Bass are one of the most prolific game fish in U.S. waters and are also found throughout Europe, Asia, South & Central America, and Africa. Always a popular food source, they were not considered a highly sought-after sport fish until the mid-20th century when advances in modern spinning and baitcasting reels, monofilament line, and artificial lures would bring bass fishing to legions of new anglers A 2018 American Sportfishing Association survey found over 50% of all freshwater anglers prefer to fish for bass In 2020, bass fishing contributed more than 115 billion dollars to the U.S. economy and conservation.