Details

Published: 18 September 2024

BFHOF Report

Bass Fishing Hall of Fame Museum

The Bass Fishing Hall of Fame kicks of Celebrate Bass Fishing Week Friday with an online auction in preparation for five new members enshrined into the Bass Fishing Hall of Fame.

Celebrate Bass Fishing Week culminates with the induction ceremony on Thursday, Sept. 26 at Johnny Morris’ Wonders of Wildlife Museum & Aquarium, and at the White River Conference Center in Springfield, Mo.

BFHOF Week

Formally inducted into the 2024 Hall of Fame class will be the late Fred Arbogast, inventor of such iconic lures as the Jitterbug and Hula Popper; Mike McKinnis, innovator of breakthrough live video and television coverage of tournament bass fishing as VP of media content for JM Associates; and noted pro angler, tackle designer and promoter Skeet Reese, whose career winnings exceed $4 million. Alfred Williams, a trailblazing angler from Mississippi who was the first African American angler to compete in a Bassmaster Classic, will also be inducted, while Mark Zona will be enshrined as one of the leading voices and personalities in bass fishing as a show host and TV analyst.  

“We look forward to hosting this special night for those who enjoy the sport of bass fishing, where we celebrate the Hall’s newest inductees, promote how the industry and anglers come together for this one evening to support a common cause, and provides the Hall’s Board the opportunity to raise funds to help preserve the sport through our conservation efforts,” said John Mazurkiewicz, Hall of Fame board president. “Our induction events have become a must-attend evening in the bass fishing world, those in the room include a who’s who list of past Hall of Fame inductees, leaders in the fishing and boating industries, current B.A.S.S. and MLF pro bass anglers, high school and college bass anglers featured on our new Champion’s Wall, and fans of the sport from across the country.” 

Read more …

Details

Published: 02 September 2024

By Louie Stout

Fizzing a bass

We’ve all heard the pros and cons of forward facing sonar (FFS).

“Older anglers don’t want to adapt.”

“It’s not fishing. It’s video gaming.”
“It provides an unfair advantage.”
“It’s boring to watch online or on TV.”
“It’s perfectly legal and enables an angler to fish for fish that were previously unmolested.”

I see both sides, but frankly, there’s an underlying issue that is being overlooked, especially here in Michiana.

Big fish are dying of barotrauma because some anglers using FFS in deep water aren’t taking care of their catch.

Your responsibility does not end just because you got your fish to the weigh-in scales alive.

I don’t fish a lot of tournaments, but there have been released seen fish struggling along the bank at several events where FFS produced top catches.

Those struggling fish were brought to the surface quickly and their swim bladders filled with gasses. When this happens, the fish cannot swim naturally. The ballooned air bladder pushes against the heart and restricts the heart from pumping blood, hence the fish dies.

Of course, there is a solution – fizzing – a delicate practice that needs to be done the moment you see a fish floundering sideways in the livewell.

I fished a weeknight event with a 13-year-old neighbor boy. As I was backing the trailer at the end of the night, the boy was in the water trying to revive a 4 pounder, struggling to swim upright, that someone released off the dock. Another angler was attempting to fizz another 3 pounder – not his - in the darkness with a cellphone flashlight.

The 4 pounder, and likely others, died.

Scoping is a rapidly growing practice among tournament anglers. It’s perfectly legal, but when you multiply this incident times hundreds of other tournaments held in both states, one has to wonder how many bass are dying unnecessarily.

The point is that anglers who learned to utilize the technology have an added responsibility for taking care of their fish.

Especially on smallmouth bass lakes.

Smallmouth are highly susceptible because of their preference to roam, and a lot of giants are being caught from the middle of the lakes. Those fish, along with big largemouth, carry genetics that assure big, quality fish in the future.

Regardless of whether you scope or just fish deep, you need to learn the PROPER method of fizzing a fish that struggles to remain upright in the livewell.

And do it promptly.

Take time to watch this video. A northern BASS Nation Conservation Director, who has dealt with a lot of smallmouth tournaments, explains the truth about barotrauma and demonstrates the proper method for fizzing.

Details

Published: 25 July 2024

BFHOF Report 

The Bass Fishing Hall of Fame (BFHOF) has awarded scholarships under its Fishery Management Scholarship Program for the second year in a row.

This program aims to provide financial support and encouragement to high school and college bass anglers pursuing careers in fields that will directly contribute to healthy fisheries, essential access, and clean rivers, lakes and reservoirs, consistent with the BFHOF’s mission.

The 11 selected applicants will each receive $2,500 to pursue their studies. The recipients include:

• Alex Avery, Missouri State University
• Brady Horton, Drury University
• Bradley Howell, Trent University
• Luc LaRochelle, Carleton University
• Nate Hull, Oklahoma State
• Justin Lombardo, University of Illinois
• Tom Miles, Tennessee Tech University
• Morgan Noffsinger, Central Michigan University
• Marcus Prull, Auburn University
• Levi Umland, University of Missouri
• Samuel Vazquez, University of Arkansas–Pine Bluff

“The response to this program was immense and impressive,” said BFHOF Board President John Mazurkiewicz. “Our dedicated Conservation/Education Committee, led by Board Member and BFHOF inductee Gene Gilliland, the growth of this scholarship program aligns perfectly with the Hall’s mission of celebrating, promoting, and preserving the sport by investing in the future of healthy fisheries, accessible waters, and clean aquatic ecosystems.

The awardees consist of high school seniors committed to enrolling in a four-year college or university program, as well as undergraduate and graduate students currently enrolled in a four-year college, university, or accredited graduate program with a declared or planned major in biology, aquatic ecology, fisheries, marine science, or a closely related natural resources field.

“We were amazed by the quality and seriousness of the applications and the young men and women who expressed interest,” Gilliland said. “The applications were reviewed by an independent panel of distinguished individuals involved in fishery management across the U.S. and Canada, including: Phil Morlock, Director of Government Affairs for the Canadian Sportfishing Industry Association; Chris Horton, Senior Director of Fisheries Policy for the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation; Ross Self, Chief of Inland Fisheries for the South Carolina DNR; and Dr. Mark Rogers, Tennessee Cooperative Fishery Research Unit Leader at Tennessee Tech University. The future of our sport, our fisheries and this program remain bright.”

The financial support for this program is made possible by the support the Hall receives from past inductees, professional anglers competing on the B.A.S.S and MLF tournament trails, bass anglers nationwide who support the Hall’s annual online auctions, and many leading companies involved in the bass fishing industry.

The BFHOF Board will announce details and application requirement for the 2025 Fishery Management Scholarship program later this year

The Bass Fishing Hall of Fame will honor the Class of 2024 at its annual induction ceremony on September 26th at Johnny Morris’ Wonders of Wildlife Museum and Aquarium adjacent to the Bass Pro Shop flagship store in Springfield, Mo. Fred Arbogast, Mike McKinnis, Skeet Reese, Alfred Williams and Mark Zona will be inducted.