Tulsa Making Claim To Be 'Fishing Capital Of The World'

The eyes of the bass fishing world are on Tulsa once again as the 46th Bassmaster Classic launches from Grove’s Wolf Creek Park a week from Friday, with weigh-ins set nightly at the BOK Center.

It’s an event that brings Tulsans together, as evidence by the more than 107,000 fans who came out when the Classic was here three years ago.

In the early days of Oklahoma, we were known as the ‘Oil Capital of the World.’ But now, instead of oil, we lay claim to another impressive title, ‘Fishing Capital of the World.’

With oil, it’s all geology. With fishing, it’s geography; and one person who knows the geography the best is Talala’s own, Edwin Evers – one of three Oklahoma pros fishing in the Bassmaster Classic.

“Our lakes are big, ya know, we've got Eufaula, 101,000 acres; Grand, you know, over 50,000 acres. You got Tenkiller here, you got Oologah, that's 27,000 acres, ya know. Then you have all of them in between. We've got a lot of water to fish," Evers said.

Big-time tournament fishing was born 50 years ago, inspired by one Tulsan, Don Butler. BASS founder, Ray Scott, paid him tribute for winning the ’72 classic.

“We started the organization, it was in Tulsa, Oklahoma, on a cold day, he said, ‘I believe it will work,’ and he joined. That first day he was the first member of the Bass Angler's Sportsman Society," Scott said at the time.

Butler owned Okiebug, just one of the iconic companies and brands making Tulsa America’s ‘Tackle Town’ after World War II.

The granddaddy of them all is Zebco and some of its artifacts are with Ian Swart in the Tulsa Historical Society.

Dick: “What have we got here? Tell me what we have.”
Swart: “This is the original prototype for the first Zebco reel.”
Dick: "Look at that.”
Swart: “Piece of plywood, top of a Folger's Coffee can, and a piece of string, a piece of wire and a couple of screws."

It became the revolutionary Spincaster – the first reel that’s line didn’t backlash.

With more than 200 million reels and rods sold, Zebco remains Tulsa-based.

"Just about everybody you run into will tell you that their very first rod and reel was a Zebco. That's a heritage that the company really enjoys and we're proud of," said Zebco director of marking services, John Kushnerick.

Another company, Lowrance, brought sonar depth finders to fishing. It’s been headquartered here since the mid-60s and employs 150 people today.

Its competitor, Garmin, also maintains a presence in Tulsa.

Falcon Rods calls Broken Arrow home, and there’s lure maker, Gene Larew.

"We actually manufacture here in Tulsa. Like I said, on Route 66, out the front door, this is about American as you can get," said Gene Larew Lures owner, Chris Lindenberg.

For 30 years, Gene Larew has shipped soft baits to all 50 states and overseas.

Lindenberg said, "We still have a tremendous history and that's what we like to try to tell the world. Tulsa really is a hub for, particularly for bass fishing."

And a hub for national fishing media; Bassin’ Magazine is based in Bixby and the “Major League Fishing” TV series calls Tulsa Home.

Roland Martin’s show started here more than 40 years ago and is still produced in Tulsa. And Jimmy Houston, “America’s Favorite Fisherman” has spent 39 years on the air, and still going strong.

For Jimmy, it all comes back to the fishing.

"No doubt, Tulsa could call itself the fishing capital of the world. This is kind of where bass fishing competition actually started," Houston said.

Houston, Martin and Bill Dance – who has been hosting fishing shows for nearly 50 years and has been a spokesperson for Zebco for many years – are called ‘The 3 Legends’ of fishing.

Houston, one of Oklahoma’s favorite sons and a multi-tournament champion, had the number one outdoor show on ESPN for 20 years and just launched a digital network.

Martin, a nine-time BASS angler of the year, lived in Broken Arrow until 1980 before moving to south Florida.

Martin also had an interesting opportunity in 2004. He, Beau Anello (left) and his crew were at President George W. Bush's ranch to shoot a program but a developing situation overseas interrupted them. The Secret Service moved the president away and they crew had to leave, but they were able to shoot the program the following week.

It’s all these connections, stories, companies and competitions that keep Tulsa’s reputation as the ‘Fishing Capital of the World’ intact; and the upcoming Classic will only add to that legacy.