Tom Mann

It’s one thing to win bass tournaments, which Tom Mannhas done, but it’s an entirely different matter to design, produce and manufacture fishing lures for the professionals and weekend anglers to use. When he began his lure manufacturing business, in 1958 with $5.00, on his kitchen table, I doubt that anyone, especially himself, thought that it would one day grow into one of the most widely recognized lure companies in the world. While he held down a full-time job, as an Alabama Game warden, his love of catching fish, designing lures and, with the help of a supportive wife, proved to be a winning combination. It didn’t hurt that he moved his business to the tiny town of Eufaula, Alabama, and located his manufacturing plant on the shores of one of the best big bass lakes in the country.

When Lake Eufaula came to the nation’s attention, in the late 60’s and early 70’s, Tom Mann was ready to supply them with the needed lures to land one of those “Alabama lunkers”. His famous “Little George” tail spinner, “Deep Pig” crankbait, “Wooly Bully” spinnerbaits and scented “Jelly Worms” became mainstays in every angler’s tackle box, from California to Connecticut. His world famous “Jelly Worms” were distinguished by being named after different fruits. Who, in the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s didn’t get a funny look from their wife when they told them that they were going fishing with blueberry or watermelon or strawberry worms? Each color in the Mann’s “Jelly Worm” collection was named after a different fruit and had a scent that smelled like that fruit. It wasn’t Tom who named the flavors of the “Jelly Worm” collection, it was his wife, Ann. A supporter for more than fifty years!

Not content with just manufacturing fishing lures, while the owner of Mann’s Bait Company, he also founded and was the C.E.O. of Allied Sports Company, from 1969-1983. As the manufacturer of the “Humminbird Depth Sounder”, Allied Sports eventually became a stock company and was renamed Techsonic Industries: one of the largest selling depth sounder companies in the world. He also founded Southern Plastics, in 1977, a company that today is the world’s largest private brand supplier of soft plastic lures.

Designing and building baits to catch fish, and creating companies that would help every angler on the water, were just a part of his repertoire. He knew how to catch ’em as well, as his success along the Bass Anglers Sportsmans Society tournament trail quickly proved. He began his professional tournament career along the B.A.S.S. tournament trail in 1967 by competing in the Dixie Invitational. In 1971 he captured his first national title by winning the B.A.S.S. Georgia Invitational on Lake Seminole, Georgia. He then followed that impressive victory with another championship performance by winning the 1972 B.A.S.S. Florida National, on Lake Kissimmee, Florida. In all, Tom Mann fished in 104 Bass Angler Sportsman Society tournaments, taking home over $36,000.00. When compared to today’s dollars, that would have been in excess of $700,000. He also qualified for 7 BassMasters Classics and has the distinction of finishing in second place in the very first BassMasters Classic, on Lake Mead, Nevada, behind fellow hall of fame member, Bobby Murray.

He has been inducted into the Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame, and he received the Fishing Hall of Fame’s highest honor, the Dolphin Award. He has been named as one of Alabama’s most unforgettable faces, by the Alabama Bureau of Tourism and Travel and has authored two of the all time best selling books on bass fishing. Tom Mann is still active in designing fishing lures and also co-hosts a nationally syndicated television program called, “Tom and Tina Outdoors” with his co-host, Tina Booker.