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Left to Right: Bobby Murray; Homer Circle; Larry Nixon; Forrest Wood; Ray Scott; Rick Clunn and Roland Martin (Bill Dance not pictured.) |
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Ray |
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Heeding his own advice, he did something. When he decided to hold his first bass tournament, "the All-American", on Beaver Lake, near Rogers, AR, he wanted to make certain that, should this event fail, he was far enough away from his home, in Montgomery, AL, that no one would know about it. But, as history has proven, this first B.A.S.S. tournament and the idea of bringing anglers together to share their love of fishing competition, opened the door to the most successful fishing organization in the world. Today, the Bass Anglers Sportsmen Society has grown from humble roots in 1968 to having over 650,000 members worldwide. And has, along the way, established themselves as the leader in pursuing conservation issues; in promoting "catch and release", requiring that all bass boats that participate in B.A.S.S. events had working, functional, "live-wells"; and, B.A.S.S. tournaments have led the way in promoting boating safety. Additionally, the year-end championship tournament, the Bassmasters Classic, is known to anglers everywhere as the "Super Bowl of bass fishing". Without his insight, dedication, and sheer tenacity, we wouldn't have the clean waters act and the best fishing waters in America's history. Bassmaster magazine has come to be known as the fisherman's bible, to bass anglers around the world. He has been inducted into every major fishing hall of fame in existence; including the International Fishing Hall of Fame and the National Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame. Ray Scott was also listed by Field & Stream, in 1995, as one of twenty people who have done the most to influence outdoor sports during the past century; and in 1998, Outdoor Life listed him as one of their "ten keepers", because his formation of B.A.S.S. is one of the top fishing innovations of the past century! |
Homer Writing about fishing and chasing
sport fish around the world, are only a part of this man's
abilities. Over the years, he has held four world records
for different fish species. Mr. Circle's outdoors
accomplishments include: Past President of the Outdoor
Writers Association of America; the only member to have ever
received the O.W.A.A.'s top three awards. He is a former
Arkansas Game and Fish Commissioner; the recipient of the
Jaycee Service Award and the International Game Fish
Association's fellowship award. If that's not enough, this man has
hosted three national television shows, on fishing, during
his life; he has authored seven books; and has starred in
more than 50 fishing films, one of which, every avid bass
angler in the world has seen, Big Mouth. When asked what his greatest
accomplishments have been, he states "I think that I've been
bountifully endowed because of two enduring blessings, my
child bride of over 60 years, Gayle, and my unique
profession".
Circle
Homer Circle has fished over much of
four continents and written about the world's great sport
fish. However, it has been his devotion to the bass that
brings him to the Hall of Fame. He began his journalistic
career, when he worked as the Public Relations Manager for
the Daisy Air-Rifle Company, of Rogers, AR. His natural
talent, easy-going personality and mild demeanor allowed him
to blend in with everyone he came in contact with. In 1964,
the world famous Sports Afield recognized his talents
by naming him Angling Editor, a position he held for more
than 36 years.
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Bill |
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During the early years of B.A.S.S. tournaments, his "structure" fishing prowess proved to fishermen around the country that bass could indeed be caught year-round, if an angler spent the time necessary to learn the movements and habits of deep-water fish. His tournament performance proved that his deep-water techniques really worked! In the early years of the B.A.S.S. tournament trail, he won seven times, captured the coveted "angler-of-the-year" title three times, qualified for the Bassmasters Classic 8 out of the 9 years that he competed on the B.A.S.S. circuit, and in all, he won 23 different national bass tournament titles. Needless to say, this brought his name to the attention of fishermen around the country. Additionally, he was awarded the 1978 Congressional National Water Safety Award; and was inducted into the National Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame in 1986. However, it was the television series that he began in 1968, and his trademark orange "Tennessee" hat, that truly made him an international hero and household name. His easy-going, laid-back style was a natural in delivering educational "how-to" programming that has enabled millions of anglers to learn how to catch more bass over the years. |
Bobby During his life, he has won over 40
regional and national tournaments, he's received Master
Angler status in alaska, for trout and salmon, and has
landed trophy saltwater species, including a 964-pound
tuna. The single accomplishment that
brought his name to national attention was his winning the
very first Bassmasters Classic, in 1971, on Lake Mead,
NV. As much as this victory sealed his
name in the record books, he proved, by winning the 1978
Bassmasters Classic, on Ross Barnett Reservoir, that he
would attain legendary status. In 1989 he was honored with an
induction into the National Sport Fishing Hall of Fame; and
in 1994 was elected to the Arkansas Outdoor Hall of
Fame. When he was listed in the Living
Legends of American Sport Fishing, author Larry Columbo
said, "this angler is one of the true superstars of American
sport fishing. His excellent reputation, along with
his proven skills, put him among the elite class of
anglers."
Murray
While having fished all of his life,
Mr. Murray came to the national fishing public's attention
when he won his first B.A.S.S. tournament, on Lake Eufaula,
This was only the beginning of a storied career for this
outstanding multi-species angler.
