Blast From The Past – Five County Bassmasters

Take a look at the article I found at Bassfan.com. Here’s some pretty good bass fishing history!!!

Looking Back
Bassmaster Issue No. 1: ‘B.A.S.S. Purposes’

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Bassmaster issue No. 1 – spring 1968. At that time it was a quarterly publication.

History matters. And it’s at least a little baffling that bass fishing’s history is still largely a conglomeration of oral tales, loose remembrances, dusty photo libraries and a healthy dose of myth.

The effort toward an organized history has gained force the past several years, in part because of energies put toward the Bass Fishing Hall of Fame and a potential physical locale for the hall.

But by and large, the history of bass fishing is yet to be written. Which is regretful, since so many of its key figures have either passed away or have reached old age.

Over the past half-decade, the bass-fishing world bid farewell to folks like Tom Mann, Virgil Ward, Buck Perry, Hy Peskin, Dr. Loren Hill, John Powell, Stan Sloan, Orville Ball, Red Fisher, Don Butler, Tim Tucker and Bobby Garland, among others. More will surely follow and take with them the memories of a sport’s seminal years.

Even bass-fishing documents can be difficult to obtain. Is there a collection of Bassmaster Classic weigh-slips anywhere? How about vintage patches? Amateur or family photography? Magazine galleys? Early film footage swept off the cut floor?

One important document does survive in limited quantity, and that’s the premier issue of Bassmaster magazine. This 28-page staple-bound edition, labeled Spring 1968, was the debut issue after official formation of the Bass Anglers Sportsman Society – referred to in that first issue as BASS (without periods).

Here’s a look inside.

Writers, Features

In the debut issue, Ray Scott’s listed as editor and contributing writers are Billy Burns (Lexington, Ky.), Don Miller (Elyria, Ohio), Bill O’Connor (Albany, Ga.), Bob Hamilton (Midfield, Ala.), Bill Bowling (Rogers, Ark.), Charles D. Kelley (chief, Alabama Game & Fish) and Bob Cobb (outdoor editor, Tulsa Tribune).

Listed articles include:
> Editorial (Scott)
> BASS Anglers Sportsman Society (Scott)
> Lunker Baron And His Jig (Burns)
> If I Had To Choose My Favorite Lure (Don Miller)
> Spring Time Is Lunker Time (O’Connor)
> World’s Record Spotted Bass (Hamilton)
> Magic Movements By Topwater Master (Bowling)
> Will Bass Fishing Survive (Kelly)
> Bass Tournament Rules
> Expert Fisherman (Cobb)
> Lunker Land U.S.A.
> Dixie Invitational Bass Tournament
> All-American Invitational Bass Tournament
> Letters To The Editor
> Rebel Invitational Bass Tournament

Ray’s Manifesto

At this particular juncture in the B.A.S.S. timeline, with the organization under new ownership, one article in particular stands out. Titled Bass Anglers Sportsman Society and penned by Scott, it lays out for the first time in print the goals of the fledgling B.A.S.S. The article text is reprinted below. Note that the article uses “Sportsman” in the table of contents, but “Sports” is used in the actual headline. Also, capitals and punctuation are reproduced as they appear in the article.

BASS Anglers Sports Society

The membership of the BASS Anglers Sportsman Society (BASS) is open to anyone who loves bass fishing and shares the desire to advance our Bass fishing sport, and the Society purpose.

The BASSMASTER magazine is fashioned to serve the interest of the BASS membership. It is our hope and dream that from this humble first edition a magazine will develop that will answer the specific needs and interest of the Bass fisherman. This is your magazine. We want your comments and suggestions on how you’d like it fashioned.

The BASS purpose and benefits of membership are listed below:

BASS PURPOSES

To organize the Bass Anglers of America.

To stimulate public awareness of Bass fishing as a major participation sport. To elevate our sport to a place of prominence with golf, bowling, boat racing and billiards.

To improve our skill as Bass Anglers through the exchange of expert Bass catching techniques and ideas.

To offer our state conservation departments our organized moral and political support and encouragement. To promote full adherence to all conservation codes.

To demand adequate water standards and legal enforcement of existing regulatory standards. To detect and report any polluter and call public and political attention to his crime.

To encourage private and governmental study into why fishing on our lakes and streams “go bad,” and what can be done for these waters to restore and maintain top bass fishing for ourselves and our children.

To promote and encourage youth fishing. Kids don’t go fishing – they are carried fishing. Instill at an early age an interest and love for this great recreation.

To present national championship BASS fishing tournaments. These BASS tournaments will bring together the nation’s most dedicated Bass fishermen. The publicity derived from these tournaments will prove their value in stimulating public interest in our Bass Angling Sport.

This humorous house ad appeared on the inside back cover.

BASS BENEFITS

Each member receives a yearly subscription to THE BASSMASTER MAGAZINE – the dream of every bass fisherman. If you’re tired of digging through Sports Afield, Outdoor Life, and Field and Stream looking for just one good Bass feature, you can stop digging – THE BASSMASTER MAGAZINE is filled with exciting Bass fishing stories and techniques discussed by the expert BASS membership. This quarterly publication gives you the how, when, and where to consistently catch more and larger strings of Bass.

THE BASSMASTER MAGAZINE will include BASS tournament information, and current tournament tour schedules. THE BASSMASTER MAGAZINE will also feature up to date information on the better Bass lakes across the nation. For the true Bass Angler, THE BASSMASTER MAGAZINE is a maddening must.

Each member also receives a beautiful silk embroidered official BASS member’s patch. This patch should be displayed on your fishing jacket or coat to show your supporting membership.

Receive the BASS member identification card, and the BASS Angler’s Calendar. To be an “Investor” in the fulfillment of all the goals of The Bass Angler’s Sportsman Society.

BASS needs you today!

Notable: The original B.A.S.S. rules are also published in the first issue and will be reviewed at a future date.