05/14/2000
By ALAN CLEMONS
Times Outdoors Editor

A public battle about traditional tournament fishing and a new approach that combines fishing with boat-handling skills has turned ugly, with Operation Bass suing the Bass Anglers Sportsman Society for comments it made about B.A.S.S. sponsor Ranger Boats and its owner, Irwin Jacobs.

Jacobs owns Genmar Industries, which includes Operation Bass and 12 watercraft lines. Operation Bass has three national circuits, the Wal-Mart FLW Tour, Red Man Tournament Trail and EverStart Batteries Tour. Ranger Boats has been a B.A.S.S. sponsor for 28 years.

The suit, filed May 2 in U.S. District Court in Minneapolis, alleges "false and misleading representations," deceptive trade practices, false advertising, consumer fraud and business disparagement.

"We formally asked B.A.S.S. for a public retraction," Jacobs said. "They declined, and we have filed suit against them."

Ranger announced April 5 it would end its sponsorship in 2001. It cited concerns about public perceptions of the new World Championship Fishing circuit started by B.A.S.S.

Reprinted from Huntsville Times.

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