Our Mission

The Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame is the international headquarters for education, recognition and promotion of fresh water sportfishing. Our mission is to develop and maintain the Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame and its museum for the preservation and display of historical artifacts of fresh water sportfishing. We strive to conduct and maintain a program for the recognition of persons, organizations and institutions who have made significant and lasting contributions to the sport and heritage of fresh water fishing. We conduct and maintain a program for qualifying, compiling and publishing all fresh water sportfishing records. The Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame maintains a library that disseminates information and acts as the clearing house for historical and contemporary publications for the fresh water sportfishing industry. The Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame institutes programs to foster, maintain and improve our environment for future generations through promotion and education.

Featured Hall-of-Famer

Virgil Ward was inducted into the Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame as a Legendary Angler in 1992. He started from humble beginnings, and made it to “a comfortable life”, as Virgil said it, through his love and dedication in teaching people to enjoy the sport of fishing. More>

Articles and Tips

The newly discovered evidence supporting the validity of the 25 pound 1960 walleye catch made by Mabry Harper out of Old Hickory Lake in Tennessee. Read the officially reinstated Harper walleye world record.
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Members Only

Download the current SPLASH publication or back issues. Get discounts on merchandise sold through the Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame museum store. Download passes to attend the museum. Get additional tips available only to members. Click Here >

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For Recognition in the Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame

Latest News & Events

2012 Inductees to the Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame!

Our Awards Committee meets annually in August to make their selections for the following year. Click here or on the photo above to view the photos of our various induction ceremonies for 2012.

2012 Enshrinees and Inductees Are Announced.

View PDF Press Release>

From the Director's Desk

By Emmett Brown
Read the latest article from the Executive Directior. Click Here >

Special Pages