EXTRA: “A Reel Deal”
Ray Scott is the founder of Bass Angler Sportsman Society. His world class fishing property has been named "The Best Bass Fishing Lake" in America by Outdoor Life Magazine. The property could now be yours.
[gtxvideo vid=”5jJt6N5m” playlist=”” pid=”2gxTqEDg” thumb=”http://player.gtxcel.com/thumbs/5jJt6N5m-120.jpg?cachebust=1463582199391″ vtitle=”WAKA_2016_05_17_22_11_45″]
Just off Interstate 65, about 20 miles south of Montgomery. There is a slice of paradise.
The winding drive with trees and Spanish moss draped overhead pulls you into
the Ray Scott Legacy Lakes where the fishing tales are actually real.
“One of the top fishermen in the world, Rick Clunn, made a cast and caught the biggest fish that has ever been caught here 13 pound 15 ounces,” said Scott.
People come from all over the country to cast their reels in this angler’s paradise, even U.S. Presidents.
Ray Scott met President George Bush Sr. when he was running for President against Ronald Reagan. He then would become Vice President and later President. And he wanted Scott to be his Alabama campaign chairman. That led to other notable jobs with the Bush presidential campaign throughout the years.
“Good guy. I liked every bit of him. We clicked and I found out he liked to fish and that was natural for me. And we could politic while we were visiting. He’s just a good man. Straight up and straight at you. Just admire him and still do. His wife, Barbara, and George Jr., and I met a lot of the guys in the family,” said Scott.
He says the Bushes came each year for 4 years during a high profile fishing tournament. They even have their own cabin.
“While this house was being built, I put the small cabin over here. We call it the George Bush House. He claims it’s his. He loves that house,” said Scott.
Scott designed every part of the Legacy Lake property.
“We came out here, few cows scattered all over the place. Nothing but pasture land, I saw the prospect for a fishing hole, which is here now. I bought it but couldn’t afford it at the time but about 3 years later I got out here and we sculptured what we wanted to do and this is it.I put the house here,” said Scott.
But now it’s time to hang it up even though fishing will continue.
At 82 years old, Scott says he’s ready to hand over his retreat to someone else.
“The fishing is good. The chemical components in the water and the soil have a lot to do with the quality of fishing over a long period of time. And this black belt soil is really great stuff. It really is,” said Scott.
Even though he is selling the property, you can bet the “Bass Boss” won’t be too far away.
“Whoever comes here and buys this place, I’ll live just a stone’s throw up on the hill and I’ll almost insist on making sure they take care of this lake and tell them what to do and how to do it. But it is a fabulous fishing hole.”
The property is for sale for $3.4 million.
