According to a study done by the Bass Anglers Sportsman Society (B.A.S.S) in 2000, there are approximately 30 million people worldwide who fish for bass either recreationally or professionally. Compared with the 24 million people who play golf and 17.3 million who play tennis, bass fishing seems to be the winning game. However, bass fishing was not always the popular sport it is today.
The history of bass fishing can be traced back to the late 18th century when British reel maker Onesimus Ustonson advertised the first ever multiplying reel, which became the prototype for today’s baitcaster reels. The next big step in the advancement of bass fishing came in 1915 when the William J. Jamison Company introduced the Shannon Twin Spinner, a new ornamental reel which eventually helped lead to the creation of modern spinner baits.
Perhaps the biggest leap forward for bass fishing came in 1932 and had absolutely nothing do to with inventing or with the sport of bass fishing itself and instead was based on a political move made by President Franklin D. Roosevelt and his New Deal plan. As part of the New Deal, President Roosevelt created the Tennessee Valley Authority, which aimed to construct dams and reservoirs in order to provide electricity for areas of the Appellations. As a result of the newly constructed dams, many lakes were also created and these lakes were soon stocked with bass, which brought a new surge of growth and helped introduce even more fisherman to the world of bass fishing.
The mid 1900s saw continued growth in the development of bass fishing. In 1937, the DuPont Company created a fishing net out of nylon but later realized that the nylon used for the net would be better suited as a fishing line. With the 1950s came the most advancements in modern fishing. During this time more modern bass fishing equipment such as bass boats, lures, rods and lines were developed. In 1992 bass fishing gained even more popularity when Larry Nixon became the first individual to ever win one million dollars from professional bass fishing. Six years later, Wheaties put Denny Brauer on a cereal box, making him the first angler to ever be placed on the coveted box of Wheaties cereal.
Since its beginnings in the late 18th century, bass fishing has grown to become the second most desired game fish in the U.S and has evolved into a multi-billion dollar industry. In fact, bass fishing is estimated to have brought between $50 and $70 billion dollars to the American economy over the years. Bass are a popular game fish and the sport of bass fishing is constantly growing. BassFishingAmerica understands this and is proud to offer a large selection of bass fishing gear and supplies such as rods, reels and lures to bass fishing anglers of all ages. From professional bass fishers to those just starting out, BassFishingAmerica has everything you need to meet your bass fishing needs.