It used to be rare that hardcore bass anglers, as a group, could be overlooked. But as bass fishing fractured over the past decade and a half, fishermen by and large lost their group identity, and their voice.
Politicians don't sway to and fro based on reactions from the bass-angling community – the way they do when the NRA comes knocking.
Look no further than BoatUS for an example of how the modern bass-angling community can slip under the radar.
BoatUS, the largest association of boat owners in the country with a massive presence in the marketplace and on Capitol Hill, reached its mammoth 500,000-plus membership plateau without a significant focus on avid bass anglers.
But that's changing fast, and it's big news for BassFans. In 2007, BoatUS launched its BoatUS Angler program and rolled out new benefit programs aimed at the millions of freshwater anglers. Then it hired industry veteran Steve Levi – with past tenures that include Zoom Bait Co., B.A.S.S., ESPN and Career Sports/JM Associates – to spearhead an even more aggressive pitch to America's bass anglers.
The result is a sweeping series of programs from BoatUS that every BassFan will want to look at. From insurance to roadside Trailer Assist to on-the-water vessel assist to a compressive new set of contingency awards (announced today), BoatUS, as Levi said, "Wants BassFans to know, we've got your back."
The History
The BoatUS name may already be familiar to readers, perhaps through its recent sponsorship of tournaments like the BoatUS National Collegiate Bass Fishing Championship or fishing shows like Zona's Awesome Fishing Show and Kim Stricker's Hook n' Look. But the organization originally formed in 1966, after founder Richard Schwartz was on a friend's boat when the boat was pulled over by the Coast Guard.
The boat owner that day was issued a ticket for improper engine ventilation. It was a brand-new boat, purchased from the manufacturer, but at the time, there were no safety standards in the industry. Think of it in today's terms: It would be like buying a car that doesn't have headlights, then receiving a ticket for not having headlights. Schwartz thought it was wrong for the owner of the boat to be issued a ticket, not the manufacturer.
So Schwartz decided to form an organization of boaters and the idea steamrolled. A few years later after intense lobbying, Congress passed and President Nixon signed the Boating Safety Act of 1971, which allowed the Coast Guard to institute safety standards to make boats safer.
BoatUS went on to claim other Hill victories: It was instrumental in eliminating the federal tax on diesel fuel used by boaters, it successfully lobbied to eliminate the FCC VHF license requirement for recreational boats less than 65 feet, and played a central role in convincing Congress to repeal the boat-user fee.
By the year 2000, BoatUS (headquartered in Alexandria, Va.) boasted of 525,000 members and 500 employees. It continues today as an active voice on Capitol Hill and last year claimed a large role in the EPA's rejection of E15 gasoline.
But throughout its history, BoatUS was still missing a critical segment of its potential core group.
BoatUS director of public relations Scott Croft told BassFan: "Back in 2007, we realized there were so many fishing boats out there that we weren't reaching. We found through research that a lot of the anglers out there didn't think of themselves as 'boaters,' and they didn't identify with the things we're doing. Although the core activities were the same – they're fishing on a boat – they didn't realize exactly what we were doing with our services and advocacy.
Steve Levi, an industry veteran who was previously with Zoom, B.A.S.S., ESPN and Career Sports & Entertainment, was hired by BoatUS to spearhead its outreach into tournament angling.
"We really looked at that, and what we thought anglers would most need from us," Croft added. "With 525,000 members, the No. 1 activity they were doing on their boat was fishing, so in 2007 we decided that we wanted to go after the hardcore angler too."
A little while later, Levi came aboard.
Roadside, Waterside
Probably every BassFan who owns a boat can tell a story of being stranded on the road. It was probably dark, and far from a town.
When it happens, if it's just the car or truck, okay: Call the nearest emergency-towing service and you're in business. But what if you're towing a boat? That's where the problems begin. And they multiply if the breakdown involves the trailer, like a broken axle or used-up bearings.
One of the key elements of the BoatUS Angler program – what the organization felt anglers needed most – is its Trailer Assist guarantee. For the rate of $38 a year, which is the cost of a BoatUS Angler membership, BoatUS will come get you out of trouble 24/7 if you break down while towing a boat. The organization maintains a base of 18,000 towing providers across the country with the equipment needed to handle a trailered boat. And to be clear: Trailer Assist covers towing for either the tow vehicle, trailer or both, as long as you're in the act of towing your boat.
