June 11, 2025
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – The Bass Fishing Hall of Fame announced that it will grant a total of $40,000 to be dispersed among eight different bass fishing-related conservation projects. The efforts range from building live-release boats for use at tournaments to enhancing black bass habitat across the United States. When paired with additional funds raised by these recipients, the Hall of Fame grants will greatly enhance the likelihood of these projects being completed.
“With these latest grants, we’ll exceed $200,000 given in support of fishery enhancement projects over the past six years,” said BFHOF conservation committee chair Gene Gilliland. “These bass clubs have boots-on-the-ground members who donate their sweat equity to these projects, while the Hall of Fame’s Board provides financial support for building live-release tournament boats, conservation-based youth fishing camps, fish-stocking projects, habitat enhancement, and other needed gear to help make the projects a reality.
The eight grantees receiving financial assistance from the Bass Fishing Hall of Fame under these most recent grants are:
> Bill Dance Signature Lakes Trail – an ongoing joint effort between the Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency and the Tennessee B.A.S.S. Nation, along with help from high school anglers to continue enhancing habitat at select lakes across Tennessee.
Advertisement
> Fishing’s Future – Bass Anglers Start Early Family Fish Camp (Texas and Indiana) – educational camps in both Texas and Indiana that emphasize environmental stewardship, including the establishment of fishing line recycling stations.
> Kansas B.A.S.S. Nation – to enhance habitat quality at Wilson Reservoir by building and submerging both natural and artificial habitat.
> Louisiana Fellowship of Christian Athletes Outdoors – hosting day camps for middle and high school anglers to teach ethical bass tournament competition behavior and environmental stewardship.
Advertisement
> New Mexico B.A.S.S. Nation Youth & Conservation – in cooperation with the New Mexico Dept. of Game and Fish, this group plans to purchase and stock bass at Ute Lake, with post-stocking evaluation to follow in subsequent years.
> Northwest Arkansas Fish Habitat Alliance – a joint effort among high school students, the City of Fort Smith, Arkansas Game and Fish Foundation and MossBack Fish Habitat to build and deploy fish habitat in Lake Fort Smith.
> Ohio B.A.S.S. Nation – purchase and customize a tournament live-release boat to be used at both youth and adult bass tournaments across Ohio for improved post-tournament survival and redistribution of tournament-caught bass.
> Texas B.A.S.S. Nation Youth – improvements to current tournament live-release trailer to give special attention to bass that appear compromised, and a roof to shade the primary holding tank to keep it cooler.
“Between our conservation grants and scholarship program for students pursuing fishery management careers, the BFHOF Board-designated financial support we’ve provided to other fishing clubs and organizations over the past six years, and the recent enhancements we’ve made to the Hall’s venue within Johnny Morris’ Wonders of Wildlife Museum & Aquarium, we’ve contributed nearly $500,000 to support the Board’s mission of celebrating, promoting, and preserving the sport of bass fishing,” said BHFOF Board president John Mazurkiewicz. “We could not have done it without the support we receive from so many leading brands in the bass fishing industry, along with support from the many B.A.S.S. and MLF pro anglers who contribute to our fundraising efforts. We can’t thank them enough for the crucial role they play in the Hall’s mission.”
The Bass Fishing Hall of Fame will hold its annual induction ceremony and dinner on Thursday, Sept. 25, 2025 at Johnny Morris’ Wonders of Wildlife Museum and Aquarium in Springfield, Mo. It’s the culmination of "Celebrate Bass Fishing Week", which also includes the Hall’s online silent auction (visit www.BassFishingHOF.com for details) to assist the Hall of Fame in funding its operations and future conservation projects such as these and other worthy endeavors benefiting the sport of bass fishing.
