Field & Stream Trophy Bass 3D

Last updated: January 9, 2026

Overview

Field & Stream: Trophy Bass 3D is a fishing video game developed by Dynamix and published by Sierra Sports for Microsoft Windows in 1999¹. The game brought three-dimensionality to a genre that was predominantly filled with 2D titles, featuring “The Bass Are Back In Extraordinary 3D Detail”². As part of Sierra’s licensed sports game series using the Field & Stream magazine brand³, Trophy Bass 3D combined traditional fishing game mechanics with enhanced 3D graphics and realistic fishing environments⁴.

The game offers an “ultimate fishing experience right to your desktop” with unparalleled 3D details of 15 tournament lakes and over 30 species of fish featuring improved artificial intelligence³. Players can immerse themselves in the world of professional bass fishing through comprehensive simulation that considers weather, season, water conditions, and many other factors that affect how real bass behave⁴.

Game Info

Developer: Dynamix¹ Designer: Kurt Weber, Randy Dersham⁵ Publisher: Sierra Sports¹ Platforms: Microsoft Windows¹ Release Year: 1999¹ Series: Trophy Bass Sierra Lineage: Core Sierra

Story Summary

Field & Stream Trophy Bass 3D is a fishing simulation that focuses on realistic angling experiences rather than narrative storytelling. Players can choose their lure, reel, location, and other equipment to compete in B.A.S.S. Masters tournaments, start a career, or simply spend an afternoon at their chosen lake⁶. The game features professional bass fishing pros including Denny Brauer, Larry Nixon, Kevin VanDam, and George Cochran who provide guidance and expertise⁶.

Gameplay

Interface and Controls

The game supports both keyboard and mouse input⁷, with an optional Microsoft SideWinder Force Feedback Pro controller for enhanced tactile feedback⁸. Players navigate through various fishing locations using topographical and photo mapping systems⁹. The interface includes comprehensive fishing guides and professional video tips to help players master different techniques¹⁰.

Structure and Progression

Trophy Bass 3D offers multiple game modes including Quick Fish, Single Player, Single Player Tournaments, Career, and Multiplayer options¹¹. The career mode allows players to progress through professional fishing tournaments while the quick fish mode provides immediate access to recreational fishing¹². Tournament and career play modes simulate the competitive aspects of professional bass fishing¹³.

Puzzles and Mechanics

The core gameplay revolves around realistic fishing simulation with “improved fish AI and fight models” that “put every angler’s skills to the test”¹⁴. Players must consider multiple environmental factors including weather conditions, water temperature, season, and time of day to successfully catch fish⁴. The game features over 30 different fish species across 15 tournament lakes, each with unique behaviors and preferences⁵. Unlike some other fishing titles, the game allows players to explore real-world fishing locations¹⁵.

Reception

Contemporary Reviews

Publication	Score	Notes
IGN	8/10	Praised realistic simulation aspects4
GameCenter	8/10	Appreciated underwater 3D effects16
GameRankings	70%	Aggregate score from 19991
Strategy Plus	3.5/5	”Sierra has finally released a game worthy of a gamer’s time”7
GamePro	Graphics: 4.0, Sound: 3.0, Control: 2.0	Noted great 3D effects but average overall results8

Modern Assessment

Modern retrospective reviews have been mixed, with some noting that the game is aimed more at fishing enthusiasts than typical gamers[^ref-23]. One reviewer stated that “Trophy Bass 4 isn’t fun, although it’s probably not aiming to appeal to the usual gamer”⁹. However, the game has maintained a dedicated following among fishing simulation enthusiasts, with user ratings on various platforms showing scores ranging from 4.6/5 to 4.75/5¹⁰¹¹.

Development

Origins

The game was developed as part of Sierra’s expansion into licensed sports gaming, utilizing the Field & Stream magazine brand to create authentic fishing experiences³. Trophy Bass 3D was the third game in the Trophy Bass series, building upon previous 2D fishing simulations with enhanced 3D graphics and more sophisticated fish behavior modeling[^ref-27].

Production

The development team included 102 credited individuals[^ref-28], with voice work provided by professional bass fishing personalities including Denny Brauer (Bass Fishing Pro/Advisor), Larry Nixon, Kevin VanDam, and George Cochran⁶. Additional voice cast included John MacDonald (Male Angler), Shelly James (Female Angler), and Bill Barrett (Narrator)¹². The music was composed by Timothy Steven Clarke[^ref-30].

Technical Achievements

The game featured enhanced 3D graphics with support for 3dfx Glide acceleration[^ref-31], representing a significant technical advancement for fishing simulations of the era. The game included both above and below water 3D perspectives, allowing players to see underwater action during fishing¹⁶. Enhanced online tournament play through WON.Net enabled multiplayer fishing competitions with friends and family globally³.

Legacy

Field & Stream Trophy Bass 3D established a foundation for later entries in the series, with Trophy Bass 4 including 15 lakes from Trophy Bass 3D, seven lakes from the Trophy Bass 3D Lakes Expansion Pack, and three new tournament lakes¹³. The game’s focus on realistic simulation and authentic fishing environments influenced subsequent fishing game development. However, the game faced compatibility challenges with newer Windows versions, requiring community patches and workarounds for modern systems¹⁷.

Downloads

Purchase / Digital Stores

• Currently unavailable on modern digital platforms
• GOG Dreamlist - Community wishlist

Download / Preservation

• Internet Archive - Demo Version
• MyAbandonware

Series Continuity

• Previous: Trophy Bass (1995)
• Next: Field & Stream Trophy Bass 4 (2000)

References

Footnotes

1. Wikipedia - Field & Stream: Trophy Bass 3D – - Basic game information, release year, developer, publisher ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵ ↩⁶

2. GameFAQs – - Official game tagline ↩

3. VideoGameGeek – - Official product description ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴

4. IGN Review – - Gameplay mechanics and environmental factors ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴

5. Web Archive - CD Magazine – - Lake and fish species count ↩ ↩²

6. MobyGames - Trophy Bass – - Game mode descriptions ↩ ↩² ↩³

7. Web Archive - Strategy Plus – - Review quote ↩ ↩²

8. Web Archive - GamePro – - Review scores and assessment ↩ ↩²

9. GameFabrique Review – - Modern assessment quote ↩ ↩²

10. MyAbandonware – - User rating 4.75/5 ↩ ↩²

11. MyAbandonware – - User rating 4.6/5 ↩ ↩²

12. MobyGames - Credits – - Voice cast details ↩ ↩²

13. NeverDieMedia – - Trophy Bass 4 content description ↩ ↩²

14. Internet Archive Demo – - Enhanced fish AI description ↩

15. Old PC Gaming – - Real-world fishing locations ↩

16. Web Archive - GameCenter – - Underwater 3D effects review ↩ ↩²

17. Internet Archive - Compatibility Notes – - Modern system compatibility issues ↩