| Despite its tremendous popularity today, the | | | | popular. Technology was largely responsible |
| story of bass fishing is not a particularly | | | | as new materials made possible new types of |
| old one to the surprise of many. It is a | | | | fishing line, and fishing rods and reels. The |
| sport associated with the common man and the | | | | popularity of the flat bottomed Jon boat led |
| increase in leisure time has spurred its | | | | to the development of a very unique type of |
| rise. | | | | fishing boat with a relatively flat bottom |
| | | | and a powerful engine. The new boat style was |
| Bass are actually members of the Sun Fish | | | | called a bass boat because it was ideal for |
| family. The term bass is used for several | | | | pursuing this fish in it new habitats. |
| species including largemouth bass, smallmouth | | | | |
| bass, Kentucky or spotted bass, and several | | | | Another spur to the growth of bass fishing |
| other less common types. They are currently | | | | was the tournament. Bass tournaments began |
| the second most common target of fisherman in | | | | modestly, but soon a professional fishing |
| the United States. The tale of bass fishing | | | | circuit developed and such events as the Bass |
| begins in fairly recent times. The decline in | | | | Masters Classic began to attract a dedicated |
| trout populations due to pollution and rising | | | | following. The media helped as outdoors shows |
| water temperatures in the Eastern rivers | | | | on television spread the techniques and |
| close to large populations centers led to a | | | | captured the thrill of bass fishing. From the |
| search for a replacement species that would | | | | very beginning, there was a strong push to |
| better adapt to these conditions. | | | | use "catch and release" fishing. Tournaments |
| | | | penalized fisherman for dead fish, and all |
| The bass proved to be a much hardier species | | | | fish were carefully returned to the water. |
| and thrived in the trout's former habitat. At | | | | Bass fishing was something done mostly for |
| the beginning of the 20th Century, there was | | | | sport as opposed to putting fish in the |
| a wide spread stocking program as bass were | | | | frying pan. |
| grown in fisheries and introduced into rivers | | | | |
| and lakes. The practice of stocking continued | | | | The catch and release mentality has led to an |
| westward and bass especially seem to thrive | | | | increase in bass populations in many |
| in the warm waters of the south. Whereas fly | | | | impoundments. This has come despite |
| fishing was often seen as the choice of the | | | | tremendous fishing pressure. The increase is |
| "Gentleman Angler", bass fishing was, from | | | | not totally a good thing as overpopulation |
| the beginning, the sport of the common man. | | | | has led to smaller and smaller fish as the |
| This association has remained to this day | | | | competition for food increased, but slot |
| despite rich tournaments and expensive bass | | | | limit programs which remove fish of a certain |
| boats. | | | | size are helping to bring the populations |
| | | | back to ideal levels. Bass fishing is a very |
| In the days following World War II, there was | | | | American sport. It is one of the few fishing |
| a sport fishing boom in the United States and | | | | methods that does not owe its origins to |
| bass fishing began to become even more | | | | England or Europe. |