The Bass Fishing Hall of Fame has announced support for Eight Conservation Projects across the United States. Continuing its commitment to conservation and the sport of bass fishing by dispersing $40,000 among eight different bass fishing-related conservation projects. These conservation projects will range from building live-release boats for tournament use to enhancing black bass habitat across the United States. So, combining the funds from the Bass Fishing Hall of Fame with the additional funds already raised by these recipients, the likelihood of these projects being completed is greatly increased.
“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 Conservation Projects that will be receiving grants from the Bass Fishing Hall of Fame 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.
- 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 habitats.
- 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.
- 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, NM, 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, the 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 the 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.”
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