| Every sport has its heroes - those people whose | | | | respected as one of the top bass fishermen in the |
| exemplary actions cause them to stand out among | | | | world. Born in Michigan, VanDam quickly made a name |
| others, becoming household names for fans around | | | | for himself as a fisherman with the ability to catch |
| the world. Bass fishing is no different. While many | | | | bass under just about any condition - including storms. |
| non-fishermen may not recognize these names, | | | | He has been named the BASS society's Angler of the |
| they're well-known and respected to the bass fishing | | | | Year three times, won its Bassmaster Classic twice, |
| experts. | | | | and was named the ESPN Outdoor Sportsman of the |
| The name that all bass fishermen know is Ray Scott. | | | | Year in 2002. VanDam is nowhere near done either, |
| Scott founded the Bass Anglers Sportsmen Society - | | | | and he continues to compete professionally. As of the |
| the biggest bass fishing society in the US. He also | | | | end of the 2007 season, he was the top ranked bass |
| created a number of fishing tournaments under the | | | | fisherman in the world. |
| BASS society, including the Bassmaster Classic - the | | | | Luke Clausen is another popular bass fisherman who |
| most well-known bass fishing tournament in the US. | | | | has just recently come onto the bass fishing scene. |
| Today, fishermen know Scott as the father of | | | | While he's been an amateur fisherman for years, his |
| modern-day bass fishing and an activist for many | | | | win of the 2006 Bassmaster Classic launched him into |
| issues important to fishermen. | | | | bass fishing magazines and television shows across |
| Michael Iaconelli is another very well-known bass | | | | the nation. When asked why he fishes, Clausen |
| fisherman who hails from New Jersey. He was named | | | | responded "I fish to make a living, and I love to fish. I |
| one of the top 100 amateur bass fishermen by BASS | | | | love the challenge each day. Every place we go to is |
| in 1994, when he was only 22. He would go on to win | | | | different." |
| BASS's premiere event - the Bassmaster Classic - in | | | | Of course, there are many bass fishermen across the |
| 2003. In 2006, Iaconelli was named the Bassmaster | | | | world, and not all the famous ones are from the US. |
| Angler of the Year, one of the most prestigious titles a | | | | For example, the 2004 Bassmaster Classic winner, |
| bass fisher can achieve. | | | | was Takahiro Omori, a Japanese angler who was |
| Today, Iaconelli hosts a fishing show on the Versus | | | | living in Texas at the time. Bass fishermen in Japan, |
| network and has co-authored his own autobiography. | | | | Australia, and South Africa often compete in their own |
| An interesting side-note about Iaconelli is that he has | | | | tournaments and travel to the US to challenge pros like |
| the dubious honor of being named one of the ten most | | | | Iaconelli, VanDam, and Clausen in various tournaments. |
| hated athletes by GQ magazine, perhaps because of | | | | If you're just getting started with the sport of bass |
| his signature scream that he lets lose whenever he | | | | fishing, studying and learning from these pros is a great |
| catches a large fish. | | | | way to get going quickly. |
| Kevin VanDam is another fisherman who's widely | | | | |