Letter to the Editor
40 years of BASS
You don't owe me nothing
Back in 1986 I fished for bass from the shoreline at any lake, pond, stream or river where I might catch a bass. I met a guy in a local bass club who invited me to go to Truman Lake, Mo., that spring, bass fishing, the same week as the Missouri Invitational BASS tournament. I would be fishing from a bass boat on the same water the stars of BASS would be fishing. I was excited.
We got off the water early on the first day of the BASS tournament and drove to the weigh-in site. Since we got to the site early, we decided to have something to eat at the dock restaurant. The guys and I got a table and sat down, when Ray Scott walked in the restaurant door. One of the guys said, "Hey, look, it's Ray Scott." We all turned around and stared at Ray. Ray walked over, pulled up a chair, and sat down at our table. He ate lunch with us and told us tales of Roland Martin and other guys on the BASS trail. He then insisted on buying our lunch.
After lunch, Ray asked for volunteers to help at the weigh-in. I volunteered and was to carry plastic weigh-in tubs. Ray was on the microphone and thanked all the volunteers. I said back to him, teasingly, "I'm just paying you back for lunch." Ray replied, and I've never forgotten his words, "You don't owe me nothing, son."
Well, it's 22 years later. I'm on my second bass boat, I've acquired a ton of bassin' gear, I've spent most of those years bass fishing or wishing I was bass fishing, and I've made friendships with other bassers that will last my lifetime.
Well, Ray, that statement you made, "You don't owe me nothing, son," was probably one of the few times in your life you were wrong. I and so many other bass fishermen around the world owe you. So thank you, Ray Scott, for making your dream and ours come true.
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