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DEL.ICIO.USBass tournaments: Hooking fish for big dough
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
You may not know this, those are some pretty valuable bass in Lake Hartwell.
The big reservoir (55,000 acres at full poll) located on the Georgia-South Carolina line two hours northeast of Atlanta is hosting the the most prestigious event in the sport of tournament bass fishing.
The 38th Bassmaster Classic, a three-day spectacle that includes dramatic weigh-ins in big arenas, begins next weekend. The winner, who can weigh in no more than five bass each day, gets $500,000. That’s more than $33,000 a fish.
It’s quite remarkable what this tournament has meant to fishing in general. When Ray Scott started the Bass Anglers Sportsmen Society in 1967 he wanted to bring fishermen together. He didn’t know he would launch a sport that attracts such big money and sponsorship.
More importantly, Scott’s efforts increased conservation awareness among anglers. Catch-and-release fishing took off, mainly because Scott’s tournaments took the lead on weighing in, then releasing fish caught in tournaments. Bringing a dead fish to the weigh-in resulted in a penalty.
Scott’s first B.A.S.S. tournament offered the winner $2,000 and a trip to Acapulco. Now, six-figure payouts for first place are common, and this summer’s Forrest Wood Cup (held by Bassmaster rival, the FLW Tour) is paying $1 million.
These days, bass tournaments are common from the smallest lakes with electric-motor powered competitors to major lakes all over the country. I’ve even competed in a few — even placed third once. There may be a sideshow-carnival element to the Classic, but I think anything that promotes fishing and being outdoors is a good thing
But what do you think?
Comments
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By Dick Cheney
February 15, 2008 12:33 PM | Link to this
When I’m back at Halliburton in 11 months, we’re going to be big-time sponsors of bass tournaments. And gun safety classes.
By Riverpirate
February 15, 2008 3:54 PM | Link to this
I think tournaments are a wondeful thing. As with everything they have pros and cons but the pros far outweigh the cons. This year the Georgia Kayak Fishing Club, (georgiakayakfishing.com) will host the first ever state wide kayak fishing tournament trail. We are a long way from the accomplishments of Ray Scott but he has certainly given us a road map to follow.
By Lagober
February 19, 2008 4:12 PM | Link to this
I think the competition in a tournament makes fishing that much more exciting and fun. And it is always nice to win a little money doing something you love to do.