SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — Shaw Grigsby stands tied at fourth on the active list of B.A.S.S. winners, he’s among a select group to top $2 million in Bassmaster earnings and he, his smile and mustache are popular on the Elite Series.
Grigsby has hosted “One More Cast with Shaw Grigsby” for more than two decades, which also had a little something to do with him being inducted last week into the Bass Fishing Hall of Fame.
But ask the 61-year-old his top moment of fishing? What single instance of fishing has given him the most satisfaction?
“Probably taking my grandson and seeing the smile on his face when he catches a big one on his own,” he said. “It lights you up. I’ve had plenty of accolades of my own, but it’s gotta be taking my kids and my grandkids fishing.”
Passing the fishing torch was a big message at Thursday’s BFHOF induction ceremony at Johnny Morris’ Wonders of Wildlife National Museum and Aquarium. Morris, who was honored with the Ray Murski Lifetime Achievement Award, told the crowd that outdoorsman should help preserve and share the lifestyle. He closed the evening with a video showing himself with a Make-A-Wish youth who landed a big fish.
Grigsby, who has adhered to that same mission, was certainly proud to be a part of the class of 2017, which was comprised of him, fishing tour operators Bob Sealy and Morris Sheehan, and writers Wade Bourne and Louie Stout.
“I always dreamed of (the hall of fame) — I didn’t know when it would happen, or if it would happen,” Grigsby said. “To make a living doing something I love to do, I’m just extremely blessed.
“I can’t say how honored I am. This is truly a special moment. I didn’t think I’d choke up, but I probably am.”
On his show, Grigsby takes viewers on varied fishing excursions in public waters, with bass and inshore saltwater species near his Gainesville, Fla., home a specialty. He shares his tactics to help the angling experience of others.
His competitive resume includes nine wins in B.A.S.S., tying him for fourth on the active winners list with Aaron Martens. Since he fished his first Bassmaster event 40 years ago, Grigsby has earned $2.15 million to rank 13th on the all-time money list.
In his 344 B.A.S.S. tournaments, Grigsby has cashed checks in more than half and qualified to 16 GEICO Bassmaster Classics presented by DICK’S Sporting Goods. Along with his nine wins — the first three on Texas’ Sam Rayburn Reservoir and the rest in Florida and Georgia — he has finished as runner-up 10 times among his 60 top 10s.
He said he’s got plenty more casts to make.
“It’s about passion — my dad instilled that in me,” he said of growing up in an outdoors family.
During his induction speech, Grigbsy recalled his first tournament in the eighth grade. A friend from Boy Scouts moved to his school and took him to an event with about 100 boats lined up for takeoff.
Grigsby was impressed with the men in their jump suits, many smoking cigars. The blastoff was choppy, sending his tackle everywhere inside the boat, but after racing past and cutting off a bunch of boats heading to the lock, he was hooked.
“This is the best sport! I get to race and fish all at once,” he said.
The “Fs being big” in his life closed his speech. There was faith in Jesus, and then family, which he is blessed with a great one. Of course, there were friends, and then fishing, and you can’t forget food.
“Of course we all know the last F is for — it’s football,” Grigsby deadpanned, continuing that his Florida Gators aren’t doing so great his season. “But you still love it. The passion’s there. Life’s about passion.”
That brought him back full circle back to talking about taking kids fishing and enjoying their experience with them.
“Seeing them catch their first fish, there’s nothing better than sharing our sport. That’s our job,” he said. “I got to thank Johnny, because he shares his blessings with everyone, and I thank him for that.”