In 1983 a group of 12 fishermen from the old Mid-Mo Bass Club decided to form a bass club of their own. From the best information gathered, they were: Dale Atkinson, Barry Goen, Dan Aust, Cary Hancox, Don Heavin, Don Hudson, Dan Kester, Bobby Lewis, Larry Link, Bob Ulrich, Steve Widaman, and Bill Short. They held several tournaments in 1983 under the old Mid Mo rules and format, but had no champion or championship. In 1984, they took the name "Ozark Mountain Anglers Bass Club" as a non-for profit organization and established a set of By-Laws and tournament regulations with the purpose the same as we have today.
From 1983 to 1990 the club was a majority rules club. In 1990 a new set of By-Laws made the club a fully run corporation with our current system of a board of directors as the governing force. From 1983 to 1993 the club was a boater/non-boater draw club with different partners each tournament and the use of card fish. For various years, the club used either pounds or points, and in 1987 both keeper pounds and card points were used. From 1994 on, keeper weight only has been kept. From 1985 to 1993 the "Classic" evolved from the top 10 to the "Dirty Dozen" to the "Draw" classic (top 10 boaters and non-boaters). From 1994 to present, Ozark Mountain Anglers is a team club with keeper weight as the standard for results. From 1994 to present the "Classic" has evolved from just the top 10 teams, to having all qualifying teams able to participate in either a Gold, Silver, or Bronze Division.
In 1986 with no money at all, the club leased the Mid-Way Expo center and put on its first annual Sports Show. A profit of somewhere around $6000 was made. The show was held there for one more year and then moved to the Hearnes center in 1988.
There is a lot more history to the club that was unrecorded information. Only the members would be able to tell you all the stories. One thing is for sure, the club has maintained a constant growth in membership over the years and followed the original purpose of stimulating awareness of bass fishing, offering support to state conservation efforts, promoting conservation and youth fishing, and allowing its members to participate in the sport of bass fishing while improving their skills as anglers through fellowship and friendly exchanges.