SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A much anticipated opportunity for bass fishing enthusiasts in the U.S. and Canada to support the Bass Fishing Hall of Fame’s mission kicks off on Sunday, September 21 at 5 p.m. EST when the organization’s annual ‘Celebrate Bass Fishing Week’ online silent auction, presented by Major League Fishing, goes live at https://one.bidpal.net/bfhof/welcome.
With exclusive gear, fishing and hunting experiences, and memorabilia for bass anglers and anyone interested in the outdoors, the auction proceeds are used in part for the Hall of Fame’s exciting induction ceremony activities taking place at Johnny Morris’ Wonders of Wildlife Museum & Aquarium and White River Conference Center on Thursday, Sept. 25. That evening’s events will include the plaque unveiling and jacket ceremony for the new inductees presented by Phoenix Boats within the Bass Fishing Hall of Fame venue space. Bass boat innovator Randy Hopper, noted journalist Craig Lamb, and the late legendary tackle maker William Shakespeare, Jr. will be formally inducted into the Hall as the Class of 2025.
For those familiar with the ‘Celebrate Bass Fishing Week’ auction, you can expect to find opportunities to bid on fishing trips and experiences of a lifetime, such as smallmouth action on the St. Lawrence River, targeting ShareLunker lineage largemouth from Bois d’Arc Reservoir in north Texas, trout fishing on the White River in Arkansas, kayak bass fishing in Alabama, and even crappie fishing with ‘Mr. Crappie’ himself, Wally Marshall, on a private lake in east Texas.
There’s also a bucket list trip for any bass angler who also enjoys saltwater fishing and wants to experience topwater fishing for tuna at Sport Fish Panama Island Lodge. The special bonus on that – you’ll be joined on the trip by 2024 Bass Fishing Hall of Fame inductee Skeet Reese.
New to the auction this year is the opportunity to have a virtual meet-up (i.e. Zoom call) to talk everything and anything about bass fishing with some of the best pro anglers in the sport, including Hall of Famers Rick Clunn, Gary Klein, Hank Parker, Kevin VanDam, along with current stars from the Major League Fishing and Bassmaster trails, including Jacob Wheeler and Trey McKinney. All of these special opportunities can be used for a bass club or other organization wanting to make the virtual event part of an evening meeting.
Upwards of 50 tournament-worn fishing jerseys from both MLF and B.A.S.S. top tier circuits will be up for auction. You’ll also find rods, reels, line/braid, lures and fishing accessories from many of the leading bass tackle brands, including PRADCO, Daiwa, Rapala, Rather Outdoors, AFTCO, TFO Rods, Sunline, Bajio, BUBBA, St. Croix, Bull Shad Lures, Island Optics, Shimano, 13 Fishing, SPRO, Megabass, Juice’s Jigs, Costa, and more.
If you need anything for fall hunting, there are items from Moultrie, Summit Stands, FORLOH Apparel, and Woodhaven Custom Calls. There are even some very special fishing and ski trip adventures in the Canadian Rockies.
“We make it a point with our ‘Celebrate Bass Fishing Week’ online auction to have items that will appeal to the interest and pocketbooks for any bass angler,” said Bass Fishing HOF Board President John Mazurkiewicz. “Since the Hall’s permanent home was established at Wonders of Wildlife in 2017, the Hall has invested nearly $400,000 on various programming, including on-going enhancements to our venue, our conservation grants to enhance bass fishing conducted by bass clubs nationwide and in Canada and our scholarship program to assist high school and college students in degree programs focusing on natural resources and fishery management.
The Bass Fishing HOF Board wants to acknowledge the support it has received from across the bass fishing world. Directly related to ‘Celebrate Bass Fishing Week’ and our induction event activities , “we could not do it without the assistance from our presenting sponsors – MLF, Phoenix Boats and induction dinner sponsor B.A.S.S., along with Bass Cat Boats, PRADCO, Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s, Wired2Fish, AFTCO, GSM Outdoors, Rapala, Daiwa, Rather Outdoors, Pro-Guide Batteries, Visit Anderson, Sunline, Bass Forecast, Yeti, and Costa,” Mazurkiewicz said. “All these firms and organizations go a step above in supporting the Hall’s mission of celebrating, promoting and preserving the sport of bass fishing.”
To participate in the Bass Fishing HOF’s annual ‘Celebrate Bass Fishing Week’ online auction, visit https://one.bidpal.net/bfhof/welcome.
