bass members

[tallydude]

I'm a member and I'm happy with it.

[Hale]

proud member

[NevadaBass]

They pulled out of our area and I am still not sure why other than an old post on the website that represented the Delta Region of CA.  So no more tourneys etc here with or affiliated to BASS.  We have just started getting into tournament fishing this year and we are from Nevada.  It shocks people when we do well and everyone jokes about where do we fish....

Northern Nevada at that  There is a little more places to fish in southern nevada but reality check we are only 3 hours form the Delta in CA!

So now its FLW AFL and 100% Bass for us!

[DR_Bass]

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

Amen!  You said it man.  I am a tournament fisherman and a member of BASS (proud member).  I enjoy tournament fishing and sometimes let it take control of my life.....  

I like what you said.  Sometimes we all need a reality check.   :-[

[skeeter-b]

Well this is my first time on this forum and so far i like what i see.

I'm also a member of B.A.S.S. federation Northeast divisiong in Texas

[bassclown]

been a member for several years....i don't agree with everything they say or do but i am still a proud member

[fishingaddict]

B.A.S.S. member for about a year now

Not happy with the magazine like the rest of you (well many of you)

it is a shame it had to be bought out by ESPN

Though it would pretty tough for a real fisherman to buy the magazine from such a big umm company like ESPN :'(

[Thefishy1]

Been a member since 96' but it now has too many ads and not enough material

I learn so much more by talking to others and learning things myself on the water

Another thing Where does all of the money paid for the entry fees into the bassmaster series go, because the last one I fished it had 63 people on each side (boaters and non boaters) which equals about 22,000 dollars and first place on the boaters side was about 3000 and non boaters side 1700 what happened to the other 18,000 dollars

[x-trued]

I joined last month and have nothing to compare it to.  However, I find the magazines very informative.  They apparently used to be far better, but they are far from junk to me now.  

[Gorgebassman]

BASS member as well as FLW member. And proud to be a member of any club that promotes the great sport we love as well as preaches consevation of the waters we so love to fish.