THE
FRONT PAGE
Bass Fishing HALL OF FAME Reflections
By Dave Washburn , MLF Vice President of Operations
M ost people endure history . They survive the ups and downs of life . A few are lucky enough to witness history in the making . They have a front row seat to pivotal moments in time . Fewer still , make history . They leave an indelible mark that changes the trajectory of life for millions of people . Kathy Fennel is one of these few . The history makers . The Hall of Famers .
It ’ s not hyperbole to say that Kathy ’ s contributions to sportfishing have influenced millions of people for the better . She has been a steady hand and guiding light for tournament anglers since 1982 , when she joined a tiny upstart in Gilbertsville , Kentucky , named Operation Bass . She grew with the company , helping revolutionize the sport with professionally run , close-to-home tournaments for weekend anglers . She
10 worked alongside other visionaries to introduce sponsorwrapped boats and trucks , LIVE on-the-water television coverage , Fantasy Fishing and million-dollar payouts . She ushered in the modern era of bass fishing where top professionals thrive and high school students earn varsity letters alongside their classmates who play traditional stick-and-ball sports .
Kathy has led the charge in crafting a sport that is accessible to everyone . A sport that is enjoyed by millions of dedicated anglers who support conservation through participation and who influence millions more to do the same .
Kathy is a 2015 inductee into the Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame and a 2022 inductee into the Bass Fishing Hall of Fame , where she is one of only four women to have earned such honors . As Executive Vice President and General Manager of Major League Fishing , Kathy continues to work alongside visionaries to provide lifechanging opportunities for anglers and to diversify the sport , which just this year crowned its first female high school national champion , Fallon Clepper – on the 50th anniversary of Title IX – only to see its first female junior world champion Madison Robertshaw , crowned a month later . In November , our sport also saw its first female collegiate champion , when Marlee Churchman of Louisiana State University-Shreveport won an Abu Garcia College Fishing presented by YETI tournament on Lake of the Pines . All three young ladies were members of co-ed teams , working alongside their male counterparts to achieve shared success . This is an example for us all .
Kathy also works tirelessly to bring the thrill of bass fishing to MLF partners in Canada , China , Italy , Mexico , Namibia , Portugal , South Africa , South Korea , Spain and Zimbabwe . These partnerships are helping to shape the future of our sport by appealing to new , diverse audiences both in the United States and abroad .
She didn ’ t set out to help change the bassfishing world , but she did , and I have been blessed to be among the few with a front row seat . I am honored to call Kathy a friend and mentor . What I ’ ve learned , and what we should all learn , from Kathy is that you can lead with compassion and conviction , simultaneously , and in doing so , you can help change the world .
MAJORLEAGUEFISHING . COM | DECEMBER-JANUARY 2023