SPRINGFIELD, Mo.— For Immediate Release — Feb. 3, 2025 — Tackle pioneers, legendary boat builders, record-setting competitors and all-around trailblazers is just one way to describe the diverse group of individuals that comprise the 2025 Bass Fishing Hall of Fame ballot.

There will be 20 names on the ballot this year as the Hall of Fame prepares to celebrate its 25th anniversary by honoring another distinguished class of legends that has made a lasting and meaningful impact on the sport of bass fishing.

“It’s a special honor in itself to even be considered for induction into the Bass Fishing Hall of Fame, and for Hall’s Board of Directors, it is one of the most important decisions every year in presenting the ballot to our selection panel and current Hall of Fame inductees for them to choose the next class,” said John Mazurkiewicz, president of the Hall’s Board. “Along with the new 2025 inductees, we look forward to also giving special recognition to the first Hall’s induction class as part of the 25th anniversary of the Hall’s inception at this year’s induction dinner in September.”

The 2025 ballot consists of (in alphabetical order):

• Boyd Duckett (Guntersville, Ala.)
• David Dudley (Lynchburg, Va.)
• Dion Hibdon (Versailles, Mo.)
• Randy Hopper (Flippin, Ark.)
• Don Iovino (Burbank, Calif.)
• Craig Lamb (Murfreesboro, Tenn.)
• Pam Martin-Wells (Bowman, Ga.)
• Dave Mercer (Port Perry, Ont.)
• Andy Morgan (Dayton, Tenn.)
• John Murray (Spring City, Tenn.)
• Takahiro Omori (Emory, Texas)
• E.A. Pflueger (Akron, Ohio)
• Rick Pierce (Mountain Home, Ark.)
• Lynn Reeves (Springfield, Mo.)
• Zell Rowland (Montgomery, Texas)
• William Shakespeare Jr. (Kalamazoo, Mich.)
• Bill Taylor (Danville, Ky.)
• Clark Wendlandt (Leander, Texas)
• Mike Whitaker (Tuscaloosa, Ala.)
• Jim Wilburn (Tulsa, Okla.)

The slate of nominees will be considered and voted on by the 30-member Hall of Fame Selection Panel and the 50 living members of the Hall. Each voter will choose five names and rank them in order of preference with the top choice receiving five (5) points, second receiving four (4) points, and so on. Voting will conclude on Feb. 13.

The 11-member Nominations Committee, comprised of members of the Hall’s Board of Directors, selected the names for this year’s ballot after reviewing newly submitted nominations as well as candidates who were previously on the Hall’s master list of nominees. Names that appear on the master list for five years without being placed on the final ballot are automatically removed but can be subsequently re-nominated.

“We’re very happy with the ballot we presented to the Selection Panel for Hall of Fame consideration. The Nominations Committee spent hours reviewing and discussing the nominees from our master list,” said Neil Paul, who chairs the Board’s nominations committee. “Our goal, first and foremost, is to maintain the integrity of the Hall of Fame by putting our best foot forward in this process of assembling a ballot of individuals that will contribute to the legacy of the Hall of Fame, and I am confident this ballot represents those efforts.”

The Hall of Fame’s Board of Directors will announce the Class of 2025 next month. The Hall of Fame will hold its annual induction ceremony on Sept. 25, 2025, at Johnny Morris’ Wonders of Wildlife National Museum and Aquarium in Springfield, Mo.