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BASSBOATS.COM
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Bass boats could be described as the jet fighter planes of the fishing boat world. And like jets, the fast and maneuverable little bass boats came on the scene right after WWII. Since then, bass boats have evolved into some of the most specialized fishing machines imaginable. Prior to the 40’s, most Americans went fishing to put food on the table. During the prosperous post-war years hundreds of man-made lakes were developed across the country and more people started fishing for recreation. A need arose for an agile craft to reach the more secluded and less accessible areas of those lakes, especially when fishing for bass. The bass anglers’ requirements included a craft with maximum stability, shallow draft and plenty of room for tackle and other gear. Over time, mounted swivel chairs, tackle bins, onboard fish tanks, outboard motors, separate trolling motors and high-tech electronic gear were added to the bass boat recipe. Today, bass boats are the most popular type of fishing boats on the market.
A Texan named Holmes Thurmond is credited with building the first bass boat back in 1948. The avid hunter and fisherman wanted to design something better than the traditional flat-bottom fishing boats available at the time. Thurmond’s original bass boat creation featured the wide-bottom and inward sloping sides that provided the basis for the ongoing evolution of bass boats.
At the same time Thurmond’s early wood and aluminum bass boat business was expanding, four other developments helped push the popularity of bass boats over the top. First, electric trolling motors featuring hands-free operation came into widespread use. Next, the Zebco Company introduced their first spincast reels in conjunction with the development of monofilament fishing line, both factors combined to make bass boat fishing easier and more appealing to a wider audience. A few years later several companies began building bass boats using mass-produced, fiberglass construction. Bass boats were suddenly more affordable and more available than ever before. Storage compartments and tackle boxes became standard bass boat features and several different hull shape variations were offered. Fiberglass construction allows more design variations than all-aluminum bass boats, but aluminum bass boats are lighter and easier to tow.
The use of modern materials and technologies along with the constant evolution of Holmes Thurmond’s original design make today’s bass boats better than ever before. Modern bass boats are faster, quieter, better handling and easier to catch bass with than any fishing boats in history. The ease of use and convenient features found on all bass boats today has made bass fishing one of this nation’s favorite pastimes.
