Three trophy bass lakes are part of his private “ranch” as he likes to call his Spanish moss-draped property in Pintlala, AL south of Montgomery and include the world-famous 55-acre Presidents Lake, so-named by the press for fishing visits made by both Presidents Bush.
The star-studded guest list of anglers includes presidents and a first lady as well as the world’s fishing superstars like Kevin VanDam, Skeet Reese, Bill Dance, Roland Martin and Rick Clunn, who caught his personal best on Scott’s waters, a 13-15 lunker.
It’s an understatement to say that invitations to fish are coveted, so it was something of a bombshell in the bass world when Scott announced that starting in 2010 he would be taking small groups of paying anglers to enjoy fishing privileges as well as his personal home and hospitality as part of an exclusive setting called Ray Scott’s Trophy Bass Retreat (www.rayscottbassretreat.com ).
So is Scott going into the Bed and Breakfast business? Or maybe a BB&B – bed, breakfast and bass?
Scott laughs. “I love entertaining people but I know what attracts folks to the Scott house and it ain’t breakfast or a bed. Nonetheless we aim to provide great dining and accommodations as part of our exclusive bassing package. We want to offer more than just a fishing trip. We want it to be an experience, hopefully the bass fishing experience of a lifetime. There’s so much history here, and calendar permitting I aim to spend time with every group.”
Scott was inspired to open his home and his lakes to the angling public as an enthusiastic supporter of a state-sponsored initiative called Alabama Black Belt Adventures (www.alabamablackbeltadventures.com) which is dedicated to highlighting the many outdoor facilities for fishing, hunting and shooting that dot a historic swath of the state known as the Black Belt for its rich, dark soil.
“We have such a great outdoor tradition in the state,” says Scott. “It is our intention to bring our abundance of natural resources and wildlife – notably bass and whitetail – to the attention of the world. Not to mention our southern hospitality. If my visibility can help that effort, I’d be very proud.”
Scott plans to offer only a limited number of trips to manage pressure on the lakes. His executive 3-night package is limited to one a week most months of the year. He is also planning less expensive day trips on Fridays for those who want to come early in the morning, fish all day and then go home.
Guests will hang their hats and stow their tackle in the famous 4-person President’s cabin, in a suite over the boathouse and in the guest wing of the main house for a maximum of eight anglers. The package includes breakfast, lunch and dinner in Scott’s elegantly comfortable home.
“Obviously we want to make every trip as memorable as possible. But we know the first question is ‘How’s the fishing?’ As they say, the proof is in the creel. Well, we had an early-bird group this past November to test the waters literally and the results were outstanding. Federal Judge Bill Roberts out of D.C. caught two bass over ten pounds in the first six hours of fishing.”
Jim Kientz, executive director of Ray Scott Outdoors, was scorekeeper for the two-days of fishing. He said each boat caught an estimated 40 to 45 bass each day with trophy catches of 10-8, 10-2 and 9-12. “There was a host of 5 to 7 pound bass caught along with a boatload of 3 to 4 pounders.” All were returned alive to the water.
Kientz adds, “These were experienced fishermen. I had a call from one individual who wanted to know if we could guarantee a double-digit trophy. I had to tell him no. We know the fish are there, but the rest is up to Mother Nature and the skills of the anglers. That’s why they call it fishing. But I can’t imagine a place where your odds would be better to land a lunker.”
Scott adds, “It’s fun to hear about the inquiries we are receiving. One of my favorite stories is about the lady who called in the day our Trophy Bass Retreat ad first appeared in Bassmaster Magazine. She woke up to find the ad torn out of the magazine by her husband and placed on her pillow. It was right before Christmas. What a great story.
“This is a particularly satisfying venture for me,” continues Scott. “After all the excitement and pressure of building BASS and the sport fishing and tournament industry and doing the corporate thing, it’s very gratifying to promote my state and to share my home and my lakes with the very anglers I have engaged all these years.”
For more information contact our office at 800-518-7222 or visit our website at www.rayscottbassretreat.com .
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