Special Memories from the 2025 Bass Fishing Hall of Fame Induction Weekend

people

Oct 6

Table setup at Bass Fishing Hall of Fame annual induction banquet 2025

The annual Bass Fishing Hall of Fame Induction ceremonies in Springfield, Missouri have become a key date on my yearly calendar, like the Bassmaster Classic, the NFL draft, my wife’s birthday, and Bobby Bonilla Day. In fact, I’ve already written down the 2026 event on my calendar in pen (for those of you scoring at home, it’s Thursday, September 24th).

While the event keeps on getting better and better, each one has a slightly different footprint. The memories that emerge fall into themes, perhaps reflecting the inductees or where I am in my life at this point. As I near the transition into writing about fishing full-time, I couldn’t help but think of this year’s event in that light.

Indeed, while I could talk at length about how diligently and tirelessly my fellow board members work to make this event a success, some of the highlights seems like a hieroglyphic trail of my writing career. Here are five that stood out and the people who shaped them:

Randy Hopper and Bill Roberts at Bass Fishing Hall of Fame 2025 — **Bill Roberts and Randy Hopper**

My friend Bill Roberts has been the single largest influence in my fishing life for over 30 years. He has not only guided many critical thought processes, but he was the first person to introduce me to pros including OT Fears, David Wharton, Denny Brauer and Terry Baksay. Without him, I never would have had a writing career. He’s also a longtime friend of Vexus founder Randy Hopper and told me he wouldn’t come to a HOF banquet until Hopper was elected. Bill submitted the nomination that was integral in getting Hopper elected, and lived up to his word by showing up. Hopper even mentioned him in his acceptance speech.

OT Fears, Pete Robbins, Woody Woodworth — **OT Fears**

As noted above, Bill introduced me to a number of pros back in the mid-90s, including Oklahoma pro OT Fears, who for some reason always chose to be nice to me – even introducing me to eating crawfish at Dennis Tietje’s place. OT also recommended me as a writer to the then-fledgling PAA, which led to writing for Mike Auten’s various TV shows (e.g., “Classic Patterns” and “The Hit List”), which in turn led to an exponential growth in my career.

Shane Jarvis with Skeet Reese fishing — **Shane Jarvis and Skeet Reese**

Our trips to Sport Fish Panama Island Lodge, owned and operated by Shane Jarvis, made me realize that the next chapters of my life *must* feature a healthy amount of big pelagic species. I love having a resource who can help me understand saltwater fish, the tackle needed to conquer them, and how to operate a five-star lodge on a semi-remote island. Shane generously donated a trip to the HOF auction, and sweetened the deal by inviting Skeet and Kim Reese to join the winners. Until now, many aspects of my fishing life have been compartmentalized, but combining these two is a no-brainer. I know Skeet is going to love it there, and when they see the pictures lots of people are going to be upset that they didn’t bid higher.

Scenes from Yeti Open at Table Rock Lake September 2025 — **Mark Jones and Yeti**

I’ve written for Mark Jones of the Big Bass Tour since 2017. Last year I wrote an article about Taku Ito for Yeti, and of course many of the best fishing lodges (like Sport Fish Panama Island Lodge and Casa Vieja Lodge), guides and pros utilize Yeti products. We happened to be in Springfield while the Yeti Open was going on at Table Rock, so Hanna and I drove down to meet the crew and see the festivities. It didn’t hurt that they were grilling up wagyu burgers and tomahawk steaks.

Hanna Robbins driving KVD's Nitro Bass Boat — **KVD and Hanna**

For a guy who seems to be on the road 400 days a year, Kevin VanDam puts in a remarkable amount of time and effort as a Hall of Fame board member. In fact, that’s one of the things that most pleasantly surprised my friend – watching how Kevin took charge of even the most minor tasks and duties. Of course, he’s affiliated with Yeti, too (remember: the fishing industry is remarkably intertwined), so he was there at the Table Rock Open. When it came time for a friend to help Kevin put his boat on the trailer, I encouraged Hanna to go as well. “When else are you going to get to ride in VanDam’s boat?” I asked. The crazy thing is that I’ve started to take these sorts of interactions for granted. I have to remind myself how lucky we are that we consistently have the opportunity to be around Hall of Famers.

The great thing about bass fishing – unlike many of the stick and ball sports – is that you too can be around your heroes and role models. They’re accessible at tournaments and events like the Bassmaster Classic Expo. But if you’re truly a fan you owe it to yourself to visit the Hall of Fame exhibits at the Wonders of Wildlife Museum in Springfield. It’s part of their award-winning aquarium.

And if you’re really hard core, plan on attending next year’s induction banquet. Tickets are available to the public and it’s one night out of the year where everyone, across all age groups, tours and opinions on forward facing sonar, seems to be happy and cohesive.