Art Pasley has made numerous contributions to fresh water fishing, not only in Texas, but areas throughout the Eastern United States and Mexico. Beginning as a charter member of the East Texas Bassmaster fishing club, he was consistently one of the top point's leaders year after year, competing in four Texas B.A.S.S. Federation State Championship Tournaments, three B.A.S.S. Federation Central Division Tournaments, and the 1988 B.A.S.S. Federation National Championship Tournament in Chattanooga, Tennessee. While finishing fourth on Lake of the Ozarks in 1988, Art's draw partner Joe Hendron, announced that Art was the finest worm fisherman to ever fish in Missouri. Art's fourth place finish earned him a place on the 1988 Central Division Team to compete in the B.A.S.S. Federation National Championship.
In addition, Art competed in the Texas based Bass-N-Buddy Team Tournament Trail, finishing each season with an invitation to the year end Classic Championship Event, as well as winning the 1991 Texas B.A.S.S. State Federation Region 214-903 year end tournament, held on Lake Tawakoni.
In 2002, at the invitation of the Texas Association of Bass Clubs, he traveled to China, Mexico competing in the first International Tournament between the United States and Mexico. Competing against the best of Mexico, Art won first place individual honors and first place in the team category with Alfonso "Poncho" Villareal, his draw partner from Monterey, Mexico. Art is possibly the first American angler to compete outside the borders of the United States and win against the best anglers the host country had to offer.
Fishing is not Art's only strength. His leadership abilities were recognized as he established regional fishing events for disadvantaged children in North Texas. As the Region 214-903 Youth Director, he conducted the first "Fishing for Youth Tournament" inviting children from five youth homes in North Texas to participate. Supported by the members of the Texas B.A.S.S. Federation, with over 140 children per event, boaters from area clubs came together for a day of fun and fishing, sharing their skills with those less fortunate than others.
At the request of the Texas Federation State President, he conducted the first B.A.S.S. Flip Pitch and Cast State Finals for the Texas Federation. He hosted the event with participants coming from every corner of Texas to experience the first time event.
When his term as Regional Youth Director concluded, Art was elected Associate Director for his region. His dedication to the anglers, conservation and youth programs were easily noticeable by the programs that soon developed under his leadership.
No sooner had he been elected Associate Director, when the position of the 214-903 State Director became vacant and Art was elected as the new Texas B.A.S.S. State Federation Regional Director of North Texas. Membership began to grow at an unbelievable rate as a result of his countless hours visiting potential clubs throughout North Texas. His complete understanding of the need for youth and conservation leadership lead him to appoint several key individuals to continue building a strong foundation to support the youth programs and conservation efforts he had established.
In addition to the Flip Pitch and Cast events, the "Fishing for Youth Tournament" and the newly formed "Little Buddy Tournament", which provided neighborhood children a chance to fish with area Federation anglers, Art also introduced the "Gift of Life Blood Drive", benefiting county hospitals throughout Texas. This very successful effort resulted in a proclamation from Texas Governor Ann Richards and City of Dallas Mayor Steve Bartlett.
His awareness of the needs of our freshwater resources and involvement with Texas Parks & Wildlife officials lead to his involvement with Texas Black Bass Unlimited and the "Conservation Fish Fest" program. "Conservation Fish Fest" was the brainchild of his longtime friend, Leonard Ranne. By raising money through a series of fund raisers, Texas Parks & Wildlife could take advantage of the Wallop-Breaux three to one matching funds program, and build a state of the art freshwater fish hatchery, which is now located in Athens Texas.
In 1993, Art was elected to the position of President of the Texas B.A.S.S. State Federation. During his 4 year term in office, he introduced the youth and conservation programs he had established regionally, to the State Board of Directors, and was able to include each program as a sanctioned Texas B.A.S.S. State Federation event. His tireless efforts set a standard for involvement of weekend anglers in Texas that had never been seen, which continues today.
He created the Regional Tournament Trails to raise greatly needed funds for each region to support their youth and conservation programs. These tournaments attracted sponsorship from many new fishing industry leaders while strengthening the state and adding integrity to the program.
At each of the four State Championship Tournaments during his term as State President, Art had special guests on hand to meet the anglers. With Ranger Boats founder Forrest Wood on hand for all four events, other guests included National Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame member, Bobby Murray; National B.A.S.S. Federation Director, Don Corkran; and in 1997 at Art's invitation, 'Mr. Bass' himself, Ray Scott, attended the event to thank Art and the Texas Federation for it's efforts to bring the Texas B.A.S.S. Federation to the level it was then and still is today. This is the only B.A.S.S. State Federation Tournament Ray Scott has ever attended.
No other fisherman in Texas had ever competed with as much passion as Art, and no other sportsman had ever been as passionate about giving back as he has done so many times, for so many people. He is a leader, a sportsman, a conservationist and an angler. He is proud of his belief in God and lives a very noticeable Christian life not only locally, but on a regional, state, national and international level as well.
In July 2000, Art accepted the position of Southern Director for the C.A.S.T. for Kids Foundation, a non-profit organization providing a day of fun and fishing to disabled and disadvantaged children, in the Southern States. In 2004 he was assigned the entire Eastern United States from Nebraska, south to Texas and everything east to New York and Florida. The first year, Art had four events in states including Texas, Florida, Missouri and Oklahoma. Today his region conducts events in 17 states and Mexico, and continues to grow.