Dave Precht will retire from B.A.S.S. at the end of July after 40 years of outstanding service.
Precht joined B.A.S.S. in 1979 as editor of Southern Outdoors Magazine after a stint as the outdoors writer for the Houston Post. In 1984, he replaced Bob Cobb as editor of Bassmaster Magazine and retained that role for the next 19 years, raising the bar for outdoor publications nationwide. As B.A.S.S. evolved, Precht’s knowledge of the sport, company and industry helped move B.A.S.S. forward with focus and perspective. As Vice President of Publications and Communications, Precht will retire as the most longstanding member of the B.A.S.S. organization.
“Dave’s commitment has not only added luster to the B.A.S.S. shield, but has greatly impacted the entire bass fishing industry for the past four decades,” said B.A.S.S. CEO Bruce Akin.
Precht was inducted into the Bass Fishing Hall of Fame in 2011. And in 2018, he was inducted into the Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame, as well as the Legends of the Outdoors Hall of Fame.
“Dave came to B.A.S.S. because of his passion for bass fishing, and now he will have plenty of time to spend on the water,” said Akin. “The rest of his time will likely be spent chasing six grandchildren.”
I’m going to miss Dave in a big way. When I joined B.A.S.S. eight years ago he invested time to help me get started on the right foot, introducing me around the company and the industry, and taking me fishing. When Dave cleaned out his garage he gave me some of his tackle. Since then he’s been a great partner and friend. I turned to him often for insights and wisdom, which he always shared freely.
It has been fun, and frankly inspiring to watch Dave operate. He’s a terrific writer and editor, with a commitment to accuracy, and a strong eye for compelling stories. But his best quality really, is that he always cared, about the organization, the sport, the anglers, and the employees.
One of my favorite memories of Dave is the time we bunked together in an old pole barn in Waddington, N.Y. We were there to cover the Elite tournament on the St. Lawrence River, but over the course of four or five nights together we got to hang out and talk about our families and life in general.
Dave, we’re going to miss you, but I hope this means we’ll get to fish more often. Tight lines!
Feel free to share your stories about Dave, or best wishes, in the comments section below.
To see photos of Dave Precht’s career at B.A.S.S., click here.