R.I.P. Brother 🙏🏻 I joined BASS in Sept 1969, the day I returned from my second tour in Vietnam. I caught a 5#er on a Black Jitterbug at night when I was 9 or 10, I saved my $ from my paper route and at 12 bought an Ambassador 5000 from “Ever’s Hardware on the square in Denton, 1960 or 61, it was $29.99 (I still have it) I used an old rod my Dad had but I soon found out that, RODS make a big different. I friend of my Dad took me fishing with my new reel and oh he was so jealous (I knew it) that he let me borrow a better rod.

Oh was it better, I worked every odd job I could find and saved like Crazy. When my savings reached $30.00, I went back to Tacklewarehouse, NOT, just seeing if you were paying attention!

I went to the “Tackle Box”, located at the Circle on Harry Hines Blvd in Dallas and purchased a “Browning Sila-flex” 6’ bass casting rod, $39.99, (all the money in the world) yes I still have it. What a difference, My Dad and everyone Laughed at me, I didn’t care because I Loved “BASS Fishing”, I was going to grow up and be a Bass fishing guide, like a guy that guided Lake Texoma, his last name was “Eggleston” he supplied a Bass fishing report to the Dallas Morning news, that was published every Wednesday. I would read; “a limit of Blacks up to 8 pounds by the islands on Whopper Stopper water-Dawgs, was caught by Billy Bob and Tommy Don, with guide Max Eggleston. I would catch those fish many times each day, until Wednesday came around and there would be new fish, bigger fish, this time the bass were caught on Nick Creme “rubber worms”.

Sorry fella’s I got carried away; I fished my first BASS tournament in South Carolina at Lake Keowee in 1972 or 73?? Missed the $$ by one place, but I was in !

I met Mr. Ray Scott at that tournament and I remember shaking his hand and thinking “I’m going to Bass fish with him one day”. We were the same, both “eat-up” with the bass fishing bug! Ray made it OKAY to be “EAT-UP” about catching bass, when everyone thought I was Crazy !!

Ray was one of those kind gentleman that when I met him at my next tournament I actually thought he remembered me….🤣😂🤣 but that’s the way I felt and so did 500k other “Eat-Up Bass Fishermen”.

Mr. Ray Scott, that what everyone called him, that didn’t live in Alabama!, allowed me to be passionate about bass fishing and I appreciate that so much! I became a Life member in 1974 and it has made me a better man. Not the organization BASS, but being exposed too and getting to know these bass fishermen, we are a spirited group with Tremendous Passion to go days without sleep, so we can fish. Energy to wake up at 3am on Saturday (after dragging into work Monday thru Friday) and fishing till Sunday night. Kindness & generosity to stop on the side of the road, or on the Lake during a tournament to help a fellow bass fisherman!

Mr. Ray Scott gave me an identity; “Bass Fisherman” because he understood what that means. Sure lots of folks talk about the salesman stuff & the money angle but they never knew how much he really cared about Bass Fishing !!
Thank you Mr. Ray Scott, R.I.P. my brother 🎣🙏🏻

Here's a jar of water from his pond that one of my friends brought me. The joke was that Mr. Scott relieved himself in the pond every morning, so the jar had some Ray Scott pee in it. My buddy has an odd sense of humor.

RIP to probably the biggest legend in bass fishing.

a true loss to the bass fishing world.

My Ray Scott Story

About 20 years ago I was asked to work the booth for North Texas Marine at Dallas Market Hall. Triton was my sponsor and NTX Marine was the big dealer in Texas. We had a large booth in the convention center with a half dozen new Tritons on display. We knew Ray Scott was supposed to show up with Earl Bentz sometime that morning for a meet & greet and to promote his new book. I was looking forward to meeting the man that started professional competitive bass fishing.

About 11 am Earl & Ray walk into the booth and introductions were made all around. A line quickly formed of folks that wanted to meet Ray Scott. He was wearing his signature suede leather jacket with fringe on the sleeves and a colorful bandana around his neck. He wore cowboy boots and his hat. He was larger than life!

After an hour or so the line died down, I took the opportunity to go up to Mr. Scott and ask if he liked Cajun seafood. He says, “Boy, do I!”. I told him there was a great Cajun seafood place about 10 mins away called Pappadeaux’s. He said, “Come on lets go!” so we leave the booth and head down Stemmons.

At lunch I get to pick the brain of one of the icons of our sport. He tells me story after story about Bill Dance, Roland Martin, Jimmy Houston, Bobby Murray, and on & on. We sit and talk for more than 2 hours.

We head back to Market Hall and as we walk into the booth Joe Wallace from NTX Marine pulls me aside and asks, “Where have you guys been?” I tell him I took Ray to lunch. He says, “Earl Bentz is fit to be tied. He paid Ray to be at the booth for 4 hours and you just took 2 ½ of them”.

Oh well…. I don’t regret it a bit. Every time I see Joe Wallace we laugh about it.

I just hope Earl’s not still mad at me...

neat story-thanks for sharing...

I got to see Ray at Bassmaster Tournaments down at Richland Chambers and Lake Texoma back in the early 90's, what a man. I also got to see him in New Orleans around that time as well. I never got to speak to him directly but when he was around, he left a lasting impression everywhere he went. He drove me to chase this sport through Bassmaster Magazine and the Bassmaster's TV show on TNN. I can remember in my mid-twenties sitting on the couch and watching those tournaments and having the urge to want to be in one of the Bassmaster tournaments so bad it was overwhelming. I never thought I was good enough to go there but I've learned over the years fishing tournaments when it's your time nothing can stop you. To all you younger guys out there, if this is your dream follow it and don't hesitate. I guarantee Mr. Ray Scott would tell you that. RIP Ray Scott.

thank you Ray for your vision, it was that vision that developed into what is today competitive bass fishing... and it was from that vision that we have all the advancements in boat, motor, electronics, rods-n-reels, ect., ect., ect. to chase little green fish around the world... you will be missed... God Bless his family as they grieve his passing from here into eternity...

I fished some of the old Bassmaster Top 100 Pro tournaments back in the 80's. They were Pro-Amateur events on Rayburn and Toledo.
Ray was one funny guy. I drew a pro from Arkansas that was a topwater specialist. Can"t recall his name but he was a pretty heavy guy.
You always weighed in before your Pro. I weighed in and ray was on the mic. He asked me if I knew that my pro was a Male model?
I said no I sure didn"t. He said yeah he models for a company called "Fat Boy Fashions" The crowd was laughing and a half drunk women was making a scene and hollering stuff.
She hollered out "I love you Ray!!" Ray said "Pull your britches up and say it one more time Mama!!" Crowd was rolling.

Ray Scott was one of the nicest friendliest people I've ever met. I met him two or three times over the years (mostly when I was younger, 16-21 years old) and even as a young man he had such a welcoming personality that made you feel like you had known him for years. I read his book when I was pretty young, his story is awesome. He is truly the founder of modern (tournament) bass fishing as we know it.

Huge Loss...He was bigger than life!..I am lucky to have met him..RIP Ray Scott