Iowa Bass Anglers

About Us

Iowa Bass Anglers is a non-profit organization with our beginning in 1995. We started out with a relatively small amount of anglers located in and around the city of Winterset, Iowa. Since that time, we have grown in size and amount of members. We are a capped club of 50 members and each year the roster is full, with more anglers waiting to join. Our members reside in all areas of our state. We pride ourselves on how far we have come from our beginning in a very short amount of time.

Within the framework of our club, we try to promote friendship, comradery and mutual sharing of information regarding the sport of bass fishing. Competition is also a part of being a bass club member, but the competition should be between you and your quarry, not between you and your fellow members. We promote conservation, education and a fun atmosphere. We promote and encourage youth fishing and a love for the great recreation of bass fishing.

We are a B.A.S.S Federation Club. This means that every member must belong to B.A.S.S. All members are eligible to compete at the State level. Some of our members have even made it to the Divisionals. Who ever said that dreams can’t come true?

We also hold several Open Buddy Tournaments each year to allow non-members to participate in a tournament. To get a friend, a spouse or even a child on the water to enjoy what Nature has to offer. To have the ability to place at the top and take home prize money. To simply enjoy the beauty of a sunrise or that of a sunset or to have a chance to catch the ‘Big One’.

To us, a bass club is more than just fishing. We want to make sure that the same opportunities that we have exists long into the future. We want our kids and grandkids to be able to enjoy our sport as much as we do.

Our club has had a large part in several projects with the Union County Conservation Board, both on a financial and man-hours level. We also did a major brush-pile project at a small state run lake. These are the things that we can do to give back, so to speak.

Perhaps most important of all are our kids events. Hosting our annual Kids tournament is the biggest event for us. Anyone can participate. The child must be at least 5 years old and will fish with an adult (parent or guardian) in a ‘big boys’ style half day tournament. The entire day is based around the child. We have 3 different age groups so each child competes against their own age, beginning at 5 years old and up to 16. We serve coffee, donuts and juice for breakfast as well as a hotdog, chips and pop for lunch. No child walks away empty-handed even if they didn’t catch a fish. Thanks to our club members and sponsors, every child receives a tackle pack and rod & reel for them to take home. What a special way to end the day; to see a smile on every child’s face even if it wasn’t a perfect fishing day. Each year, the child remembers this day and anticipates the following year and another great fishing experience. These children are our future anglers; we need to show them what Nature has to offer.

Today, there are many bass clubs in existence so we feel very fortunate to be able to maintain our 50 member roster. We have a wonderful group of anglers, both men and women, competing for points with the chance to earn some money occasionally or walk away with a well deserved plaque at the end of the season. Each tournament brings new challenges and new techniques from fellow club members. The friendships grow strong and it seems that the end of the season always comes to soon. The fishing season may end and the lakes may freeze over, but you will never forget the friends you have made. You will look forward to rekindling those friendships and the new challenges of competing again come spring.