Founder of BASS returns — sort of

Ray Scott, the godfather of big-bucks bass fishing and the founder of the international Bass Anglers Sportsman Society (BASS), announced his return to the organization he founded in 1968. He sold his BASS company in 1986.

The crowd-pleasing Scott will not return to BASS in the manner many hoped he would. It had been rumored that ESPN, which owns the profit-making BASS, needed to put a spark into an organization that has appeared slightly moribund.

The popular Scott won’t be doing his antics on the grandstand during the weighing of the bass when the world championship of bass fishing is held in late July and early August.

Instead, he has agreed to return as a goodwill ambassador for the sport of bass fishing and to help increase the membership of BASS.

From the 106 anglers from 13 states to compete in the first All-American Invitational Bass Tournament at Beaver Lake, Ark., in 1967, Scott parlayed the interest in bass fishing into a national mania. He watched his society grow to more than 650,000 dedicated bass anglers.

Along the way, Scott’s idea of play-for-pay bass fishing also created the multi-billion-dollar bass boat industry, huge tournaments, publications, the Bassmasters cable TV show, a network of state BASS federations and thousands of BASS-affiliated clubs.

Scott will appear at major events but probably will spend most of his time promoting and hopefully enlarging the membership rolls of state BASS federations.

He’ll make an appearance at the BASS Masters Classic world championship, July30 to Aug.1, in Charlotte, N.C., but thus far no one has said if he’ll again delight the crowds as the master of ceremonies at an event that will draw 20,000-plus onlookers into a fish-weighing arena.

Said Scott: “There’s been no discussion about my return as a weighmaster, and that’s fine with me. I’ll serve BASS best in a spiritual and motivational role.”

Iowa bass angler top amateur — After a tough three-day contest on Keystone Lake in Tulsa, Thad Takes of Center Point, Iowa, became the national BASS Federation champion. Takes enjoyed his come-from-behind victory for the bass fishing world’s amateur crown as he received a check for $17,000 and the sweetest prize of all: a berth in bass fishing’s world championship, the Bass Masters Classic.

Takes’ victory came on a day darkened by the loss of a fellow competitor, Vermont’s Ray Sprano, who died in his sleep Friday night. The final day of the tournament was dedicated to Sprano as the anglers launched their boats on the big Oklahoma lake.

Takes caught only one bass on the first day of competition, but after the second and third days he had 413/4 pounds of live bass.

Virginians score in All-American — Dick Gum of Woodbridge and Shayne Berlo of Vienna recently competed in the 2004 BFL All-American bass tournament on Lake Hamilton, near Hot Springs, Ark. Gum, who competed as an amateur, placed fifth in the co-angler division. Berlo, who led the pros in the big event after the first of three days of competition, eventually finished 11th. Consider that dozens of tour anglers would have given anything to finish that high and you’ll come to realize that our Northern Virginians are to be reckoned with anywhere they wet a line.

The All-American was won by Allen Hayes of Moody, Ala., who received a check for $100,000.

EVENTS

Kids’ Fishing Day — Saturday, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., Martin Luther King Regional Park, White Oak section of Silver Spring. Free event sponsored by the Potomac-Patuxent chapter of Trout Unlimited. Children under 16 can catch trout and sunfish, rain or shine. The park lake will be stocked with trout. Bait will be provided. Each child should bring a rod, reel and tackle like hooks and a small bobber, as well as warm clothing, drinking water and a snack or lunch. An adult should accompany younger children. Information: pptu.org; 301/562-9307.

Freestate Fly Fishers meet — May 5, 7:30 p.m., at Davidsonville Family Recreation Center. Public is invited. Information: Mike Price, 410/320-0080.

Trout Unlimited chapter — May 6, 7:30 p.m., the Northern Virginia chapter of TU meets at the Vienna Volunteer Fire Department, 400 Center Street SE. Don Hershfeld, former senior aquatic ecologist for the Corps of Engineers, will discuss trout fishing opportunities in Garrett County, Md. Free. The public is invited. Information: www.nvatu.org.

Surf fishing school — May 6-9, Sept. 9-12, Oct. 21-24, Outer Banks in Nags Head, N.C. Each session is scheduled to coincide with productive fishing periods. Pro guides Joe Malat and Mac Currin are instructors. Cost: $250. Contact Malat, 252/441-4767; joe@joemalat.com. Motel reservations, 800/334-3302.

Sporting Clays Classic — May 21-22, Pintail Point, Maryland’s Eastern Shore. Benefits the National Kidney Foundation. May 21, 5 to 8 p.m., sponsors party at Pintail Point’s Manor House. May 22, 10 a.m., registration, beginners clinic and shooting lessons, followed by lunch and entertainment. Competitive shooting starts at 1:30 p.m. with 100 targets, 17 stations (shells provided). Prizes include trophies, snow goose, quail and pheasant hunts. Four-shooter team, $1,000; individual entry, $250. Registration: Claudia Hartmann, 202/244-7900, ext. 18; hartmannkidneywdc.org

Freestate Fly Fishers spring outing — May 22, Trappe Pond State Park, Laurel, Del. Caravan assembles 7 a.m. at MacDonald’s on Route 50/east, just before Bay Bridge. Information: Don Fitzhugh at fitzbag@aol.com or 301/261-5799.

• Look for Gene Mueller’s Outdoors column every Sunday, Wednesday and Thursday, only in The Washington Times. E-mail: gmueller@washingtontimes.com.