Tri-State Bass Club was established in 1983 in Kings Mountain, NC. Members traveled from three local South Carolina minority integrated bass fishing clubs. Those clubs were: The Chester Bass Masters, the Beaver Dam Bass Masters and the Wateree Bass Demons clubs.
The goals of this club are to educate minority youths on bass fishing and conservation throughout the state of South Carolina and to participate in community activities.
The name Tri-State Bass Club was chosen because members traveled from Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina to participate in club tournaments. The club has approximately 40 members on its roster.
Club Tournaments are held on a monthly basis on different lake in South Carolina, North Carolina and Georgia. Club members also compete in other bass fishing tournaments, such as, the Red Man, Sportsman Association of Black Bass Anglers (SABBA), Black American Outdoors (BAO), Unified Bass Club Trails, People of Color Organization (P.O.C.O.), South Carolina Team Tournament Association (SCTTA), Wal-Mart FLW, Jerry Rhine Fisherman's' Bass Circuit (JRFBC), and the Joel Page Benefit Tournament. Members have traveled as far as Arkansas, Kentucky, Alabama, Florida, and Mississippi to participate in tournaments.
- Club provides a $100 food gift basket to one needy family in NC and in SC during the Holidays
- 1996 Club began volunteering to operate a food/drink concession stand at the annual South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) Palmetto Sportsman's Classic, Columbia, SC.
- 2000 Club members began participating in the annual South Carolina Wildlife Federation (SCWF) National Hunting and Fishing Day at Cohen Campbell Fish Hatchery Columbia, SC.
- 2001 Ray Nelson was appointed to the SCWF board of directors serving as the chairperson for the fisheries committee
- 2003 Club helped established the annual SCWF State Bass Fishing Tournament at Lake Wateree, Clear Water Cove, Camden, SC.
- 2004 Frank Murray was appointed by Governor Mark Sanford to serve on the SCDNR Board if Directors
- 2004 Club established its Youth Fishing Club
- 2005 Tri-State become an affiliate chapter of SCWF
- 2006 David Benjamin was appointed to the SCWF Board of Directors
- 2006 Ray Nelson awarded the F. Bartow Culp Award for distinguished leadership and service to SCWF
- 2007 David Benjamin elected to the Executive Committee of the SCWF and Secretary / Treasury
- 2008 Tri-State Bass Club members provided Boat support for the FLW National Guard Junior (ages 11-18) World Championship on Lake Monticello Reservoir, SC. Junior anglers competed for a $42,000 purse in scholarships and youth grants for their state federation.
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