About Us

BASS ANGLER'S EDUCATION ALLIANCE
18 Shady Lane. Springfield. MA 01129 
(413) 596-4423

The Bass Angler's Education Alliance is a unique organization in club fishing because it is designed to support anglers in their pursuit of learning how, when and where to catch bass. Most clubs usually just have tournaments, do weigh-ins and many anglers are reluctant to talk about how they caught their fish.

The Alliance Is Different...

First, helping each other is the primary goal of the club. We even have it written in our by-laws. This is done by the use of pre-fish reports. Before we have each tournament most members have practiced on the body of water within a few weeks of the tournament. We each write up a two-minute report about our experiences. We record every possible piece of information about the conditions, in which we did or did not catch fish. Then, the meeting before the tournament we share all our reports with each other. It's like having a club-fishing log with all anglers' experiences written down to help you. Just imagine the size of the database each member has to access to. In just our first few years of tournaments we have scores of reports to draw upon for future and current info about specific places and times.

Second, we meet half way through our tournaments for updates. This is unheard of in any fishing club. When we meet we report a creel census and share the techniques & tactics used to catch the fish. This info is shared so that those members who have not done well can change their methods. Many times those that are doing well share baits & tactics with those that need help so everybody can do well. Winning becomes secondary to helping out your fellow angler, that's cooperative sportsmanship.

Third, we have a unique alternating-draw tournament format that promotes learning. Most clubs have a team format that leads to slow growth in knowledge. When you fish with the same person all the time you reach a level of skill shared by just the two of you and grows only with time on the water. Some clubs have a straight draw format, which helps anglers learn from new people. This is good but you end up fishing against the other person in the boat and many times it is difficult to cooperate in styles of fishing, making it more competitive. That's the price you pay for the opportunity to learn the trade from others in this format. The alliance's format allows you to join with a partner or alone. Joining with a partner you can fish with your partner every other tournament and in the other half of the tournaments the co-angler is put in a blind draw. In the blind draw, the co-angler fishes as a team with whoever draws him. Joining alone allows you to fish a draw every tournament or you can find a partner in the club. You never fish against the other angler. That makes for much more cooperation & learning.

Fourth, we have an award for the "Angler of the Year". This is not for the best angler or the one that catches the most or biggest fish. It's for the angler that the club votes as the person who does the most to try and help others catch fish. It could be a first timer or someone with years of experience. This is simply an incentive to help keep each of us focused on what the club is all about, to help each other learn how to bass fish.

Last, the alliance is a club for building friendships for a lifetime. In 1996, two of our members went on to win the 1996 North American Bass Angler's two day "Tournament of Champions" earning the title of "1996 N.A.B.A. Mr. Bass." In 1997 two other members took first place for the Bass Champions/Anglersport W/MA trail for the year in points & weight. 2001 gave us a BFL tournament champion. 2003 produced the only New England angler to make the 2004 BFL All American and a 2003 BASS Open finalist. Not bad for a club made for novices! It was the techniques and strategies that they developed in the alliance that helped them to go on and do well in a regional trail.

Many beginner anglers just want to get out and relax and catch a few fish. The benefit to joining a club is that you can relax, catch fish and learn skills to help you have a better time and catch even more fish. How many times have you told yourself, "This year, I'm going to spend more time fishing". You never get around to it and you get one year older. Join the Bass Angler's Education Alliance, get our schedule, write in the dates on your calendar, and enjoy the great outdoors!