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THE FIRST 40 YEARS
From Dream to Reality
Electronic Fact Sheet
and
Chronological Sequence of Development
Lake Sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens)
THE CONCEPT:
A public service organization founded in 1960 and incorporated as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in 1970 for the purpose of developing an attraction and a museum to collect, preserve and display the artifacts of the sport of fresh water angling.
To conduct a public service program for qualifying, compiling, publishing and updating record fresh water fish catches.
To perform a program of recognition of persons and organizations for outstanding achievement and accomplishment in the realm of fresh water fishing.
To library and disseminate information, and act as a clearing house for dated and contemporary facts concerning the fishing industry.
FUNDING:
The Fishing Hall of Fame has been developed and is self-sustaining by broad public support.
Its funding is voluntary from three primary sources: museum admissions, donations and memberships.
BUDGET:
The Hall's current operational budget is over one-quarter million dollars annually.
STAFF/ADMINISTRATION:
The development of the project was facilitated by volunteers. When developed, a hired staff of persons became necessary to execute year `round daily operations.
The basic staff needs consist of an Executive Director, Business Manager, Secretary, two clerical persons, a maintenance person, and additional staff during the visitor season, as well as daily custodial service.
THE PHYSICAL PLANT:
The Hall project reposes on six city-donated, beautifully landscaped acres of land strategically located adjacent to the City of Hayward in northwest Wisconsin in a high traveler traffic location and vacation destination region.
It attracts more than 100,000 visitors for a nominal gate fee, each museum season, from April 15th to November 1st; 80% of the gate is realized in June, July and August, 15% comes in May and September, 5% in April and October.
Winter office hours are maintained five days a week, from November 1st to April 15th, during which time museum maintenance and display work is performed and thousands of items concerning correspondence and mailings are handled.
THE MEMBERSHIP PROGRAM:
A sliding scale of contributions for varied memberships (individual, organizational, business, corporate) accounts for approximately 8,000 primary members (30,000 family associates), nationwide and Canada. Membership is a growth program.
THE RECOGNITION PROGRAM:
A national committee of prestigious fishing industry volunteers elects, each year, a number of persons and organizations for recognition for outstanding achievement, both legendary and historic.
Those elected are displayed in photo and text in the Hall's museum. The honor is rated as the most prestigious award in the fishing fraternity.
THE FISHING RECORDS PROGRAM:
Upon proper application and authentication, anglers who catch fresh water fish of trophy proportion are recognized as world record holders for all sport species catches by all tackle (heaviest by any method of catch and use of sport equipment) and by all-line classes (strength of line used). Angling methods recognized are catches by rod/reel, fly fishing, pole/line/no reel, and ice fishing. A photo gallery honors such record holders.
The records program was expanded in the fall of 1993 to include recognition to anglers who release their catch. The "catch and release" program was initiated to encourage anglers to preserve the resource. The "catch and release" program incorporates the same methods, line classes and awards as the "kept" program.
THE MUSEUM PROGRAM:
A gateway building, a walk-through fish (Muskie) structure, and a four-building connected complex make up about 25,000 square feet of floor space for museum visitor traffic and displays. The need for building expansion is perpetual.
The highlight of the museum complex is a landmark "Shrine to Anglers" which is a structure one-half city block long and four and one-half stories tall, of concrete, steel and fiberglass, hand-sculpted into the likeness of a leaping fish (Muskie). Its innards are a museum and its gaping open jaw accommodates about 20 persons or more as an observation platform. The landmark is surrounded by a quarter-acre nature pond.
The adjacent four-building museum complex houses fishing artifacts housing an inventory of over 5,000 dated lures, hundreds of antique rods, reels and angling accessories, over 300 antique rods, reels and angling accessories, over 300 antique and classic outboard motors, and more than 400 mounts of near 200 different species of fish.
The museum also houses a video theater, seating 35 people. The theater shows constant running, all-day movie shorts depicting the educational and instructional aspects of fishing and related subjects.
THE DONATIONS PROGRAM:
The Hall solicits and encourages donations of artifacts, money and memorial donations. All contributions are tax deductible for the donor to the extent of the law.
Annually the Hall is the recipient of outright voluntary financial support donations and memorials. An ongoing system of donations of $100.00 or more for the mounting of living tribute or memorial wall tiles is a popular program. Other memorial donations such as designating rooms, buildings, or displays, are available. Inquire.
