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