I was dissapointed the other evening to find my local Barnes&Noble bookstore stopped carrying Bassmaster magazine. I have an old collection of Bassmaster, and I want to be in the know this summer. Bassmaster was the best fishing magazine if you ask me. I sent an email to them and I never heard back. I would at least like to hear from them before I order a subscription off that website. A while ago espn owned BASS. Who owns them now? I think BASS had declined ever since Ray Scott passed. All the pros are ditching BASS for major league fishing and FLW. And now my bookstore dosen't even carry them.

None of the stores in Miami, not even Bass pro carry it anymore either.

A lot of pros fish both leagues and FLW pros are actually going to the elite series BASS itself is not going anywhere anytime soon I would say that the magazine was not selling enough in the store to make it worth for them to carry it in store

Tight lines

Andrew

I believe Ray Scott sold it to Espn... Who then sold it to Jerry Mc? Shoot his last name eludes me.. Anyhow it has gone down steadily...

It was always such a good show in my opinion by 2003 it was trash...as are many fishing shows are

Well first off, Ray Scott is alive and well.

 

Second, ESPN sold it to three investors in late 2010: Jerry Mckinnis, Don Logan, and Jim Copeland.  Most anglers know who Jerry is. Retired Time Inc. executive and avid angler Logan at one time oversaw Time Inc., America Online, Time Warner Cable and the Time Warner Book Group before his retirement from the media giant in 2002. Jim Copeland retired as U.S. and Global CEO of international financial services firm Deloitte in 2003.

 

Third, I see no evidence of pros "leaving" B.A.S.S. , but I do see some of them fishing other circuits in addition to B.A.S.S.

I was dissapointed the other evening to find my local Barnes&Noble bookstore stopped carrying Bassmaster magazine. I have an old collection of Bassmaster, and I want to be in the know this summer. Bassmaster was the best fishing magazine if you ask me. I sent an email to them and I never heard back. I would at least like to hear from them before I order a subscription off that website. A while ago espn owned BASS. Who owns them now? I think BASS had declined ever since Ray Scott passed. All the pros are ditching BASS for major league fishing and FLW. And now my bookstore dosen't even carry them.

 

none of that is true...

Back in the olden days,  Bassmaster magazine was only available by subscription if I am not mistaken.  It made receiving the magazine a little more special.   You were a member of something exclusive and getting it sent directly to your home. That changed a long time ago.

Welcome to the forum MassBass I hope you stay.....

Glad Glenn cleared that up...I was pretty sure Ray Scott was still alive...

Check out In-Fisherman magazine at the bookstore or wherever you can find it. It covers many species but often has excellent articles about bass, especially smallmouth.

I miss the Elite series coming to Smith Mt. Love to see them back sometime. I'm glad Ray Scott is still around...I was shocked for a moment, thought I had missed the news of his passing! I have a load of Bassmaster magazines myself, love it. Of course I love FLW and Major League Fishing as well.....all good!!! I like ol' Jerry too though, he's alright in my book.

Magazines? Its the 21st century, even in Kentucky (I think). Circulation for magazines and newspapers of all types are on a one way decline. Why wait a month, when you can log in 24/7 to the Interweb. Those over 70, get a pass...

Yeah just great when hvy rain and clouds kills your satellite link or your on the pot!  I spend too much on rods and reels to have anything left over for tablets!

Magazine newsstand sales are declining. It gets to the point where it's hard to even break even. Print subscriptions are still doing well. Of course tablet and smartphone versions will probably surpass print someday.

cheaper by subsciption?

Yeah just great when hvy rain and clouds kills your satellite link or your on the pot!  I spend too much on rods and reels to have anything left over for tablets!

X2 on the whole "on the pot" thing.

$25.00 a year for 11 issues and BASS membership = $2.27/ issue. 

BASS is alive, well and doing fine.  Newsstand sales (whether or not to) have to do with economics and declining space available there more than anything else.

Hard paper magazine sales are not profitable anymore, that is why they are disappearing. As for B.A.S.S. declining, have you seen how many of the "rookies" this season are FLW pros? I don't see either league declining at all.

As for the rainy day comment, GO FISHING! That is all I have to say about that. You'll find they can be some of your best days.

Can't even remember the last time I bought a magazine or even looked at a magazine rack, lol. But I have been subscribed to B.A.S.S for most a year and took advantage of a renew offer where they gave me 4 free baits, BASS exclusive colors they say. They arrived today I got a Smithwick Suspending Rogue - haint, Rebel Pop'r - spilled ink, XCalibur Square Lip - brownie, and a Booyah Pad Crasher - bass patch... All those baits and another year of BASS for $12 that's a pretty good deal if you ask me.

Not to start a fight and I mean this in all respect but.....Ray Scott is still alive and very much well, B.A.S.S has actually gone up in recent years, FLW pros are leaving for them actually..... the reason you see Elite guys I  other circuits has nothing to do with dissapotiment for B.A.S.S but instead they want the experience in the extremely tough tournament age we are in.  Plus that is their JOB THEY JUST WANT MORE MONEY..... And the MFL is more a show than a league..... by the way does anyone know how to qualify for that?

I have been a member of B.A.S.S. since 1996. I have collected every magazine they have put out since then. I have seen no decline and still follow all their shows on tv as well. B.A.S.S. is in good shape. Many anglers fish many other tournaments these days. 

Well first off, Ray Scott is alive and well.

Second, ESPN sold it to three investors in late 2010: Jerry Mckinnis, Don Logan, and Jim Copeland. Most anglers know who Jerry is. Retired Time Inc. executive and avid angler Logan at one time oversaw Time Inc., America Online, Time Warner Cable and the Time Warner Book Group before his retirement from the media giant in 2002. Jim Copeland retired as U.S. and Global CEO of international financial services firm Deloitte in 2003.

Third, I see no evidence of pros "leaving" B.A.S.S. , but I do see some of them fishing other circuits in addition to B.A.S.S.

Read that collection of old Bassmaster magazines. All this info is right there. Everything Glenn said.

Hootie

I have been a life member of B.A.S.S. since 1981. I get the magazine&bass times every month. I like reading them on paper vs computer. I will say,that i liked B.A.S.S. better before espn stepped in.

I like the tablet, iPad, and other electronic subscriptions. However there is something about having the pages in my hand to read. :-)