BoatUS will also come help if you're stuck on a launch ramp – something regular towing services wouldn't typically handle. The national office will make sure the right type of wrecker shows up, then it'll help connect you with service folks who can actually repair the trailer, or connect a service lot with parts suppliers, plus help find you a hotel for the night. And BoatUS doesn't care if you tow a 12-foot 1974 jonboat or a brand new luxury Bass Cat.
Broad in scope, the program provides services such as fuel delivery, jump-starts, flat-tire assistance, lockout service, ramp winching and tow-truck service for both trailer and tow vehicle.
Levi noted: "When I came onboard with BoatUS, I knew that tournament guys who are competing and practicing, and maybe making their TOCs or Regionals – they don't have a lot of time. They're always traveling at 3:00 in the morning. And trailers break down. If you fish tournaments, you should have our Trailer Assist. (Elite Series pro) Mike McClelland sort of said it best when he told me, 'Every year when I get my fishing license, I get my BoatUS Trailer Assist – it's just something I do automatically.'"
BassFans can also opt for TowBoatUS, which is an on-the-water towing coverage that utilizes a nationwide fleet of 500 towboats. In cases where a waterbody has no towboat onsite, BoatUS will assist via local law enforcement, mom-and-pop marinas – whatever it takes to get you back to shore.
Ever happened to you? With unlimited Trailer Assist from BoatUS, you're covered 24/7 anywhere in the U.S. while towing your boat.
In terms of numbers, the TowBoatUS Assist program gets about 60,000 requests for assistance each year, Scott noted, and added that the coverage follows a member. If he or she is on vacation and rents a boat, or borrows the boat of a friend, coverage carries over.
The pricing works like this:
But BassFans get more than that for their membership fee, because BoatUS today announced a sweeping new set of contingency prizes under its new Weigh-to-Win program (full details can be found here).
Under the program, the highest-finishing BoatUS angler in select tournaments receives a contingency bonus. This year, the program covers B.A.S.S. events (including Opens, Weekend Series and Federation Nation), FLW Outdoors events (including EverStarts, BFL and TBF), PAA and Association of Collegiate Angler events.
The BFL and Weekend Series bonuses pay $150, for example, while the Opens and EverStarts pay $300. The scale escalates for regionals and championships.
The goal of the program is of course to reward members, but at the same time, allow BoatUS to connect with the fishing community so more anglers recognize what it has to offer.
"We think the Weigh-to-Win program is the best way to reach the guys that compete in tournaments," Levi said. "We haven't been at the forefront among tournament anglers, we've appealed to the masses – from recreational boaters to recreational anglers to guys fishing the coasts and Great Lakes. If you visit those locations, you can mention BoatUS or TowBoatUS and everyone knows what you're talking about. If you bring us up in a tournament setting, not that many people know. We really wanted to come to the forefront of the tournament-fishing market and create this program.
"Anglers just need to sign up for a BoatUS Angler membership and one or both of our assist packages – Trailer Assist or TowBoatUS. They'll receive a membership number, which they can then plug into the Weigh-to-Win registration site and go compete. If they're the highest-finishing member in one of the events listed, they'll get a cash bonus."
Insurance Too
A final component of a BoatUS Angler membership, according to Scott, is the ability to purchase BoatUS boat insurance – policies that he feels offer several advantages over competitors' offerings.
Certainly, the insurance landscape is dense and takes research to confirm, but Scott noted several factors within BoatUS policies that stand out in his mind.
Levi, who's a competitive bass angler at heart, added that there are specific insurance policies for guides and tournament anglers. The bass-boat insurance even includes an option that'll reimburse a member for lost tournament entry fees due to damage.
Notable
> Information on insurance policies, assist programs and all other member benefits can be found at BoatUS.com/angler.
> Levi noted that BoatUS "would love to expand" the Weigh-to-Win contingency program to include more regional trails and even co-anglers. It all depends upon program participation and success.
> One of the top legislative priorities for BoatUS today is boater access – keeping waters and launches open for public use – a key issue for anglers as well.
