You’ll find more than just fishing celebrities in this list. One can make a significant impact
on the lives of many without ever being well known. It is important to honor all of
those who had a great influence on the great sport of fishing, whether famous or not.
Corporate advances tend to be much more visible to us. For it’s their products that
shape the evolution of the sport of fishing.

Dan Sura’s passion for the fishing industry has spanned more than 40 years where he has distinguished himself as a knowledgeable and energetic anglingambassador. As a multi-media specialist, Dan has managed national television fishing shows, performed as a TV co-host, hosted radio shows, communicated with marketing partners, written fishing articles, contributed to books, and has conducted numerous educational fishing seminars.

Dan’s passion for fishing began as a youngster in his hometown of Racine, Wisconsin where he fished the Root River 24/7 for catfish, carp, bullheads and rock bass. He was “hooked.” As a teenager, to nurture his enthusiasm for fishing, Dan attended countless fishing seminars and eagerly studied fishing magazines and books. Through college, a tour in the U.S. Navy and 15 years as an analytical research technician at SC Johnson, he sharpened his fishing skills and was involved with several Chicago and Milwaukee based fishing clubs. He received the respected Walleye Unlimited USA Man-of-the-Year award for his contributions to angling education. He also met guys like Buck Perry, Bill Binkleman, Virgil Ward, Joe Ehrhardt, Ron and Al Lindner, and many others who fueled his passion for fishing.

During this time, Dan assisted a group of dedicated anglers who worked in collaboration with the Wisconsin DNR to provide resources that transformed the deteriorating Root River into a premier trout and salmon fishery. The group received the Wisconsin Governor’s Water Conservation Award.  Today, a million dollar trout and salmon hatchery facility sits on Dan’s favorite carp fishing hole.

In the mid 80s Dan moved to Brainerd, Minnesota where for over 15 years he was a key staff member and Chief Operation Officer of the In-Fisherman multi-media Communications Network and co-host of the In-Fisherman television show.  He also managed the television department’s sponsor contracts, negotiated TV show distribution, hosted In-Fisherman Radio, directed the efforts of the Professional Walleye Trail, wrote fishing articles, contributed to several In-Fisherman books, conducted numerous fishing seminars and was involved with Camp Fish.

In 2002, Dan joined Lindner Media Productions as General Manager of the television division and co-host of the Angling Edge television series. There he communicated with marketing partners, directed television program distribution, managed contract negotiations, plus related senior management responsibilities. In May 2012, Dan retired from the day-to-day operations of Lindner Media yet remains passionate about fishing and the conservation and preservation of our natural resources.

Dan is a proud inductee of the Normark Hall of Fame (2012) and the National Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame (2013). His career has covered a revolutionary era in fishing where he influenced the evolution of multi-species angling concepts and impacted anglers through his many efforts.