The Rich History of Bass Fishing

In 1932, a Georgia farm boy, George W. Perry, fishing in Montgomery Lake, caught what was to become the most famous catch in the history of bass fishing. The 22 pound 4 ounce largemouth bass exceeded what was then the existing record by more than two pounds and has maintained the world record for over 50 years. Perry wasn’t out to win any trophies but was simply fishing to bring home food in those days during the great depression.

The Early Years of Bass Fishing

Indeed the history of bass fishing is rich with stories just like this but it started much earlier before becoming the sport it is today. During the mid 1800s the first artificial fly was developed for use in attracting bass. Initially, these flies were simply variations of the same flies used in trout and salmon fishing. In time new flies were designed specifically to attract bass.

The arrival of the 1900s saw bass fishing well on its way to becoming an established sport. While reels with fixed spools were being used in the US as early as the 1870s, spinning reels were not widely used for angling until the 1950s. Since then most bass fishing involves spinning tackle and live bait or artificial lures.

The stocking of largemouth bass outside their native habitat did much to help promote the sport of bass fishing in the US in the late 1800s and later when the US Department of Agriculture aided farmers in building and stocking farm ponds with largemouth, the history of bass fishing as a sport took off.

Bass Fishing Comes of Age

The post war boom of the 1940s and 50s saw the building of dams and reservoirs. These were then stocked with bass which helped to generate additional revenues from the sales of fishing licenses leading to the first large scale fish hatcheries. This worked especially well in the southern states where the largemouth bass had the ability to thrive in waters that were too warm for other fish.

The development of specific angling tools during the 1950s and 60s greatly increased the success of anglers and did much in promoting the sport. The invention or monofilament line and fiberglass rods, along with other modern fishing gear from bass boats to electronic fish finders are all integral parts in the history of bass fishing.

In 1992 Larry Nixon of Bee Branch Arkansas, earned $1 Million in bass fishing tournament winnings, making him not only one of the most famous fisherman in the sport but also opening a new era in the history of bass fishing.