His persistent efforts also wrought a turning point in improved conservation and environment for his favorite fish, the black bass, most notably through clean waters and the popularization of live-release, which he promoted early in the Society’s history.

But Scott never forgot his roots in sales.  He has most recently been working with some of the sales force of a Fortune 500 insurance company.  “They say I re-charge their batteries,” says Scott. “But actually, they’re re-charging mine.  The experience has been terrific and reminds me just how much I love the challenge of sales.  I have always believed we’re all ‘selling,’ if just ourselves.  Whenever you deal with people, present a product or an idea and get them to your side, you’re selling.  It doesn’t matter if it’s a vacuum cleaner or a presidential candidate.”

Scott is in the process of reprinting a book he wrote in 1981, entitled “Prospecting and Selling: From a Fishing Hole to a Pot of Gold.”  He smiles, “It’s a hokey title, but people like the book, and frankly, it says it all.  The thing is, with the basic philosophies I believe in and a few tried-and-true techniques, most people can be darn good sales people.  Some can be superb.    But you’ve got to know how to get a product to a market – how to find the next ‘prospect.’   You can have the best gadget or idea in the world, but if you have no one to listen to you, you’re dead in your tracks.  Prospecting is how I built B.A.S.S.”

Scott has gotten rave speaking reviews from audiences, not surprising for a man who unarguably knows how to work a crowd.   He has kept thousands of people at Bassmaster Classics (the World Series of bass fishing) hanging on his every word. Not many could make weighing in fish a spectator sport, but Scott has.   By his own admission he loves to inform and entertain people.  “Just as much,” he says “I love to involve people. I like to make them dance with me.  When they’re involved, you can speak to their hearts and they leave with something of value.”

As a frequent Bassmaster Classic attendee says, “Ray Scott has an amazing interaction with his audience.  He can move people from tears to cheers and they love it.”

Today Scott rides herd on his highly successful Whitetail Institute of North America (founded in l988), dedicated to deer nutrition products and quality management practices for hunters and land managers.  His Legacy Lakes enterprise designs ponds and lakes for those that want trophy bass waters.

But even that doesn’t cover the scope of his projects.  “I just can’t help myself,” Scott laughs. “I’ve done everything from manufacture my grandmother’s recipe for chow-chow (a type of relish) to inventing my own Lake Life pump (a water aeration system) to protect my personal bass lake. “  He recently sold his invention to KASCO Marine in Prescott, Wisconsin.

However, his expanded speaking and consulting career has him ‘pumped.’  He says, “I can’t remember the last time I have been so excited about a new direction.   It’s a perfect fit at this stage of my career.  It’s natural to want to give back.”

 When told he has been called the Dale Carnegie and Zig Ziglar of the outdoor world, Scott accepts the compliment with appreciation.  For him, his motivation is simple: “I’ve got a story to tell. I can help people.”

For speaking information contact Scott at 334-281-3661 or email him at ray@rayscott.net.

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