The Road to Induction

Celebrate, Promote & Preserve

How someone is nominated and inducted into the bass fishing hall of fame

We often hear from anglers, fans, and industry members asking how to nominate someone for induction into the Bass Fishing Hall of Fame. We appreciate that interest and take every nomination seriously.

Induction is a meaningful honor reserved for individuals who have made a lasting impact on the sport of bass fishing. The full process is governed by our bylaws, but we’ve outlined the key points below in a straightforward Q&A to make it easy to understand how it works and what to expect.

1

Nominations Open

All supportive members and Hall of Famers will be notified by email when nominations are open. This usually takes place in the first quarter of the year.

2

Nominate

Submit nomination form with resume and supporting documentation to have name added to a master list.
Make a Nomination

3

Committee Meeting

The nominations committee will select between 10 to 25 candidates to be presented to the Board for ratification and placement on the ballot.

4

Ballot

The 30 member Selection Panel and HOF Inductees will review the ballot and shall vote for 5 nominees.

5

Ratify Induction Class

The Board will consider the top 5 vote getters for induction into the Bass Fishing Hall of Fame.

FAQ

Who can nominate someone for induction into the Bass Fishing Hall of Fame?

Any interested person may nominate deserving individuals to be considered for induction into the HOF, including Inductees of the Hall of Fame, selection panel members, and board members.

Induction into the Hall of Fame is open to outstanding individuals involved in the sport of bass fishing who have made a major impact on the sport of bass fishing and have brought honor and credit to the sport of bass fishing.

Nomination forms must be accompanied by a resume and other biographical information that establishes the potential nominee’s qualifications.

Properly submitted nominations are accepted on a rolling basis, but any nominations received after the annual convening of the Nominations Committee will not be considered until the following year. That meeting typically takes place in the first quarter of the year.

All properly submitted nominations are forwarded to the Board’s Nominations Committee, which then forwards between 10 and 25 candidates to the entire HOF Board of Directors. The Board then sends a list to a Selection Committee of 30 (thirty) individuals who are not members of the Board and who are knowledgeable about the sport of bass fishing. The same list is submitted to inductees of the Hall of Fame as well. The Selection Committee & Hall of Famer’s review the list of nominees and votes on them, with each member of the committee submitting his or her ballot to the Hall of Fame home office, where votes are tabulated. The complete tabulations is presented to the Board at a meeting no later than six months prior to the induction ceremony, with the Board then making the final decisions.

Individuals who are nominated for induction into the Hall of Fame but who do not receive sufficient votes for induction will be placed on a master list. So long as they are on the master list, they need not be nominated again. Any name that has been on the master list for five years without being placed on the ballot is removed from the list.

Yes. The Board reserves the right to award the Ray Murski Lifetime Achievement Award for individuals chosen by the Board of Directors who have made exceptional contributions to the sport of bass fishing over their lifetime in such a way as to have fundamentally changed the fishing or boating industry and the Meritorious Service Award to deserving individuals or organizations who have made a major impact on the world of bass fishing at the state or regional level, in addition to or instead of induction in the Hall of Fame.