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Larry |
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In 1977, feeling that his skill level was proficient enough, to allow him to compete, he joined the B.A.S.S. tournament trail and thus began one of the most successful careers in tournament bass angling. Since joining the B.A.S.S. circuit, he won two B.A.S.S. "Angler-of-the-Year" titles; 14 tournaments; qualified for 23 Bassmaster Classics and he won the 1983 Bassmasters Classic. He has also won four B.A.S.S. Megabucks tournament and unbelievably, he won three of those events in a row. With all of these accomplishments, the one title that will follow him, the rest of his life, is the fact that he became the first one million dollar winner, in prize money, along the Bass Anglers Sportsmen Society's tournament trail. In case you think this individual is nothing more than a fishing machine, think again. Along with all of his credentials in bass fishing, he's also hosted his own television show for three years and he's been honored by being inducted into the Arkansas Outdoor Hall of Fame and into the Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame. |
Rick
Clunn
While he cut his fishing teeth in
the state of Texas as a youngster, Mr. Clunn has proven that
he can catch 'em anywhere he goes, in America. During a very distinguished career,
he has achieved records that many people feel may never be
broken. While Larry Nixon was the first
person to win one million dollars along the B.A.S.S. trail,
Mr. Clunn was the first person to win one million dollars,
in prize money, along different national tournament
trails. However, money has never been his
driving force. It's been the challenge against "those little
green fish" as he puts it and it has been that drive that
has helped him win over three million dollars, in total
prize money, during the past thirty years. Along with the money, he captured
the 1988 B.A.S.S. "Angler-of-the-Year" title; he won the
1985 Red Man All-American championship; the 1983 & 1986
U.S. Open titles on Lake Mead; and has taken 12 different
tournament titles along the B.A.S.S. circuit, including the
1984 Bassmasters Classic, on the Arkansas River, where he
set an unbelievable weight record of 75-pounds, 9-ounces, in
three days. A weight record that may never be
broken. Additionally, he set a single
season money winnings record, in 2000, by taking home over
$500,000 dollars between the B.A.S.S. and the Wal*Mart FLW
Tour trails, and captured the 2001 B.A.S.S. Megabucks
championship. However, the two most impressive
feats and two titles that many say will never be broken,
are: he's qualified for 28 consecutive Bassmaster Classics
and he's won four Bassmaster Classic crowns.
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Roland |
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During his thirty-one year career, he has literally won it all. Along the B.A.S.S. tournament trail alone, he's won 19 tournament titles; he's been the B.A.S.S. "Angler-of-the-Year" 9-times, and both of these are records on the B.A.S.S. circuit. Mr. Martin has also qualified for 24 Bassmaster Classics and finished in second place, a record 19 times. In addition, he is credited with developing the term "pattern fishing" in 1969, a definition that he describes as, "the exact set of water conditions which attracts fish to that specific spot and to other similar spots all over the same body of water". While most fishermen know him by his outstanding tournament career, he also found the time to author many articles and books on bass fishing. The most famous of which is the one written in 1980, entitled, 101 Ways to Catch Bass, a book that was been taken to the lake by more bass fishermen than probably any information source ever written. While this 61-year old has accomplished enough for two lifetimes, he shows no signs of slowing down, as evidenced by him recently qualifying for his 24th Bassmaster Classic appearance. |
Forrest In the mid 1960's, before
professional bass fishing began, he made his living in a
couple of different ways. First, he was a very successful
trout guide on the White River. So successful, he
employed several anglers to help him cover the demands that
he received for his services. His wife and four daughters
helped by preparing lunches for his clients. Lunches that
included fried chicken that became almost as famous as did
the guide himself. In addition to guiding, he also
worked as a building contractor in the wintertime, when it
was too cold to fish. A successful business that almost
didn't allow him time to fish when the weather warmed. As
luck would have it, there were more people who wanted to
fish, than to have homes built. In 1967, when Ray Scott held his
first B.A.S.S. tournament, Mr. Wood did not
compete. Why? Because he didn't know about it.
However, he fished the second event, on Lewis Smith Lake in
Alabama, and began an historic career. In order to keep the good guides
who worked for him in the summer, busy in the winter, he
started a small boat repair business on the side. A small
business that turned into one of the most well-known bass
boat companies in the world. Ranger Boats, as he would call his
company, may have come from humble beginnings, but, his
wife, and partner, of over fifty-years, Nina, enabled him to
see what bass fishing could, and would, become one day. This
vision helped Ranger grow into the largest employer in
north/central Arkansas. Mr. Wood, the Bass Anglers
Sportsmen Society, with Ray Scott, laid the groundwork for
professional bass fishing. One man working with the
other. One company leading the drive to unite anglers
around the world, while Ranger supported and sponsored
B.A.S.S. in their quest. No other, in professional bass
fishing history, has been as responsible for supporting and
sponsoring fishermen, and tournament trails, than has Ranger
Boat Company, led by Forrest Wood. Mr. Wood is also quite an
accomplished professional angler. He competed on the
B.A.S.S. circuit for many years, even qualifying for two
Bassmaster Classics and he won the New York Invitational
B.A.S.S. tournament on the St. Lawrence River, in june of
1979. While most people know him as the
founder of Ranger Boats, not many people realize the
tremendous contributions he has made both publicly and
privately. Throughout the years, this
outstanding humanitarian and philanthropist has donated
millions of dollars to such organizations as: American
Cancer Society; St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital;
Epilepsy Society of America and literally hundreds of
smaller, regional organizations throughout his thirty-four
years in the business.
Wood
Growing up in a small north/central Arkansas town taught Mr.
Wood traits that have helped him influence millions of
people during his career. Hard work, honesty, pride in
workmanship and integrity.
