Kevin VanDam, the all-time winningest angler in bass fishing history, is one of five people chosen for the International Game Fish Association Fishing Hall of Fame's 2024 class
The other honoree from the bass realm is writer and fish culturist James Henshall, who died nearly a century ago. Both VanDam and Henshall are members of the Bass Fishing Hall of Fame.
Here are brief biographies of both men that the IGFA included in its press release announcing the class.
Kevin VanDam
Kevin VanDam, a towering figure in the world of bass fishing, has etched his name in angling lore through unparalleled skill and dedication. With a professional career that spanned more than three decades, VanDam has amassed an astonishing array of achievements, earning him the moniker "The Greatest Pro Angler of All Time" by many in the fishing community. Renowned for his uncanny ability to consistently locate and entice bass in a variety of conditions, VanDam has claimed a record-tying four Bassmaster Classic titles. Beyond the Classic, he boasts a record 25 B.A.S.S. wins and seven Bassmaster Angler of the Year titles. During only four years with the FLW Tour, he finished in the Top 10 nearly 30 percent of the time, further solidifying his status as a true legend of the sport. Beyond his tournament success, VanDam is revered for his contributions to angling education and conservation, tirelessly sharing his knowledge and passion with fellow anglers around the globe. In addition to these accomplishments, VanDam’s philanthropy extends through his KVD Foundation as well as contributions in the KVD Charity Classics with the Detroit Lions, Michigan hospitals, March of Dimes and the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
James A. Henshall (1836-1925)
James Henshall stands as a towering figure in bass fishing history, widely acclaimed as the foremost advocate for the bass's recognition as a premier game fish. Renowned as the author of seminal works such as Book of the Black Bass and More About the Black Bass, Henshall's profound impact on angling literature is indisputable. His immortal words, proclaiming the bass as "the gamest fish that swims," resonate through generations of anglers. Henshall's contributions extend beyond mere prose; he is credited with potentially inventing the renowned "pitching" casting style, forever altering the methodology of angling. Henshall's pioneering efforts in rod design earned him recognition as the progenitor of modern baitcasting rods, shaping the very tools anglers rely on today. Beyond angling technique and equipment, Henshall's legacy endures in his groundbreaking work in fish culture, notably as the first to successfully raise black bass in a controlled environment. Serving as president of the American Fisheries Society and hatchery manager for the U.S. Fish Commission, Henshall's dedication to fisheries management and conservation remains unparalleled. His profound influence is immortalized in the scientific nomenclature of the Alabama bass, Micropterus henshalli, ensuring his lasting legacy in the annals of angling history.
Additional members of the IGFA's '24 class are fly and light tackle multiple world-record holder Tom Pfleger, billfish legend Nick Smith and Ralph "Agie" Vicente, a renowned conservationist in the Caribbean and Latin American angling communities.
For more about the IGFA Hall, click here.
