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Posted

Me for one. I've been a B.A.S.S. member for a couple of years now.  I like the magazine and I also fish my region's BASS Federation Nation tournaments, in addition to my local club tournaments.  I couldn't be happier :)

Guest JoshKeller
Posted

I was until ESPN bought them out. Not worth my time or money anymore.

Posted

I am, however I am not sure I will renew it when it comes due.  I just don't fish tournaments and I feel that I can get just as good if not better information about fishing from this website, so I am not sure I really see the benefit to paying to be a member of BASS.

Posted

I'm among those who bailed on them. Frankly, I think they've shot themselves in the foot with their arrogance, dictatorial tournament management, and a magazine that is more advertisement and fluff than substance.

Even the "Harry n' Charlie" stories are rather boring and poor sweet old Uncle Homer seems unable to think past the era of direct drive reels, Terry bassboats, and Dacron line.

FLW will probably follow the same sad path. For now, however, if I were an aspiring pro I'd hitch my wagon to the FLW star, even if I consider a trip to WalMart to be a sad and generally disgusting experience, especially here in South Texas. ("Why is that?" I hear you ask. Well, let's just say that if we'd closed the border and put crocodiles in the Rio Grande decades ago, I MIGHT be able to stomach an hour at WalMart.)

In my opinion, bass fishing, (or the pursuit of ANY kind of fish, for that matter,) should never have become the cult it is now. All of us, you and me alike, are guilty to some extent of creating this "Sport" and the attendant industry that exists for the purpose of draining our wallets, jeopardizing our marriages, and jobs,

We don't need reels that substitute computer chips and magnets for casting practice. We don't need to go 70, 80, 90, 100+ MPH on the water. We don't need rods that cost over 75.00 (although, admittedly, some of mine cost well in excess of that,) nor do we need the bewildering array of lures and copycat versions thereof that are advertised in such a way as to cause us to despair of ever catching another bass until UPS delivers the latest variant of worm, frog, spinnerbait, crankbait, or foul-smelling ointment to apply thereto.

We don't need boats that cost so much as a needed upgrade to our family's home or living standard or take away from our kids' college funds. We don't need trucks that suck down over-priced fuel in order to tow those boats. We don't need 150 pounds of terminal tackle and 20 rod and reel combos in order to catch a little green fish. We don't need electronics that allow us to count the scales on a bass at a depth of 50 feet.

We need to be in church on Sunday morning. We need to spend at least 3/4ths of our free time with our wives and kids, moms and dads, kid brothers and sisters, or the lonely old widow or widower that lives down the street. We need to be volunteers at our kid's schools, the local retirement home, or be active in the Boy or Girl Scouts.

Having said all this, I'm even more aware of how badly I've failed in these areas. Even though I'm not now nearly at the level of obsession that many others are and I once was, I allowed myself to fall into the trap and remain there for far too long.

Happily, I get to fish pretty often. Happily, I long ago gave up club and tournament fishing and now spend quality time with three great partners who have their priorities in order and I think I've found a fourth. Happily, at the end of the day we're more grateful for the cameraderie, a safe trip, the beauty of the sunrise, than we are for the numbers and size of the catch.

With thin, at best, apologies to various sponsors of this and other boards: I have enough "product" for now, thank you. If you have something that's new, original, and effective (and not priced through the roof,) I might be interested.

To those "manufacturers" who pirate someone else's ideas, change the name from Sweet Clam to Sugary Scallop, and undercut the developer, let me say...well...you stink!

Enough venting for now. Let the howls of outrage begin, and they will, for I have made some folks look in a mirror, I'll warrant, and they don't like what they see.

FlyTheNowUnpopularRod

Posted

im still a member, but im pretty dissapointed with the magazine.  every other page is an ad.

  • Super User
Posted

I'm on my final year with them.  I used to do the 3 year at a time deals on subscriptions but began becoming unhappy with the product, especially after ESPN took it over.  The issues come, I skim over them and might read one or two articles and then it's stuffed in a drawer. Gone are the days I saved them.

Other than that I get no other magazines fishing related.

Guest DavidGreen
Posted

B.A.S.S. Life Memeber Since 1985

  • Super User
Posted

To FlyTheNowUnpopularRod, I could not have said it better.

Posted

I'm a member, but only because one of the club's I'm in require's it.

Posted

I have been following B.A.S.S. all my life (27 now) and just became a member.  Mainly because I started fishing tourneys and became addicted.  