MISCELLANEOUS FUNCTIONS:
The Hall operates a snack lounge for the convenience of the visitor.
A gift and book shop in the gateway building offers the visitor the opportunity to buy customized souvenirs and garments, or purchase a book from an inventory of 100 fishing titles.
AFFILIATIONS:
The Hall is an accredited member of the International Association of Sports Museums and Halls of Fame consisting of over 100 such varied institutions in the U.S.A., Canada and foreign lands.
The Hall is a supporting member of the Outdoor Writer's Association of America (OWAA), and the Association of Great Lakes Outdoor Writers (AGLOW), plus other media units as budget allows.
As a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization, the Hall is not allowed by IRS law to contribute its donated funds to local or limited regional causes. It however affiliates itself with organizations directly related to its function and existence such as the National Lure Collector's Club and the National Antique Outboard Motor Club and limited fisheries organizations.
ADVERTISING/MEDIA:
The Hall, as a public service concept, is the recipient of numerous and constant donated press and ad space and broadcast. Its advertising budget is very limited by IRS law and confined to minor impact expenditures which may result in impulse visitor traffic or program introduction to a specific limited audience. The Hall, by law, is not allowed an extensive advertising or donation budget, by IRS law governing non-profits.
CHRONOLOGY
1960
Founded and promoted as a viable idea by Bob Kutz, Hayward, Wisconsin, a volunteer who successively became, with the aid of his wife, Fannie, the developers and managers of the project.
1960
A national educational and communications effort by 1969 the founder was initiated to set a pattern of donations to develop a National Fishing Hall of Fame. In 1969, a group of five local individuals came into play.
After a several year effort to generate government funding did not materialize, the effort turned to soliciting individuals and fishing industry corporates for a one million dollar fund goal.
While individuals began to respond and the fishing industry did not, a non-fishing corporate did offer to become a major donor: the Jim Beam whiskey distillers of Chicago and Kentucky.
Beam offered a ten-year program to produce benefits from the national sale of collectors fish decanters from which the fledgling Hall could net about $300,000.00 over a ten-year period.
The Hall concept now had assurance of $20-$30,000.00 a year for an extended period to pay basic ongoing and promotion expenses while national support was nurtured for further funding and growth.
That "Beam" contract generated the interest of the nation's outdoor writers and encouraged thousands of individual's contributions. The "James B. Beam" Corporation can rightfully be called the "Father" of the National Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame.
1970
A founder's executive board of trustees was invited to incorporate and lend their time, talent and money to the new project. That volunteer civic-minded group is noted as Hayward persons, Erwin Gerlach, H.R. (Bud) Nelson, Oscar Treland, Quentin Johnson and Walter West, all area professional and business persons.
1971
The first "Beam" decanter was issued from which the Hall netted $28,000.00; its first major money.
1972-1974
An office and headquarters was opened in a donated space for the Fishing Hall of Fame to operate from and a concentrated effort to publicize the concept nationally was initiated. A fish records program was also developed and the support of notable persons in the industry was solicited. Thirty notable persons in the national fishing industry were selected to serve as advisory governors.
1975
Enough benefit money from the "Beam" bottle program and a few business donations generated and encouraged the support of a local bank to finance the Hall's gateway building and administrative offices.
1976
The gateway building was opened as a temporary museum facility and visitors were encouraged for a donation. 8,000 visitors came that summer season. A 50-cent gate was initiated the end of July.
1977
Another year of Beam benefits and a $1.00 gate saw 12,000 visitors. A membership program was effected and 1,500 supporting members signed up for $10.00 each. That autumn a snack lounge and a workshop building were constructed.
1978-1979
The Hall realized 18,000 visitors in 1978 and 28,000 in 1979 at a $1.50 gate. An additional 1,200 members signed up and 1978 saw the first year of the construction of the Hall's landmark fish, the giant Muskie. Supporting memberships came from all 50 states and Canada. This action was supported and encouraged by the nation's outdoor press and broadcast people.
saw the completion of the big fish. The "Beam" program benefit continued. The first fiberglass fish replicas marked the initiation of the "Sea of Fishes" on the museum grounds. The Muskie and Walleye were installed. The first memorial gardens were dedicated to recognize people, living or deceased, association or clubs who supported the Hall through their donations.
1980
The membership roster grew. A fund drive for memorials, with a $100,000.00 goal to landscape the grounds, was initiated.
