I can't speak to any of the numbers from the past but Bass Clubs are a unique animal in our space. In 2008/09, I met with 15+ different bass clubs in and around DFW on a regular basis and learned a lot over those two years. There are some very successful clubs around and I would guess it's just like anything else that the ones that can manage people, schedules, events and internal issues the best tend to thrive. They have the same issues as most other organizations in fishing. In the recent TFF survey they were the second largest type of tournament that anglers participate in, so their numbers must be pretty good.

There's no doubt in my mind there are more people participating today in all forms of bass fishing and all the social and digital platforms certainly help reach the masses.

We are in the information age, good, bad or otherwise. I can only speak from my perspective. In 1996 I graduated high school. While I desperately wanted to do as much bass fishing as possible I did not have the means necessary to buy a boat and head to Sam Rayburn. I did not even know what a bass club was or realize there were local bass tournaments. If I did my priorities would have shifted. My friends and I would bass fish any where we could. We even had little tournaments among-st our selves. It was not until I bought my first computer (2002) that I figured out you can fish local tournaments. I always thought that was for the big boys in BASS. Now at the young age of 38 I fish all the time (depending on work load and kids schedules). I take my 4 year old out when the weather is not to harsh. It is only a matter of time before the 5 month old gets out in the boat with us. Long story short it is my opinion the internet has made tournament fishing more accessible to people like me. I am not in a bass club and odds are I would not have been even with out the information age. I am a bit of a workaholic and did not have time to commit to a schedule before kids and absolutely not with kids. But I am now able to "cherry pick" which tournaments I donate to. Heck I even fish a little monthly online tournament. I am bound and determined to figure out how start cashing checks on a regular basis. I know I am not the only one out there with this story......

I was out on Caddo on Saturday and there were two tournaments going on (that I was aware of anyway) and there were definitely different boater attitudes based on the tournament. I spoke with guys on two boats fishing a non-club open type deal and they were serious. I found it kind of humorous and sad at the same time. One boat told me they were going to fish this one stretch we were all near for the entire day waiting for the fish to turn on. Doesn't sound like much fun to me.

The other boat I talked with in another location was fishing a club tournament and they were much more friendly and fun to chat with. One of them yanked a fish out of a spot I has been hitting just five minutes before and we were laughing about it. I told them that was my fish and they said I could have it because it was a slot fish and they couldn't weigh it. It was a fun interaction and if others in that club were like them that is probably a fun group.

I know a lot of guys on here tournament fish but when it gets to be as serious as those first guys seemed to make it feel like it it still fun? It is just fishing.

Maybe the internet has helped get more folks into fishing but only for the competitive aspect more than the fun of it.

Yes I am sure I sound like a grumpy old man.

Mark, do you know what year the TFF came online?

Well.....dudes have to have social media for all the videos they record while fishing. So, without the interweb, these guys wouldn't be fishing. Also, without this web, I'd not be talking to you guys....id be fishing even more. This forum is my "fishing" during the hours I cannot actually get on the lake.

The Internet is, for me, a place to really get up on the latest gear. Not so much about information on where and when to fish a tourney.

In fact, in the last 5 years, I have used the Internet to find ZERO tournaments....and I fish 2-3 tourneys PER WEEK. Most of the time, around 80%, I get text messages on where and when to fish a tourney. The other 20% is a phone call to fish a tournament or a series.

What were the top Texas tournament trails in 1996 (before the internet) and what are the top trails now?

By top, I mean consistently drawing the most boats throughout the year.....not counting Media, Bass Champs, FLW or Bassmaster.






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You do know, fishermen are known liars

Just a guess but I think mid 90s? 96 maybe?