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.

Rarely is a true pioneer fully appreciated in his time. But because Dave Genz so thoroughly changed the way we fish through the ice, he has been recognized for his vision and accomplishments. Before Genz, many generations of ice anglers struck a frozen pose over one hole in the ice and stayed there whether they caught a fish or not. Some sought comfort inside permanent shacks. Which took several people (with lots of energy) to move. But Genz developed the now-famous Fish Trap instant set-up shelter which marked the beginning of the mobile ice fisherman.

The same innovative mind that created the Fish Trap brought us the Ice Box (now the Vexilar Genz Pack), an ingenious portable sonar holder that customized depth finders for the use in the same hole we fish out of. Ice fishing became a whole new ball game with sonar.

He also brought a change in ice fishing philosophy. To understand Dave’s impact on the sport, you have to realize he is first and foremost a fisherman, someone who fishes constantly. Winter, spring, summer and fall. From boats as well as through the ice. He knows what it means to study contour maps, to make a lifetime study of fish habits, to know good equipment when he picks it up the first time or to design it if he doesn’t see what he wants.

Dave’s designs have contributed – and in many cases led directly- to the latest generation of rods, lures, line, augers, live bait and even clothing. Among his achievements, Genz has been featured in the Wall Street Journal, contributes to In-fisherman, is co-author of the In-Fisherman book Ice Fishing Secretes with Al Linder and Doug Stange, wrote the Bluegills book and DVD with Mark Strand and the Pro Guide Series book Ice Fishing with Dave Genz and Jerry Carlson. Dave travels from Minnesota to Maine to Manitoba teaching the modern methods of ice fishing to thousands who want to learn from the master.