Buy Unique Stuff, Help the Hall

Two years ago, sitting in a ballroom at the Wonders of Wildlife Museum in Springfield, Mo., my wife was temporarily amused by a bidding war over a fishing trip to Grosse Savanne Lodge in Louisiana. We were at the annual inducation ceremony for the Bass Fishing Hall of Fame, and former Classic champ Edwin Evers was driving up the price, but each time he bid, someone sitting behind Hanna would drive it higher.

Finally Evers would go no further.

“Going once. Going Twice. Going three times,” auctioneer Dave Mercer yelled out, with no response. “SOLD! To Pete Robbins for $3,000.”

Hanna turned around with a look of horror on her face. She had not realized I was the one doing the bidding. She expressed dismay that I’d spent so much on a trip, until I told her that she could join me there. That assuaged her anger a bit. Then we went to Grosse Savanne and all of that was forgotten, because the trip was worth every penny and more.

This year, there will be no in-person induction ceremony due to the ongoing pandemic, but the auction will be bigger and better than ever. There are over 200 items ready to go, many of them one-of-a-kind experiences. If you’re a bass fishing geek like me, get your credit card ready and head over to the auction website this Tuesday through Friday to get in on the action. If you have deep pockets, the sky is the limit as to what you can get, but even if you’re on a budget a savvy shopper will be able to get some great deals.

Here are a few of the ones I’d suggest looking at:

If you want the best fishing experience of your life….

A fishing trip to Jimmy Houston’s ranch (Item #147).

I’ve been to several storied private fisheries, but I’m told that this one is absolutely insane, both for numbers and big fish.

If you want a cool piece of history….

Old-school Team Daiwa rods and reels (Items #192-196)

Technique-specific rods and reels from one of the sport’s legendary pro teams, and they still catch bass.

If you want something that will be historic….

Pre-production Berkley Frittside Jr, with a handwritten note and autograph from David Fritts (Item #222)

You crankplug fiends need this one for your display cabinet.

If you’ve never caught a giant smallmouth….

Trips with Cory Johnston, Chris Johnston, Seth Feider, Jeff Gustafson and Chris Noffsinger (Items #167, 168, 173, 199 and 200)

These dudes bleed brown.

If you’re tired of bass….

Trip with Jay Yelas on the Oregon coast (Item #139)

He’ll take you bass fishing if you want, but you might prefer salmon and steelhead.

Yes, I will be by my computer the whole time, looking to add to my overstuffed house and schedule, but I’m not telling you definitively which items I plan to bid on — I can’t afford the likely arms race.

P.S. Thanks to Yamamoto for generously donating a trip to Sugoi Lodge (Item #132). I’ve stayed there and it is a magical place smack dab in the heart of big bass country.