FIRST CAST : JOEL SHANGLE
“ Do you like bb guns ?” Memories of a bass fishing icon
The bass fishing world lost another icon in mid-May with the passing of Ray Scott , the former insurance salesman who – through the power of his endless creativity and salesmanship – ushered in the era of tournament bass fishing as we all know and love it today . No matter which club , team or tournament trail you fish ( or which organization ’ s patch you wear on your shoulder ), if you fish for bass or compete in a bass tournament of any kind , rest assured that Mr . Ray ’ s influence can be felt in everything from the PFD that you wear to the aerated livewell in the back of your boat . Ray was rightfully known as an innovator , and his imagination and salesmanship ( and chutzpah ) seemingly knew no bounds , as so many people in the fishing world have shared since his passing .
But behind the boisterous , charismatic , consummate-showman personality that Ray brought to every public occasion , I found him to be an astoundingly interesting , funny , curious , kind man . I don ’ t remember exactly how or when he and I were introduced – it likely had something to do with the radio show I operated half a lifetime ago – but along about 2003 or 2004 , Ray and I fell into a habit of semi-regular phone calls that would sometimes carry on for two hours .
Our chats would frequently reveal to me Ray Scott ’ s generous spirit . Midway through a conversation , Ray would holler : “ Girls ! Send Joel a copy of my book !” ( meaning his 1981 book “ Prospecting and Selling : From a Fishing Hole to a Pot of Gold ”). Or “ Girls ! Send Joel a copy of that little red book !” ( meaning “ The Little Red Book of Selling ”). Four or five days later , a package would arrive from Ray Scott Outdoors . Ray was a gift-giver of his word . I once told Ray that I had journeyed to Lunker Lodge on Lake Seminole to photograph the table where he , Jack Wingate and former Georgia Governor Marvin Griffin sat down in 1968 to create the first national bass-fishing organization . I mentioned the 1967 Heddon All-American Bass Invitational Tournament on Beaver Lake that Ray willed into existence – the forerunner of big-time bass tournaments as we know them today – and he asked me a seemingly random question : “ Do you like BB guns ?” “ Of course I like BB guns , Ray . Why ?” I responded . Soon thereafter , another gift arrived at my door : A 1967 Daisy BB gun with the inaugural All-American logo burned into the stock , right next to Ray Scott ’ s signature . I called Ray to thank him and learned that only 10 of those BB guns were ever produced . Ray had given two to his sons , one to bass-boat guru Earl Bentz , one to President George Bush and maybe a couple more people whose names escape me .
Ray Scott ’ s generosity and kindness meant a lot to me then , and I feel the significance of that BB gun more than ever now .
He was a pioneer , a bigger-than-life personality , and a dear friend to many . Ray Scott , you will be missed . Thank you .
joel shangle , editor-in-chief
6 MAJORLEAGUEFISHING . COM | JUNE-JULY 2022