About BASS
Facts and figures concerning fishing and BASS


General fishing and bass fishing numbers

Where bass are found: In every state except Alaska
Approximate number of sportfishermen in the U.S.: 50 million
Approximate number of freshwater anglers in the U.S.: 28.4 million
Approximate value of sportfishing overall: $116 billion
Approximate value of freshwater fishing: $74.8 billion

Source: U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service; American Sportfishing Association

BASS membership: Top 10 states

Bass fishing is a national pastime. Of the top 10 BASS membership states, six are outside the South.

Texas ranks first, and Florida second, but California ranks third; Ohio fourth; Illinois fifth; North Carolina sixth; Pennsylvania seventh; Tennessee eighth; Georgia ninth; and Missouri tenth. New York is in the top 15; Michigan is in the top 20; and New Jersey ranks 21st.

Source: ABC Statement for 6 months ending June 31, 2002

Profile of the Bassmaster subscriber

Median age: 48.6
Average age: 51.6
Average annual household income: $66,172
Median annual household income: $56,566
Average annual expenditure on fishing tackle & equipment: $1,928
Attended or graduated college: 66.5%

Source: 2002 BASS Member Survey

BASS membership, magazine circulation, TV series, etc.

Households in America that house a BASS member: 1/188
BASS members in adult population: 1/373
BASS members who participate in tournaments: 50% approximately

Source: ABC Statement for 6 months ending June 31, 2002; Statistical Abstract of the United States

Bassmaster Magazine

Circulation: 550,000+
Readership: 4.2 million approximately

Source: MRI Spring 2002 Spring Audience Estimates

BASS Times

Circulation: 112,500+
Readership: 394,000 approximately

Source: BASS Times Circulation Report, October 2002

The Bassmaster TV show

ESPN2: 15.5 million household impressions

Source: A.C. Nielsen

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Personal Accomplishments

Founding Member of “Fish to Cure Diabetes”.
Charter Member of “Orphans Lodge 761”.
Generated over 2.5 hrs. of “face” time in 2005.
My Name and or Picture appeared in print to over 1.65 Million readers in 2005.
This does not include a countless number of online publications and web sites.
I have never been released from a sponsor!
I am a complete package, I can fish & promote my sponsors.
I am dedicated, driven and hard working.
I WILL WORK HARD FOR YOU!
 

About FLW Outdoors

 Professional bass fishing has never been more popular.

Here's why:

Bass tournaments may be the next NASCAR
It's a spectator sport like no other
There's more money awarded than you may think
Star power
Technology has changed fishing forever
FLW Outdoors anglers are leaders in conservation
Niche marketing is a popular trend in corporate America
Fishing is for everyone
Pro bass fishing garners international interest
Anglers want to know the stats
Want to learn more?

Bass tournaments may be the next NASCAR

Patterned after the success of NASCAR, tournament fishing has seen a rapid increase in popularity within the past 10 years. Generally speaking, the mainstream sports community has always considered fishing to be a leisure activity and a good way to relax and enjoy the great outdoors. While true for many recreational anglers, this sentiment is quickly changing as more fishing enthusiasts turn to tournaments to satisfy their competitive spirit. Today there are more tournaments offered and more lucrative cash awards earned than at any point in the sport's history.

It's a spectator sport like no other

This season FLW Outdoors, owned by Minneapolis investor Irwin L. Jacobs, announced a new broadcasting partnership with Fox Sports Net that provides bass tournament coverage across FSN's network of 20 regional sports channels every Sunday at 11 a.m. Eastern time. The "Wal-Mart FLW Outdoors" show can reach a universe of 82 million homes through FSN, which also serves as the cable television home to 62 of MLB, NHL and NBA teams based in the United States.

The final day's weigh-in from each FLW Tour event is also broadcast live via satellite to Wal-Mart stores nationwide and aired on the Wal-Mart Television Network. This satellite feed is also available to local television stations that want to capture dramatic footage for the evening news. On site, thousands of spectators gather for weigh-ins that are unlike any other.

ESPN, which acquired FLW Outdoors' counterpart BASS in 2001 for an estimated $40 million, has also expanded its fishing coverage with the addition of two new shows this season, "Basscenter" and "Loudmouth Bass."

Industry insiders believe the added television coverage by FSN and ESPN will assist in growing tournament fishing's popularity even further and will help bring more participants into the sport at all levels.

There's more money awarded than you may think

FLW Outdoors and its eight tournament trails are largely supported by nonendemic companies, similar to the NASCAR business model, realizing the potential in reaching a broad consumer base of more than 52 million anglers.

