The Bass Fishing Hall of Fame’s Board of Directors will kick off “Celebrate Bass Fishing Week” on Oct. 3, starting with its popular online auction as well as special events at the BFHOF venue within Johnny Morris’ Wonders of Wildlife Museum & Aquarium in Springfield, Mo., and culminating with the annual induction dinner gala to honor the 2022 inductees on Oct. 6 at the White River Conference Center. Dinner tickets and tables to attend the induction ceremony are now available.
Six individuals – pro angler Tommy Biffle, Major League Fishing executive Kathy Fennel, past B.A.S.S. tournament director Dewey Kendrick, the late pro angler Aaron Martens, journalist Steve Quinn and the late pro angler and lure designer Lonnie Stanley – will officially be inducted during the Oct. 6 event. Both inductees and family members representing them will first unveil their HOF plaque at a special presentation within the Hall’s venue at WOW, and then will join bass fishing enthusiasts and industry leaders for dinner and their induction speeches.
“Honoring these six individuals for their lasting impact is a key mission in the BFHOF Board’s role to celebrate, promote and preserve the sport of bass fishing,” said Board president John Mazurkiewicz. “All the activities at Wonders of Wildlife that day, plus our efforts during “Celebrate Bass Fishing Week” will shine a spotlight on every aspect of the world of bass fishing.”
As its major fundraising effort to support nationwide conservation projects and its activities to honor the sport’s legends, Major League Fishing will once again sponsor both the Hall’s online auction that week and live auction during the induction dinner event. B.A.S.S. is on board again to sponsor the dinner.
Major fishing and marine industry brands offering additional sponsor support for the event include AFTCO, Caymas Boats, Daiwa, In-Fisherman, PRADCO, Rapala, Rather Outdoors, Shimano and Wired2fish. Many leading pro bass anglers on both the Bassmaster Elite Series and MLF Bass Pro Tour are contributing exclusive fishing trips and tournament jerseys to the online auction.
“The activities during the week and the induction ceremony evening provides everyone involved in all different ways in our sport a chance to come together, put any of their competitive juices aside for one night and celebrate bass fishing and those who have contributed so much to it,” Mazurkiewicz said. “We invite all bass fishing enthusiasts and those involved in the industry to join in.”
Sponsor tiers for the “Celebrate Bass Fishing Week” are still being offered. Information on Gold, Silver, Bronze and table sponsors, along with individual dinner tickets is available by contacting BFHOF executive director Barbara Bowman at bbowman@bassfishinghof.com or (501) 541-6660, or Mazurkiewicz at president@bassfishinghof.com or (574) 292-2500.
