Basil Bacon

Basil Bacon (1937—) Basil was the first person to design a “flippin’” button on a baitcasting reel. The “flippin’” button, which is now standard equipment on just about every freshwater baitcasting reel in the world, helped anglers learn the new “flippin” technique that was being developed back in the early-to-mid 70’s.

In addition to the “flippin’” button, Bacon was also a pioneer in developing the raised “flippin’” deck that is now incorporated on bass boats. Bacon was also the gentleman who invented the four-bladed prop that is so often used to achieve maximum performance on today’s modern bass boats.

But all of Bacon’s expertise is not in the design and manufacture of fishing and marine equipment. Bacon is also one of the finest lure designer’s in American fishing history.

Over the years, Basil has designed such fishing lure classic’s as the Bacon Rind and Bacon Strip soft plastic lures and the Wakin’ Bacon spinnerbait.

Since 1971, when Bacon began fishing along the various professional tournament trails, Basil qualified for nine BASS Master Classics; captured two B.A.S.S. tournament titles; was the Angler-of-the-Year in 1973 and 1974 for the Project Sports Bass Tournament Trail; won two Fisherman’s Bass tournaments; won three Bass Casters Association tournaments; won an Anglers Choice Pro Division Classic and most recently captured the 2002 Wal*Mart FLW Tour Event on Old Hickory Lake, outside of Nashville.

Throughout his distinguished tournament career, Basil Bacon has placed in the Top 10 in more than 40 B.A.S.S. tournaments and has recorded more that 125 Top 10 finishes along the various tournament trails he’s competed on.