The Bainbridge Bass Club was formed on February 11, 1969 by Harvin Black, Larry Hare and the late Walter Lansford. These three men saw the need for an active association of bass fishermen in Bainbridge and around Lake Seminole. Now an Honorary Member, Harvin Black is still an active and very competitive member of the club and was our 1990 Angler of the Year. Larry Hare now resides in Prattville, AL.

In 1972, the club held it's first Labor Day Bass Tournament on Lake Seminole. The 29th was held this past May 28th, 2000, making it one of the longest running open bass tournaments in the state of Georgia. For many years it was held at Seminole State Park. For the last several years it has been held out of Wingate's Lunker Lodge and the tournament was moved from Labor Day weekend to Memorial Day weekend in 1996. Now held as a team event, the early years saw it fished as draw tournament with the Saturday night drawing and BBQ a highlight of the bass fishing season.

1999 saw a return to the Bainbridge Bass Club hosting a tournament on Lake Seminole with the 1st Annual Children's Miracle Network Team Tournament. Based out of Wingate's Lunker Lodge, the tournament raised over $1,600 for Children's Miracle Network. 

Throughout the 70's and 80's, clubs from around Georgia, Alabama and Florida came to Lake Seminole to challenge the Bainbridge Bass Club on it's famous home waters, Lake Seminole. For a club to beat the BBC on Seminole was a rare occasion, proven by the numbers of plaques and trophies the club won from the numerous battles fought and won. Sadly, most of them have been damaged or lost in the two floods of 94' and 98'.

Another area the club has been involved in community service. For many years the club took underprivileged groups fishing that normally would never have had the chance. Boys from the GA Sheriff's Boys Ranch and employees of the Georgia Factory for the Blind were treated to fishing trips that were enjoyed as much by them as it was by the BBC club members.

In 1994, the BBC affiliated with B.A.S.S. and the GA B.A.S.S. Chapter Federation which allowed us to send our Top 6 anglers to the 1995 GBCF Top 6 Classic, held on Lake Seminole. The Bainbridge Bass Club Team finished second in the team competition (out of over 90 teams) and Donald Culverson finished second overall (out of almost 600 anglers) to win a spot of the GBCF State Team and advance to the Southern Division Tournament, also held on Lake Seminole the following June. There he finished as top angler on the GA Team and advanced to the B.A.S.S. CHAMPS National Federation Finals Tournament in the Spring of 1996 at Quincy, IL. Donald finished third on the Southern Team, 2 positions away from winning a invitation to the BASSMASTERS Classic.

During 1996 thru 1998, the BBC sent Top 6 Teams to Lake Hartwell, Lake Lanier and Lake Eufaula and finished with remarkable results considering that none of the BBC guys had ever fished Lanier or Hartwell. The club finished 11th overall at Lanier and placed an alternate on the State Team at Lanier and Eufaula.  

In 1999, the Top 6 returned Lake Seminole and the BBC avenged it's loss in 1995 and won the Top 6 and placed 2 anglers (David Chester and Jackie Alderman) on the State Team where they finished 3rd and 4th respectively at the Southern Division at Kentucky Lake.

In 2003, the Bainbridge Bass Club decided to chart a new course as it changed it's state affiliation from the Georgia BASS Chapter Federation to the Florida BASS Federation with high hopes of trying things a new way.

 

The Bainbridge Bass Club continues to be a strong and vital part of the history of bass fishing and Lake Seminole. We look back at the many things in our history to be proud of and look forward for opportunities to be even better.

Club Information Page | Bainbridge Bass Club