Darrell Lowrance Part of Fishing’s First Generation of Innovators

Electronics pioneer charted new waters for all anglers

The future of fishing is brighter thanks to the hard work and ingenuity of industry pioneer Darrell Lowrance, who passed away on Saturday at age 80. FLW joins the industry in mourning his loss, and offers its condolences to the Lowrance family.

Darrell, who founded Lowrance Electronics and guided the brand for more than four decades, was one of the first businessmen to see the value in sponsoring professional bass fishing organizations. He eventually helped launch a partnership with FLW that began with its first tournament season, as Operation Bass, in 1980 and continues today. The FLW family and anglers have reaped the benefits of Darrell’s visions for innovation and success, and we are all grateful for his partnership and his friendship.

“Darrell Lowrance was a visionary,” says Kathy Fennel, FLW President of Operations. “He was a genius whose trailblazing innovations helped shape not just tournament fishing, but fishing in general. Our sport would look totally different if not for Darrell Lowrance and the company he founded.”

More importantly than any particular business relationship, however, was Darrell’s commitment to pursuing new and exciting technologies to help drive sport fishing to new heights. In the last few decades, bass anglers in particular have benefitted from more than one “electronics revolution,” but it all started with Lowrance’s “little green box,” the Fish-Lo-K-Tor. The device, which Darrell and his family brought to market 60 years ago, quite literally showed anglers new populations of untapped fish. The timing was perfect. Soon after, new fishing media and communicators emerged to educate a growing base of recreational anglers. Tournament fishing was born and provided a means to showcase fishing skills. And the first generation of bass fishing superstars began writing history. Lowrance products were there at every step as Darrell helped to shape the industry we know today, and positioned his family and his company as a cornerstone of modern bass fishing.

Darrell Lowrance was part of a great generation of fishing innovators that deserves to be remembered and honored. He was a hall-of-famer, and he was a friend to FLW. While there’s great sadness in his passing, we’re happy to know that his influence will shine brightly every time someone powers up a depth finder for a day of fishing.

Our thoughts and prayers are with the entire Lowrance family.