By BEN GARRETT
TnHunting.Com Publisher

Legendary Tennessee angler Bill Dance has notched another honor to his decorated outdoors career.

The Collierville native will be inducted into the International Game Fish Association's Fishing Hall of Fame, it has been announced.

The 65-year-old Dance is already a member of the International Fishing Hall of Fame and the National Freshwater Hall of Fame.

In being inducted ino the International Game Fish Association's hall of fame, Dance will be joining such notables as literary great Ernest Hemingway, television legend Curt Gowdy and basegall star Ted Williams.

"One thing that makes honors like this so special is the list of people they add your name to," Dance told the Memphis Commercial Appeal. "When you talk about guys like Ernest Hemingway, Zane Grey, Curt Gowdy and Ted Williams, that's stronger than a hundred acres of fresh garlic."

Dance, who says he has no intentions of retiring anytime soon, began his television career in 1968 after a strong introduction into competitive fishing. In his first 15 fishing tournaments, Dance never finished outside of the top five and won a full third of the tourneys.

Today, Dance has won 23 national bass titles, has won the Bass Master Classic eight times and is a three-time B.A.S.S. Angler of the Year. He won the 1978 Congressional National Water Safety Award. He has writen seven books and serves as spokesman for 25 companies and organizations.

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