As I’ve matured I’ve started to pay more attention to bass fishing’s history. It fascinates me, and I realize how important it is to celebrate and preserve our heritage. It’s particularly important because our sport is so young – barely 50 years old – so even at 35 I know or knew many of the most important figures and can vividly recall their achievements.
As part of this interest, over the last several years I’ve noticed the work done by the board of the Bass Fishing Hall of Fame. They took an institution that had been churning along and added rocket fuel to the process, making it more visible and more active. Last year I was presented with an opportunity to be on the board. I jumped on it before they had a chance to reconsider, and fortunately I was voted in as one of the two active professional anglers.
This year’s induction ceremony at the Wonders of Wildlife Museum in Springfield, Mo., further cemented my commitment to promoting the efforts of the Hall, and of bass fishing history more generally. It was cool to see the late Lonnie Stanley be inducted and to see his friends and family there to honor him. He had been nominated before, but that nomination lapsed. I put him back on the ballot. It was meaningful to me because the first bass I ever caught on a spinnerbait was on a Stanley Wedge. In fact, the company recently put up a post on social media that the Golden Bream pattern was their number one best seller, and it reminded me that was the color I used. It should be no surprise that it’s a go-to up north, because it can represent a bluegill, a perch and a variety of other forage species.
I was fortunate enough to meet Lonnie several times at Skeeter Owners Tournaments. There he’d be, a legend of the sport sitting behind a little table showing off some of his latest creations along with the proven winners. He was willing to talk to anyone and share his knowledge and his stories. We had some great conversations, and I’ll hold those special moments tight. I had a great impression of Lonnie before I ever met him, but after those interactions I realized that as a human being he’d exceeded even those lofty expectations.
Another person who exceeded my expectations in person was Aaron Martens, another 2022 inductee. When I was just starting my career as a professional angler, Aaron was establishing himself as one of the greatest western “transplants” in the sport. I looked up to him before I ever met him – not just for the wins, but for his innovative spirit and curiosity. When we finally did meet, I became even more fond of him. The way he went about his business and prioritized his family provided a useful template for any aspiring pro. There’s probably not a better example of a human being to ever fish the tours.
Despite those experiences, I recognize that I’m younger than most members of the board. I’ve met a lot of the sport’s legends, but not all of them. Accordingly, my sincere hope is that I can serve as a bridge between generations, helping those who are younger than me understand why it’s critical to keep this history alive. The Bassmaster Elite Series platform that provides for my family is only there because of the people who came before me – not just the anglers, but also the tournament organizers, lure manufacturers, members of the media and others who built our legacy.
One more thing – if you ever have the chance to make it to Wonders of Wildlife, you must go. This last trip to Springfield for the banquet was my first time through, and my only regret is that I couldn’t linger for more time on some of the exhibits. It’s amazing, and every angler owes it to himself or herself to spend some time there.
