William Mann, 72; Fishing Champ Earned Millions Making Lures

William Thomas Mann, 72, a fishing champion who built a multimillion-dollar business making fishing lures, died Friday in Birmingham, Ala. The cause of death was not reported, but Mann had recently had his second open heart surgery.

A native of Eufaula, Ala., Mann achieved fame as a fishing lure designer and manufacturer. He started Mann’s Bait company with his wife in 1958. The business had grown into a multimillion-dollar firm by the time he sold it in 1979.

His also had a fishing show, which was carried by several networks, including ESPN, TNN and the Outdoor Channel.

A two-time Bass Anglers Sportsman Society tournament winner, Mann was a consistent top contender for 17 years, competed in the first seven Bassmaster Classic Tournaments, and was named the Pro’s Pro by his peers before retiring in 1984.