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.

Ice Team is the original ice fishing club and team. Founded in 1997 (but brainstormed years before), Ice Team was established to be the premier ice fishing resource for the ice fishing community. Teaching the modern ways of ice fishing, across the Ice Belt (USA and Canada). The “Ice Team” isn’t just the promoters and anglers behind the brand, but it’s everyone who loves the sport and wants to be involved. Ice Team helped revolutionize the sport of ice fishing and continues to blaze the trails for new techniques, products and innovation for the sport we all love.

Ice Team originally came to fruition by a group of business owners and promoters—namely those associated with Clam Corporation, Vexilar and Strikemaster. This group sat down one evening and drew out the vision of Ice Team… resulting in ”strength in numbers” rather than trying to conquer as individuals. The ice fishing industry was truly in its infancy stages, but budding. Building an alliance with the leaders in each product category made perfect sense, and ultimately birthed Ice Team as the promotional and educational tool for the ice-fishing world.

The infamous Trap Attacks were formed, which gave Ice Team an outlet to travel the country educating others about the sport. The Trap Attacks would enter a new ice fishing destination, and
show the community about the “latest and greatest” in ice fishing products, along with teach them the latest and greatest techniques. Along with that, there was a tournament atmosphere created
where teams would compete on the local body of water for cash prizes, and ultimately fish for “the wood”… which is a carved out plaque resembling a Fish Trap shelter—this held more value than any monetary winnings. The Trap Attacks paved the way for future developments and relationships in those respective areas, and this is truly when the “Ice Belt” began to grow. Ice Team was on the forefront of creating the ice fishing community as we know it today.

Ice Team had the “Ice Team Newsletter” or the “Ice Annual” that was sent out to all of the Ice Team members on a regular basis. The first and only real “ice fishing specific” publication that was circulated on a consistent level throughout the ice fishing season. Another way to get the message out there about ice fishing and teach everyone what’s new, what’s working, and what’s going on. The World’s largest distributed ice fishing publication, going to upwards of 250,000 people at one point.

The original “ice fishing” booth at the St Paul Ice Show (once called the St Paul Winter Sports Show) was run and put up by Ice Team. It was literally called the “ice fishing” booth. Now the entire show is about ice fishing, and Ice Team helped pave the way for all future shows. Now Ice Team came be found at all of the major ice fishing shows across the country and Canada, with a presence through Ice Team and/or Clam Outdoors.

Ice Team Forums, being one of the first for the ice fishing community Social Media: Before “social media” there were forums… and Ice Team had it’s own ice fishing specific forum for the world to engage in and learn from. This was one of the first ice fishing only forums and at it’s peak would have 40,000+ members engaging with content flowing faster than anyone could reply to.

For several years, Ice Team had “Across the Ice Belt with Ice Team” TV show on Fox Sports North. Continuing to focus on ice fishing on all aspects of promotion and media. Ice Team Podcasts: Today, Ice Team jumped into the podcast world with the “Ice Team Podcast” focusing primarily on ice fishing tips, stories and news. One of the only ice fishing specific podcast on the air, which can be found on Spotify, Apple Podcast, Google Podcasts, YouTube, and more!

Ice Team created the first-ever “ice fishing school” that was annually run, picking new destinations across the Ice Belt to bring new people into the sport and teach them tactics respective to the area they travel to. Ice Team University has visited multiple states, and targeting many different species throughout the years. Again, helping anglers learn about the sport.