HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Efforts to get bass fishing into the Olympics could be as close as a cast or two away.
That mission was the thrust behind the Pan American Bass Fishing Championship on Lake Hamilton last week. Led by Elite pros Joey Cifuentes and Larry Nixon catching the most weight over two days, the USA Bass Team bested six other countries to win gold.
“We’re taking home some hardware and had a blast,” said Cifuentes, coming off his Bassmaster Rookie of the Year season in which he won two Elite events. “It’s a really fun tournament. We won by 2 ounces over Justin Hamner and Hilary Martin. We’re super thankful.”
As last-minute fill-ins, Nixon said it was great to finally team up with his protégé.
“It was the first time Joey and I competed together,” the 1982 Classic champ and two-time AOY said. “It was so great fish with him. It was awesome competing against these guys from other countries. I hope some day to get to go over there and fish against them on their home waters.”
That’s the draw for many of the international anglers, to fish against the American pros they’ve watched and learned from for years. It all intertwines in US Angling’s work to make the sport worldwide, to engage enough countries that Olympic organizers take notice.
“Some people are skeptical — fishing is going to be in the Olympics?’ said Tony Forte, president of US Angling. “No. 1, you have to believe. Two, you have to have a plan in place, which we do. It’s just a matter of pushing the envelope forward and eventually we’ll get to the point where they can’t ignore us.”
Editor’s note: See photos from the events.
Growing participation has doubled since US Angling got involved some seven years ago. There were 25 nations represented at last year’s World Championship on South Carolina’s Lake Murray, double the previous best. Besides adding countries, Forte said IOC stipulations are diversity, more women and youth, and publicity.
Elite pro Scott Martin has a lot of that covered. As USA Team captain, Martin brought the family — father, Roland, the nine-time AOY and Bass Fishing Hall of Famer, and his daughter, Hilary — to compete.
Roland, aka The Great American Fisherman, has done TV shows for decades, and Scott followed in his footsteps with his own show.
“What a special deal that my dad, at 84, myself, at 47, and my daughter at 18, are all on Team USA,” he said. “Hilary is representing the University of Alabama, and that’s a big deal for her. She’s just starting her college career and this officially was the biggest tournament she’s fished.”
The Martins are a prime example of what USA Bass Team manager John Knight asked of tournament participants to help in the Olympic push. As vice president of the Confederation Internationale de Peche Sportive (CIPS), Knight is behind organizing the worldwide competitions with hopes of the ultimate platform of the Olympics.
“I encourage each of you to think about the future of the sport. Pass your skills, your knowledge. Allow that next generation to get where you are now,” Knight said. “When we talk about ‘Fish on,’ I want you to think about that legacy.
“With grandfather, father, daughter, that’s fish on. Each of you in your country needs to think about the youth and who is going to take your place and who you will inspire.”
Puerto Rico’s Edgar Quinones received that message loud and clear. As president of the La Plata fishing club, Quinones headed home resolved to further promote the sport.
“It’s grown in my country since we first got largemouth bass in the 1970s. We also have peacock bass,” Quinones said. “We’ll be looking into doing more tournaments and starting a B.A.S.S. Nation.”
Mexico, which has a strong B.A.S.S. Nation, won silver in this event that averaged the weights of each country’s two-man teams. USA’s eight teams averaged 10.1 pounds, besting Mexico by a half a pound. Colombia edged Puerto Rico for third, while teams from Canada, Guatemala and El Salvador also competed.
In the separate US Angling Challenge Cup, the U.S.A. won with South Africa taking silver and Philippines earning bronze.
With Visit Hot Springs host Steve Arrison fully on board, another international event has been scheduled for the Andrew H. Hulsey State Fish Hatchery boat launch site in the 2026 Bass World Championships. Forte said the target is have at least 30 countries compete.
“You’re talking about a truly global sport. We’re almost there,” he said of getting Olympic recognition. “The (organizations) are walking toward each other. If the right person gets the right post at the right time, it can happen like that. It could happen next year.
“Once you’re recognized, you can apply to be in the Games. We could be in the Winter or Summer Olympics.”
US Angling is a 501c3 charitable organization supporting the USA Bass Team, which will compete next month in the Bass World Championship in Portugal. USA Bass president Mark Schlarb is taking a six-man team consisting of Martin, Scott Canterbury, Jacob Wheeler, Dustin Connell, David Fritts and Fred Roumbanis.
“These guys are really dedicated. We can’t pay them,” Forte said. “People want to fish against those guys.”
Scott Martin has served as captain from the beginning, and Schlarb lauded his efforts as he’s bent over backwards.
“I can’t say enough how good he is as far as his PR to help build the U.S. Bass Team,” he said. “We’re in the process of making this an Olympic sport, and we’re very close.”
Martin said it’s his honor. He closed the awards banquet by applauding and further encouraging all the international anglers.
“Here in the U.S., we’re in a bubble. We think bass fishing is just here,” he said. “What’s exciting is the true passion that all the anglers have. You look around and can see there’s potential for a world sport.
“Everyone (on Team USA) is a professional fisherman. We do this for a living. We do this 365. For many of you, this is not your full-time job. My hat is off to every one of the anglers in this room from every one of these countries.
“The passion you all have is the same passion I have. That makes us brothers, that makes us family.”