Hall of Fame Gators

I’ve attended the Bass Fishing Hall of Fame banquets for over a decade, and in the short time since they’ve moved the event to Johnny Morris’ Wonders of Wildlife Museum and Aquarium in Springfield, I’ve won two items in the hotly-contested silent auctions. Both of them were trips to Grosse Savanne Lodge. The first one was exclusively fishing, and my most recent purchase (for a not-altogether-unreasonable price) included both bass fishing and alligator hunting.

Hanna and I took the trip last week and while the fishing lived up to our lofty expectations, the gator hunting exceeded them. Actually, I didn’t know quite what to expect, but when we got into the boat with our guide Greg Dawsey that morning and headed into the swamp we were instantly enthralled. The biggest or only disappointment was that it had to end.

Fortunately for us, that same package is available once again, and we plan to bid. Unfortunately for us, by virtue of this column and other means of publicity, we may be outbid by you or someone else. The auction concludes this Thursday night.

Even if that’s not the trip of your dreams, there are all sorts of one-of-a-kind or hard-to-find items and experiences in the auction. Be sure to check them out. The money all goes to conservation and education programs, so you can do good while having fun.