Legend Biography

A lifelong angler, Dave Precht began writing about bass fishing while he was in high school, when he won a national journalism award for a newspaper article on fishing.

After several years as a news reporter, he became outdoor editor of the Houston Post in 1977. He covered the first of his 40 consecutive Bassmaster Classics in October 1978. A few months later, B.A.S.S. founder Ray Scott hired him to cover tournaments for the young B.A.S.S. organization. Precht next served as editor of the popular Southern Outdoors Magazine — then owned by B.A.S.S. — for four years, and in 1984, he became editor of Bassmaster Magazine, replacing Bob Cobb, who was launching The Bassmasters TV show on The Nashville Network at that time.

During his nearly 20 years as editor, B.A.S.S. membership grew to more than 600,000, and Bassmaster was selected as one of the 10 “Hot Properties” among magazines in America by Ad Age. As editor, Precht dedicated the magazine to promoting competitive fishing, boating safety, conservation, sportfishing ethics and bass fishing as family recreation.

Precht served as B.A.S.S.’s vice president/Communications and editor-in-chief of Bassmaster from 2010 until his retirement in 2019. In addition to the Legends of the Outdoors Hall of Fame, he has been inducted into the Bass Fishing Hall of Fame and the Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame. He and his wife, Linda, live in Birmingham, Ala.