MR. BASS --- Ray Scott farewell ... job well done.

[Lake X Kid]

He started a professional occupation for many fishermen to earn money, doing what they like doing.
Very few people have that on their resume — creating a new professional sport or industry.

And also, the auxiliary industries (boats, motors, lures, trailers, trolling motors, fish finders, etc.) supporting the tournament, and the weekend fishermen/women's increase popularity to fish.

[Lake X Kid]

Ray Scott founded the first national professional bass fishing circuit, the Bassmaster Tournament Trail, in 1967, and the following year founded the Bass Anglers Sportsman Society — B.A.S.S.

In 1972, he debuted the “Don’t Kill Your Catch” campaign and mandated that all tournament competitors’ boats feature an aerated live-well to keep their bass alive.

In 1984, he and then-Bassmaster magazine Editor Bob Cobb, created The Bassmasters TV show.

Scott and his rapidly growing B.A.S.S. organization also crusaded against industrial pollution of America’s waterways.

Early on, he began requiring BASS tournament competitors to wear personal flotation devices, and he convinced manufacturers to make emergency shut-off devices — “kill switches” — standard features on motorboats.

[LakeFever]

Rip to a legend