretty much just read one book these days though, with an occasional history book thrown in. 

[Sam]

On 10/26/2022 at 8:54 AM, TnRiver46 said:

My wife keeps the magazine industry afloat 

X2

[volzfan59]

On 10/29/2022 at 2:00 AM, James Whalen said:

I want to make another point some cable providers have dropped channels such as the Outdoor channel and the Sportsmen channel. The reason they  told me was that people do not like to see animals and fish being killed on television. 

We still get the Outdoor Channel on our basic cable package. Their fishing coverage is sub par however. They're mostly a hunting channel and that's fine if you hunt, I don't. Not against hunting at all, I'm just not going to kill  an animal that I'm not going to eat.

Years ago when we had satellite, we got WFN (World Fishing Network). I liked it a lot. Not sure if it's even a thing anymore?

[the reel ess]

On 10/27/2022 at 12:52 PM, Captain Phil said:

Back in the day, I read every B.A.S.S. magazine I could find.   I reread them numerous times and still have a few that I read today.   B.A.S.S. started to decline when Ray Scott sold out.  It was no longer about bass fishing, it was about promoting sponsors.  When the Federation split from B.A.S.S. it was the end for me.   Our bass club was divided and we lost a lot of members.  In the beginning B.A.S.S. was formed by a group of regular guys who wanted to share information and compete on a level playing field.  Today, it's just another reality TV show. 

It really did start to resemble NASCAR around that time.

1 hour ago, volzfan59 said:

We still get the Outdoor Channel on our basic cable package. Their fishing coverage is sub par however. They're mostly a hunting channel and that's fine if you hunt, I don't. Not against hunting at all, I'm just not going to kill  an animal that I'm not going to eat.

Years ago when we had satellite, we got WFN (World Fishing Network). I liked it a lot. Not sure if it's even a thing anymore?

WFN was awesome when I had Dish. They took it away and I complained thinking I might get it free for a while. They said no and I quit them and cut the cord. But there are several online channels with tons of content. I would mention one by name but last time I did my post disappeared before my eyes. Suffice it to say it's the one that Brian Latimer is on.

On 10/26/2022 at 8:54 AM, TnRiver46 said:

My wife keeps the magazine industry afloat 

My daughter is into writing and wants to do it professionally. She still gets some quarterly literary mags. But many of them are online now too.