Bass fishing industry mourns tragic loss

News reports confirm that longtime BASS Senior Writer Tim Tucker was killed today in an automobile accident near Gainesville, Fla. Details of the accident are incomplete, but news reports indicate that a crash occurred on Interstate 75, about a mile south of the Newberry Road exit at approximately 2:30 p.m.

"To those of us at BASS who worked with Tim over the past 25 years, he was more than just a co-worker and contributor. He was family," said Dave Precht, Senior Director of BASS Publications. "He was passionate about the sport of bass fishing, and was one of its greatest advocates. We are devastated by this loss."

Tucker was one of the country's most widely published outdoor writers with articles in dozens of magazines and newspapers as well as eight fishing books, a bi-monthly newsletter and a series of instructional fishing audiotapes. His photographs have graced the cover of Bassmaster Magazine and numerous other publications, and his writing and photography earned him more than 100 awards.

"Tim brought more to the sport of bass fishing than just his writing and photography," said Precht. "He had a love for the sport and all who enjoyed it, and he did a great deal to help others get more out of their fishing, whether he was giving young people instruction on how to catch more fish or teaching aspiring pros how to find sponsors. Tim was immersed in our sport, and it will be tough to imagine its future without him."

He is survived by his wife, Darlene, and their two children.

Funeral arrangements were incomplete Monday evening.