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The idea of a fishing Hall of Fame for America's 50 million anglers was spawned in 1960 by a retired Chicago advertising executive, Bob Kutz. For ten years Kutz cast his idea around the country but was unable to land any support. Finally in 1971 the Museum founders lured the James B. Beam Distilling Company on board. A series of fish-shaped whiskey decanters was sold until 1982, raising over a quarter of a million dollars. The Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame had battled its way upstream.
The town of Hayward, in the northern lake country of Wisconsin, donated the land for the seven-acre complex, which opened with a temporary museum in 1976. Today over 120,000 fishing fans visit the Fresh Water Hall of Fame each year during its six-month opening, making it one of the most popular sports museums in the world.
It won't take you long to recognize this museum as the Fresh Fishing Hall of Fame. A sculpture of a leaping muskellunge, 4 1/2 stories high and a half a city block long, dominates the landscaped grounds of the Museum. The ÒBig FishÓ was constructed with 500 tons of concrete, steel, and fiberglass. The realization of this 25-year dream required the talents of an architect, artist, sculptor, bridge engineers, structural steel fabricators, and concrete workers. The result of their labors is a walk-through Angler's Shrine overlooking tiny Fame Lake, complete with an observation deck in the jaws of the giant fish.
Large models of other sought-after game fish dot the walkways between the MuseumÕs six buildings. Stroll past a yellow perch, coho salmon, bluegill, walleye, rainbow trout, and the most popular sport fish, the largemouth bass. Inside are more than 400 mounted fish, many of them record catches, including a fearsome six-pound piranha. A highlight is twin 57-pound lake trout taken by the same angler on the same day five years apart in the same Arctic lake.
The Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame is ÒThe Museum with a PersonalityÓ, earned by its charming lack of order. Each nook and corner in your peripatetic visit unveils an unexpected delight. Antique tackle boxes, the anglerÕs heart and soul, reveal their secrets within that fishermen swear by. Live bait carriers look like something you tossed your lunch into in the park. Over on that wall is Dr. Emil KruegerÕs ÒHook In One ClubÓ. The Hayward resident was often called upon to extricate miscast hooks from unlucky anglers. He saved over 800, each logged with name and date, in his career.
Off in one wing is a collection of over 300 old outboard motors. Back in that dark cranny is a recreated fishing shack. An unsavory taxidermy exhibit shows what happens to fish when that art is mispracticed. Over there is a display on the evolution of ice fishing tools. Wind your way through the World Records Gallery with hundreds of color snapshots piled upon one another as proud anglers of all ages and sexes display their catches. Hundreds of early rods, reels, and lures are on display.
The Hall of Recognition features pictures of legendary anglers, equipment inventors, manufacturers, and fish scientists. The sport fish are given a nod here, too. Smallmouthed bass, bluegills and others swim in their tanks of honor.
And if you didn't catch them when you entered through the main building, take a look at the old fishing boots that have been turned into cacti gardens on your way out. TheyÕre sitting on the wooden railing by the rear entrance.
Each year three people are chosen to have their names installed on the Wall of Fame at the Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame but formal induction ceremonies are not public. You may want to attend the Muskie Festival, featuring a muskie queen, ball, parade, and seminar. The Muskie Festival is held each June.
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