Bass Pro Shops to host ‘largest’ fishing event in history

Tickets went on sale this week for what is expected to be the largest event in the history of angling.

The 2022 World’s Fishing Fair takes place at the Bass Pro Shops headquarters in Springfield, Missouri, from March 30th to April 3rd and celebrates the retailer’s 50th anniversary.

The fair, billed as the greatest fishing show and sale on earth, will feature 500,000 square feet of tackle and equipment ‘at incredibly low prices,’ bargain tent sales of factory closeouts and overstock, and a one-of-a-kind line-up of some of America’s favourite fishing boats and all-terrain vehicles. 

The event features truckload sales of over $10 million of ‘tackle priced to sell,’ says the Bass Pro Shops announcement. “Showcasing over 200 exhibits from more than 150 manufacturers across fishing, boating and outdoor categories, the Fair provides access to see and learn about a greater selection of tackle, products and accessories than any event in the world.”

Factory representatives and technicians will be on hand to provide first-person instruction and education about the latest innovations in fishing tackle and boating systems. The occasion will also feature an all-star cast of bass fishing greats such as Bill Dance, Roland Martin, Jimmy Houston and Rick Clunn, along with current top pros including Kevin VanDam, Edwin Evers and Skeet Reese.

‘Concerts for Conservation’ will feature Country music stars Luke Combs, Chris Janson, Luke Bryan, Dierks Bentley and Hank Williams Jr., while NASCAR legends, outdoor personalities and national conservation leaders will also be present.

Fair visitors can attend fishing seminars hosted by leading pros and watch the World Casting Championships. They can also visit the National Bass Fishing Hall of Fame, the International Game Fish Association Hall of Fame, the American Fly Fishing Museum, the Archery Hall of Fame, the NRA National Sporting Arms Museum and the Johnny Morris Wonders of Wildlife National Museum & Aquarium.

Half of the proceeds from the fair’s admissions, including concerts, will directly benefit conservation initiatives. Many of America’s most important conservation organisations will convene on the campus, including Trout Unlimited, the National Wildlife Federation, Ducks Unlimited, The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation and the National Wild Turkey Federation.

The 2022 Fair will be the second iteration of the event. The first World’s Fishing Fair took place in 1988 and is credited with putting Bass Pro Shops on the map.

Tickets are available online here