The May 2010 issue of Outdoor Life Magazine named Ray Scott's private bass lake in Pintlala, AL the top bass water in the U.S. in a short list of five bass destinations worldwide. It was preceded only by Japanese Lake Biwa where a November 2009 catch by a Japanese angler tied the standing American world record of 22-4.
The lake, named the Presidents Lake by the press for the multiple visits by both Presidents Bush, was personally designed by Scott some 25 years ago as the centerpiece of his rural property about 15 miles south of the capital of Montgomery.
Scott is an iconic figure in the outdoor world. He founded the Bass Anglers Sportsman Society (B.A.S.S.) in 1968, pioneering national professional bass fishing tournaments and in the process ignited the modern bass fishing phenomenon. B.A.S.S. is the largest sport fishing organization in the world and its membership has reached as high as 600,000 members. Scott is also well known for championing clean waters and conservation causes to protect, preserve and enhance the fishing environment.
| Ray Scott displays his own personal best taken from his private lake in Pintlala, AL - a 13 lb. 9 oz. mama bass. |
Coincidentally Scott's Presidents Lake was also featured in the May/June 2010 issue of Sporting Classics, an upscale publication dedicated to hunting, angling and shooting sports. The multi-page article focused on the strong connection between both presidents Bush and Scott's lake as well as other celebrities who have fished the lake including well-known top bass pros and personalities such as Kevin Van Dam, Roland Martin, Bill Dance and legendary pro angler Rick Clunn who caught his personal best (13-15) on Scott's lake.
"It's really awesome" says Scott, "to be recognized in this manner at this time because I just opened my lakes to small groups as a supporter of a state initiative called Alabama Black Belt Adventures (www.alabamablackbeltadventures.com) which was created to highlight the outstanding hunting and fishing facilities and other outdoor opportunities here in central Alabama. It's an historic geological area that is noted for its rich, black soil - hence the name Black Belt.
"I call my place the Ray Scott Trophy Bass Retreat (www.rayscottbassretreat.com)," Scott continues. We have already had a good number of guests since our official opening in January and the fishing has been great. No one has caught the Rick Clunn bass yet but everyone has enjoyed the fishing, the food and good old southern hospitality."
Scott adds, "We had a very auspicious start. In our first "inaugural" group in November this past year, a federal judge from Washington D.C. caught two bass over ten pounds in his first hour of fishing. Now, that's pretty unusual even on a good day, but it was sure a good omen for the Retreat ... and our guests. By the way, both giants were immediately released after photos."