The first building, Wing #l, of the museum complex was built. 38,000 visitors came. Replicas of the Bluegill and Coho Salmon added to the "Sea of Fishes."
1981
The Rotunda building, the center of the museum complex, was built. Membership grew, as did the $2.00 gate, to 56,000 visitors. The temporary museum in the gateway building was dismantled and moved to Wing # 1 and the rotunda building. Displays were completed in the innards of the big fish.
The yard landscaping fund continued to grow to completion.
1982
Wing #2 of the museum complex was built. With the help of the media, visitors, members and contributors, thousands of fishing artifacts were donated from all over the nation. 1982 saw 65,000 visitors.
1983
Wing #3 of the museum complex was built. The membership roster grew to 5,000 members, the gate increased to 77,000 visitors as did the gate price to $2.50. The Hall budget grew from a few thousand dollars in 1976 to $200,000.00 in just seven years.
The "Beam" program concluded with a total benefit to the Hall of a quarter-million dollars.
1984
This year was devoted to finishing building details in the museum and on the grounds and constructing many new display cabinets to house the thousands of artifacts donated to the Hall from all over the nation. The gate increased to 96,000 visitors. Smallmouth Bass and Rainbow Trout were additions to the "Sea of Fishes."
1985
A twin video theater addition was built into the museum complex. New display cabinets sophisticated the aesthetics of the museum. Membership continued to grow, as did the gate at $3.00, to over 100,000 visitors.
1986
A continued growth in members was enhanced by growing support of business and angling club members nationwide, and finally some corporate support. The gate reached an expected but comfortable plateau. New staff was added and new facilities for speeding mail functions and display identification sign making. This marked the first year the Hall became self-sustaining by its sources of funds, namely memberships, admissions, and donations.
The Hall's struggle to reach its Silver Anniversary and become a credible influence on the American sport fishing scene has been attained. Its challenge now is to continue its growth as a viable public service organization.
1990-1992
The recognition program expanded to include a sepa rate category for "Legendary Guides." This category afforded recognition to the persons who educated and entertained anglers with their fishing historical knowledge of the area in which they operated. Guides are the people who were the early teachers of the principals of conservation. Replica Perch added to the "Sea of Fishes." Annual visitor count stabilized at 100,000.
1993
The Hall instituted the "catch and release" program to recognize angler accomplishments while practicing conservation of the resource. The program was favorably received by the angler public and the media. Recognition is based on length only, to encourage less stressful release, and depends largely on the integrity of the angler.
The Hall satisfied the mortgage on the parking lot purchased in 1987, which is not only for visitor parking, but also used for other area events. The Largemouth Bass replica was added and dedicated to the Spoonpluggers of America.
1994
The record book includes the first "catch and release" record holders. The "catch and release" program is expanded from the original 27 species recognized to 35 as interest in conservation grows in many parts of the country.
1995
The mortgage on the landmark muskie is cleared. The fish structure developed at a cost of a half-million dollars could not be replaced for one million dollars in today's market. Changes in displays and additional display areas are continuing. The record book is again expanded to incorporate the additional interest in the programs.
1996
The remaining mortgage, the museum buildings, is satisfied. Plans are made to incorporate another building to house the Hall's collection of boats and motors, allowing space for other displays in the existing buildings including dioramas and interactive displays.
Summer 1996
The Hall enters CyberSpace: http://OldCabin.com/freshwater/
1997
The Catch & Release program expands to include 40 species. The Governing Board approves the plans for a 2000 square foot building addition. Construction began in fall with the building to be opened to the public in April 1998. Displays of boats and motors to be in place at that time.
1998
The new boat and motor building open to visitors in April. Additional boat and motor displays added throughout the year. Catch & Release program expanded to include more species.
1999
New displays in the older buildings added to replace motors moved to new building. Hall acquires motors not previously in its collection, as well as ice spearing display from a Michigan museum. Display areas constructed on grounds to display additional boat and crib displays.
5/1999
The Hall Get's it's own domain name:http://www.freshwater-fishing.org.
2000
Hall celebrates 40th Anniversary. Outside displays added.
 2001
Displays replaced and added in museum. Outside boat and motor display. The first of five prints, a musky print by Scott Zoellick, commissioned as a fund raiser by G. P. S.
8/2001
The Purchases a Secure Certificate to join, renew, and sell on-line.
The growth continues... Join and renews Today on-line!
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