By the way, if anyone one is from the Cincinnati, Northern Kentucky, or Southwest Indiana there is a new bass fishing club starting and new members are welcome (since so many local clubs do not allow it.)  If you have any questions I can help answer them, email me at    trackin_fool@yahoo.com

Josh

Posted

I became a life member about 2 years ago. I know alot of people don't like their membership as much anymore but I still find good information in there. This last weekend was my first tournament affiliated with BASS. It was the Federation Nation 6 Man State qualifier and it seemed nice. If you plan on fishing in the Federation Nation you're going to have to remember that any first impressions people have, good or bad may change since they are still trying to sey up the Fed Nation.

bassdocktor

  • Super User
Posted

I'm a B.A.S.S. member and I still find some good stuff in their magazine.  I don't fish tournaments because for me, that would eliminate one of the reasons I go fishing . . . . to get away from stress and relax.  FlyRod made some good points in his post from May 2nd on this thread (his quote is below).  I think anything can become addictive and detrimental if not done in moderation.  However, the question is what is moderate for bass fishing?  I think this will be different for each of us, depending on our schedules, careers, family activities, etc.  I make sure I spend quality time with my wife and kids.  They always come first, but I plan on fishing every day I can when I retire.      

I'm among those who bailed on them. Frankly, I think they've shot themselves in the foot with their arrogance, dictatorial tournament management, and a magazine that is more advertisement and fluff than substance.

Even the "Harry n' Charlie" stories are rather boring and poor sweet old Uncle Homer seems unable to think past the era of direct drive reels, Terry bassboats, and Dacron line.

FLW will probably follow the same sad path. For now, however, if I were an aspiring pro I'd hitch my wagon to the FLW star, even if I consider a trip to WalMart to be a sad and generally disgusting experience, especially here in South Texas. ("Why is that?" I hear you ask. Well, let's just say that if we'd closed the border and put crocodiles in the Rio Grande decades ago, I MIGHT be able to stomach an hour at WalMart.)

In my opinion, bass fishing, (or the pursuit of ANY kind of fish, for that matter,) should never have become the cult it is now. All of us, you and me alike, are guilty to some extent of creating this "Sport" and the attendant industry that exists for the purpose of draining our wallets, jeopardizing our marriages, and jobs,

We don't need reels that substitute computer chips and magnets for casting practice. We don't need to go 70, 80, 90, 100+ MPH on the water. We don't need rods that cost over 75.00 (although, admittedly, some of mine cost well in excess of that,) nor do we need the bewildering array of lures and copycat versions thereof that are advertised in such a way as to cause us to despair of ever catching another bass until UPS delivers the latest variant of worm, frog, spinnerbait, crankbait, or foul-smelling ointment to apply thereto.

We don't need boats that cost so much as a needed upgrade to our family's home or living standard or take away from our kids' college funds. We don't need trucks that suck down over-priced fuel in order to tow those boats. We don't need 150 pounds of terminal tackle and 20 rod and reel combos in order to catch a little green fish. We don't need electronics that allow us to count the scales on a bass at a depth of 50 feet.

We need to be in church on Sunday morning. We need to spend at least 3/4ths of our free time with our wives and kids, moms and dads, kid brothers and sisters, or the lonely old widow or widower that lives down the street. We need to be volunteers at our kid's schools, the local retirement home, or be active in the Boy or Girl Scouts.

Having said all this, I'm even more aware of how badly I've failed in these areas. Even though I'm not now nearly at the level of obsession that many others are and I once was, I allowed myself to fall into the trap and remain there for far too long.

Happily, I get to fish pretty often. Happily, I long ago gave up club and tournament fishing and now spend quality time with three great partners who have their priorities in order and I think I've found a fourth. Happily, at the end of the day we're more grateful for the cameraderie, a safe trip, the beauty of the sunrise, than we are for the numbers and size of the catch.

With thin, at best, apologies to various sponsors of this and other boards: I have enough "product" for now, thank you. If you have something that's new, original, and effective (and not priced through the roof,) I might be interested.

To those "manufacturers" who pirate someone else's ideas, change the name from Sweet Clam to Sugary Scallop, and undercut the developer, let me say...well...you stink!

Enough venting for now. Let the howls of outrage begin, and they will, for I have made some folks look in a mirror, I'll warrant, and they don't like what they see.

FlyTheNowUnpopularRod

Posted

I to was a big B.A.S.S member but I let it go because it was nolonger a mag for us!! It was a add book with little to do with helping bassfishermen improve their skill!!!! But a mag to improve advertizer  a better way of getting you to spend your hard earned money. I now read bassin and any mag that has good reading for me from pros that want to help me become a better basser....not a better spender.. of my money >:(:o;)

Posted
I'm among those who bailed on them. Frankly, I think they've shot themselves in the foot with their arrogance, dictatorial tournament management, and a magazine that is more advertisement and fluff than substance...........

I think it was haveing to pay extra for the tips, is what did it for me.

When I picked up one magazine and it bent over like a weekly salespaper, that was the final straw (maybe a slight over exageration, on my part but that's what came to mind at the time). I had gotten where I didn't even bother to open them up anymore nor do I plan on going pro anytime soon. I let it go this last time no matter how many trinkets they offered for my renewal, funny though they still send me the $30.00 books.

Posted

I've been a member since '96. I get it renewed for Christmas every year so I'm not investing any of my money in it. If I want to learn more about bass fishing, I just come here! By far, the BEST place to learn!

;D

  • 4 weeks later...

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