These awards nearly equal, and in some cases surpass, other major sporting events like the NASCAR Brickyard 400, which awarded $518,053 for first place in 2004; the PGA Champions Tour SBC Championship, which awarded $225,000 for first place in 2004; and the ATP SAP Open, which awarded $52,000 for first place in 2004.

BASS has signed such nonendemic sponsors as Busch and Cialis and upped the top payout for its flagship event, the Bassmaster Classic, by 250 percent to maintain parity with FLW Outdoors' top award in the Forrest L. Wood Championship.

Star power

Along with tournament payouts, television ratings for both FLW Outdoors and BASS are steadily climbing each year as more and more fishing enthusiasts tune in to see their favorite professional anglers battle the elements, find fish and race against the clock to land a winning catch.

Like other professional sports, fishing has its superstars just like Shaquille O'Neal of the NBA and Tom Brady of the NFL, who time and again perform at the highest levels of their sports.

Anglers prove that fishing is anything but luck. "Luck is where preparation and opportunity meet," Wendlandt says. The truth is, these guys worked their way up the ladder and put in literally thousands of hours on the water perfecting their skills, just like other professional athletes.

Technology has changed fishing forever

The equipment used by anglers competing in FLW Outdoors events range from high-tech Ranger bass boats with global positioning systems and advanced sonar to the unsophisticated plastic worm. Rods and reels used by some anglers are made from graphite composites and alloys that rival those used in top-of-the-line golf clubs. Even the fishing line used by many competitors is made from the same material as bulletproof vests. But despite the latest technological advancements, the odds are still undeniably in favor of the fish.

FLW Outdoors anglers are leaders in conservation

Fisheries visited by FLW Outdoors benefit from our partnership with the FishAmerica Foundation, which is the conservation arm of the American Sportsfishing Association.

Additionally, FLW Outdoors anglers visit schools at each FLW Tour stop, sharing their experiences with children and teaching the importance of conservation.

Nationwide, anglers annually contribute more than $426 million to the conservation and management of fisheries through the Sport Fish Restoration Trust Fund. More than any other group, professional anglers have a vested interest in protecting the environment and promoting a healthy fish population.

Niche marketing is a popular trend in corporate America

With a market potential of 55 million anglers that closely mirrors the loyal NASCAR demographic, FLW Outdoors has attracted major nonendemic sponsors including Wal-Mart, Kellogg's, Energizer, Castrol and many other well-known companies.

Fishing is for everyone

According to the International Game Fish Association, fishing was first documented by Egyptian artwork and is one of the oldest and most popular outdoor sports. What makes fishing so unique is that it is completely nondiscriminatory. Although tournament fishing requires a tremendous amount of skill and stamina, all people, regardless of their physical stature or gender can participate as equals in the sport.

One out of every six people 16 and older fishes an average of 16 days per year, spending more than $1,000 in the process. Fishing is popular among women - 27 percent of anglers are female. In fact, there are more women who fish than who play basketball, volleyball, softball, golf or tennis. And fishing, more than any other sport, is family oriented. Sixty-five percent of nonanglers and 88 percent of anglers say they would go fishing or fish more often if asked by a child.

Pro bass fishing garners international interest

Professional bass fishing has progressed recently from a niche sport, predominantly practiced in the southern United States, into a mainstream international sport. The Wal-Mart FLW Tour, which recently began its 10th season, is experiencing firsthand this influx of international flavor. In its season-opening tournament on Florida's Lake Okeechobee, four different countries were represented among the professionals and co-anglers competing.

Japan is one country in particular that exemplifies the popularity of bass fishing. Bass were introduced into the country from California by businessman Testsuma Akaboshi in the 1920s. Since then, many Japanese anglers have fallen in love with America's most sought-after game fish. Despite fewer lakes and smaller fish, bass fishing is second only to golf in the ranks of national obsessions. In fact, according to the Japan Sportfishing Association, as many as 3 million Japanese residents are bass anglers.


Japan isn't the only country that has caught bass-fishing fever. Australia, Spain and Italy are also represented on the FLW Tour.

Anglers want to know the stats

While there are no hat tricks, 100-yard games or 73-home-run seasons, professional bass fishing has its own unique set of statistics that the nation's 55 million anglers want to know. They want to know weather and water conditions faced by their professional peers and what lures they use to haul in $100,000 catches. Fishing tackle is so popular, in fact, that it ranks fourth in terms of consumer expenditures for nonteam sports equipment.

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Source FLWoutdoors.com