Written by Cameron Fraser

We have received many questions regarding membership in BC Bassmasters. In order to keep things easy to find, we have organized these questions and answers below. If you don't find an answer to your questions here, please feel free to e-mail Cameron at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it and he will reply to your inquiry.

Q. What does it cost to be a member and why do you charge a membership fee?

A. The cost of membership is $25 per year. Basically the cost of a couple of fishing lures. The reason we charge a small annual membership fee is to generate funds to buy tackle and other goodies to give away to our members, to purchase equipment necessary for the club like scales, weigh bags, etc., and to have some money to make club events more fun for all.

Q. Why should I join BC Bassmasters instead of another club?

A. This is probably one of the hardest questions we get from anglers. All clubs are designed for different people and all clubs have their place. Our club is all about getting people together who love to fish and who want to be part of bringing respect to us as anglers and to the sport in general. We have a strong focus on respecting the regulations, including the illegal movement of bass to other water bodies and having respect for each other and the people we share our water with. Some other clubs are about competing against each other. We are about having fun and learning from each other. Some other clubs do not want to be involved in helping the sport grow for the benefit of all anglers. By becoming a member of BC Bassmasters, you will be helping us show BC Fisheries and others that a lot of people love to fish for bass. That is how we can convince them that this sport is one that deserves a chance to grow.

Q. Is BC Bassmasters affiliated with B.A.S.S. or FLW in the U.S.?

No. At this time, we decided that affiliation was not something that all of our members and potential members were looking for, so we decided to keep the club unaffiliated for the time being. If enough members want this type of affiliation in the future, we will certainly consider it again. For now, we have chosen to spend our time and energy making our club fun and accessible to anyone who wants to join. While affiliation has some amazing benefits, there is also an additional cost to our members.

Q. If I join, do I have to be involved in the political stuff that I hate?

A. Absolutely not! The whole idea of BC Bassmasters is choice for our members. Some people enjoy working directly to build the sport, others just want to get together and fish. With us, that choice is yours alone. We do not mandate anyone to be involved any more than they want to be. The goal is to make the club fun for all. Being a member is all that is required to do your part to help with the political stuff. By having a large group of anglers who love the sport, we can show that we deserve to be heard and have our interests respected.

Q. I do not live on the west coast of BC, can I still be a member of BC Bassmasters?

A. Of course! BC Bassmasters is the only province-wide bass club in British Columbia. Other clubs are regional, but we have members from Vancouver Island, the Lower Mainland, the Okanagan, and the Kootenays. Regional fun events will be planned so that no matter where you are in the province you will be able to get together with other anglers to have some fun. We will also have club wide fun events in central locations so that we can all get together. The great part about BC Bassmasters is that no matter where you go in the province, you will have events to go to. We are one club and all of our members are encouraged to attend events anywhere their travels take them!

Q. I am a beginner at bass fishing. Do I have to be experienced to be a member?

A. In short, the answer is a resounding NO! Because the focus of our club is learning from each other and helping everyone enjoy the sport more, we understand that our members have different levels of experience. We do not compete internally at our club events. Even if you have never picked up a rod and fished for a bass, you will be welcomed into the club. In fact, there is no quicker way to learn than to fish with more experienced people. You will have the opportunity to fish with some very experienced people who enjoy helping new people break into the sport. I can also say that people who are new to the sport often ask the best questions and get more experienced people to re-think their approach. New anglers are very valuable to any club.

To join BC Bassmasters, or for more information on membership, please contact Cameron Fraser.