A true symbol of American boating, the Bass Boat, which specializes in black bass fishing, originated in the USA in the 1960s. Historically, the modern Bass Boat as we know it today seems to have been developed by Frank Irvin Elder for the Skeeter brand. After a few wood and aluminum models, he designed the first fiberglass Bass Boat in 1961.
The brand still exists and is now owned by the Yamaha group. The other big name in the field is undoubtedly Forrest L. Wood, creator of the market-leading Ranger brand in 1968. He sold the brand in 1987, but didn't walk away from the business, founding Vexus in 2016. A museum is dedicated to his life in Flippin, Arkansas, where he spent his entire existence.
A popular concept for fishing competitions
This boat is designed to optimize fishing conditions, particularly for black bass. The Bass Boat features a streamlined hull with a very flat hull, a spacious bow fishing platform and storage compartments for equipment.
The introduction of powerful outboard motors revolutionized the use of Bass Boats, enabling fast ride between fishing spots. Over the decades, Bass Boats have become an essential part of sport fishing competitions, where the aim is to get from one fishing spot to another as quickly as possible, and above all to get back to the starting point in time to avoid being penalized.
Today, their popularity extends beyond the American borders, attracting anglers from all over the world, and particularly from the Japanese and European markets, where they have been gaining in popularity in recent years.
