March 21, 2025
A series of limited-edition lures bearing the autographs of five members of the inaugural Bass Fishing Hall of Fame induction class will soon be available for sale to lure collectors and fans of the sport.
Rick Clunn, Bill Dance, Roland Martin, Bobby Murray and Larry Nixon, all of whom were part of the Hall’s first induction class in 2001, will have their signatures on legacy lures from Heddon, Norman and Cotton Cordell.
PRADCO, the parent company of the listed brands, will produce 300 of each bait in five commemorative custom colors. The lures will be priced at $14.99 each. The limited run of 1,500 total lures is expected to generate $22,000 in revenue, all of which will be donated to the Hall of Fame for projects aligning with its core mission of preserving, promoting and conserving bass fishing.
“There is no better way to commemorate the Hall of Fame’s 25th anniversary than to release these iconic baits signed by the sport’s legends,” said Bruce Stanton, vice president and general manager of PRADCO’s fishing division. “What makes this limited-edition lineup even more special are the lure designers or founders are also Hall of Famers.”
After the original Heddon Zara Spook was introduced in 1939, Hall of Famer James Heddon introduced the One Knocker Spook with its single tungsten rattle contained in a sound-intensifying chamber. The Rick Clunn signature version will be produced in Green Back Gizzard.
The Bill Dance signature Heddon Spit’n Image was initially released in 1996 as a Dance signature bait under the Excalibur brand. The commemorative bait will be produced in Threadfin Flair.
It should be no surprise that topwater magician Roland Martin’s signature will appear on the Hall of Fame anniversary release of a Heddon Super Spook in Peacock Bass.
Hall of Famer Bill Norman’s lure legacy lives on with the Norman Deep Little N as a stalwart of crankbaits since it was introduced in the mid-1970s. Fellow Arkansan and Hall of Famer Larry Nixon’s signature will adorn the commemorative lure in the unique Enchilada Sauce color.
Bobby Murray, winner of the first Bassmaster Classic in 1971, will have his signature on another classic lure released by fellow Arkansan Cotton Cordell. Murray’s signature Cordell Big O will be produced in Hot Gill.
“With the exception of Bill Dance, the other four legends are not currently sponsored or affiliated with the PRADCO brands,” Stanton said. “Supporting the Hall of Fame’s core values was their motivation to be part of the limited-edition series. We do appreciate their willingness and in some cases their sponsors’ willingness to do this for the Hall. Again, it shows how the Hall brings the industry together.”
The lures will be sold through PRADCO's online store at Lurenet.com beginning Sept. 1 while several sets will be included in the Celebrate Bass Fishing Week auction in September as part of the lead up to the 2025 induction ceremony on Sept. 25 at Johnny Morris’ Wonders of Wildlife National Museum and Aquarium in Springfield, Mo.
