Regional anglers honored in halls of fame

Jim Grassi of Post Falls, is among a select group of 2007 inductees into the National Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame based in Hayward, Wis.

Grassi’s career has included stints as a professional fisherman, tackle designer, fishery biologist, educator, television personality, and sports show celebrity. Currently he’s the founder and president of North Idaho-based Outdoor Connection, a Christian men’s ministry, and its sister organization Let’s Go Fishing Production Corp., which focuses on fishing programs for people with disabilities.

Another Washingtonian, Gary Loomis, founder of G.Loomis fishing rods based in Woodland, Wash., will be inducted into the International Game Fishing Association hall of fame in October.

Grassi’s honor was bestowed recently during the American Sportfishing Association’s annual ICAST trade show in Las Vegas.

Grassi joins about 350 anglers who have been inducted since the hall was formed in 1960. However, is only the fourth inductee from Idaho. The other Idahoans in the hall are Ernest Hemingway, Pat McManus and Ted Trueblood.

“Most of my fishing achievements were posted over two decades ago prior to becoming involved with the most important calling to any fisherman,” Grassi said. He remains involved with fishing clinics, sports show appearances, fly fishing classes and father/child weekend fishing retreats.

The honor for Loomis came as a result of his work revolutionizing tackle design with his advances in graphite rod production, and G Loomis went on to become one of the most successful rod-making companies in the U.S.

In 1995, Loomis launched “Fish First”, a non-profit organization dedicated to restoring steelhead and salmon runs in Washington.

Loomis will be in good company in the hall, based in Dania Beach, Fla. Other 2007 inductees include fly-casting instructor and fishing conservationist Joan SalvatoWulff, fishing author Homer Circle, Venezuelan bill-fishing guru Dr. Ruben Jaen, and angler-scientist and circle-hook advocate Peter B. Wright.

He will join 65 Hall of Fame members, including Ernest Hemingway, Zane Grey, Curt Gowdy, Ted Williams, Lee Wulff, Michael and Helen Lerner, Philip Wylie, Ray Scott and Johnny Morris.