SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — Fresh off its 2024 induction ceremony which highlighted the careers of five worthy inductees and which resulted in record-setting attendance and fundraising, the Board of Directors of the Bass Fishing Hall of Fame has opened the nomination process for the next class of inductees.
Starting immediately, any interested person may nominate deserving individuals to be considered for induction into the Hall. Nominees should have made a major impact on the world of bass fishing and brought honor and credit to the sport of bass fishing. Properly submitted nominations are accepted on a rolling basis, but in order to be considered for the Class of 2025, they must be completed in full by Jan. 15, 2025. The initial list of nominees will be whittled to an official ballot to be considered by our Selection Panel, which includes 30 members of the industry plus all living Hall of Famers.”
More information about the process can be found on the “Road to Induction” page of the Hall’s website.
The Hall’s website also includes a nomination form, which should be completed and returned to the Hall’s office either electronically or by mail. While the length or comprehensiveness of the materials provided will not determine whether a nominee proceeds to the next step in the process, a thorough description of the candidate’s achievements will help selectors to make informed decisions.
“We have been thrilled with the effort and care that the bass fishing community has put into these efforts in the past, and we are confident that the newest crop of nominees will reflect such seriousness,” said Neil Paul, Chair of the Board’s Nominations Committee. “Each year the voters are tasked with making some very difficult choices and we are confident that the Selection Panel will again do a great job.”
The most recent class of inductees included the late lure designer Fred Arbogast, video and TV producer Mike McKinnis, noted pro angler, tackle designer and promoter Skeet Reese, trailblazer and pro angler Alfred Williams and TV analyst and outdoor personality Mark Zona.
“Now that we’ve reached the 100-inductee mark, we’re seeing new generations of anglers get inducted, and since establishing a permanent home for the Hall within Johnny Morris’ Wonder of Wildlife Museum & Aquarium in 2017, the Board has made the needed efforts in reaching back to the past. From those efforts in the induction process from our selection panel and past HOF inductees, we’ve added some worthy innovators and leaders from the sport’s earliest days such as Dr. James Henshall, one of the sport of bass fishing’s earliest advocates, and legendary lure designer James Heddon who was making bass lures going back to 1892,” said Hall of Fame President John Mazurkiewicz. “The popularity and success of our process and our banquet helps us to benefit the sport going forward by funding worthy projects consistent with our mission.”
Proceeds from the induction ceremony’s auction benefit the Hall of Fame’s core mission values of celebrating, preserving and promoting the sport of bass fishing. Funding grants for fisheries conservation, scholarships for fisheries science students, and backing youth fishing are among the many supported initiatives.