Marietta BassMasters bring together dedicated bass fishermen for the exchange of ideas, betterment of the environment, and fellowship.

Fishing is the common thread for this club affiliated with FLW Outdoors/The Bass Federation and Bass Federation Nation. The group of 40 local anglers compete in monthly tournaments mainly in Georgia and Alabama.

"It's a lot of fun to get out and fish and see how you compare to the other guys," said club President Brendan Smith. "And you learn. You learn through the other guys, about different techniques, different ways to fish, different lakes."

"It's the competiveness," said five-year club member Hunter Howard. "I think that's the fun of (Marietta BassMasters). It's competitive, yet we help each other," the Marietta native said,

"We have a lot of fun with each other. You get to know everybody real well," Howard, a hair stylist with Hair Visions on Whitlock Avenue said. "When you join the club, you automatically have 40 people you can call and say, 'Hey, do you want to go fishing?' It gives you instant fishing partners."

"Of course, getting to meet new friends who have a common interest is the biggest benefit," Smith added.

Club membership is selective and the number of members is limited to 42. Members sponsor prospective fishermen who must be voted in. "Once you're in, it's like family," Smith, a 17-year member, said.

But the club isn't about just fishing. Each year they perform conservation projects like the Trash Tournament held at Lake Allatoona the past two years where members do a cleanup of the lake.

"We award a best boat prize and a prize for the most unique trash picked up," Smith said, chuckling. "We just make it a lot of fun."

Smith, a landscape architect who moved to Marietta in 1975, said their most significant event is when they get youth involved. For the past 11 years, the club has hosted an annual "Fishing Extravaganza" for families and children affected by brain tumors. Last year, the club raised about $6,000 for the Brain Tumor Foundation.

Founded in 1972, Marietta BassMasters is one of the oldest in the nation - according to Smith - who noted that the Bass Angler Sportsman Society started the concept of local clubs in 1967.

"We're absolutely one of the top clubs in the state. It's a great group of guys that's been around for long, long time with a lot of good people," he said.

"We have a good group of people active in the community. It's a great group of men in the Marietta club and of course the families too," Smith said.

For more information about the club and membership, visit www.marietta bassmasters.com.