Those We Honor

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.

Mark Strand

Mark Strand

Inducted 2018

Mark Strand has been an outdoor writer, photographer, and filmmaker for more than 40 years, starting in the summer of 1977.

He has written for nearly every outdoor magazine, including many years as a regular contributor to In-Fisherman, Fishing Facts, and other publications. He has authored or co-authored 13 books including, “Paint the Next Sunrise: A Future for Hunting and Fishing,” his take on helping outdoor traditions survive in the modern world. He is arguably the leading documenter of the modern ice-fishing revolution, through a lifelong respect for, and friendship with, Dave Genz. Currently he is editor of MidWest Outdoors magazine and host/producer of MidWest Outdoors Podcast.

He grew up in a Minnesota fishing family that pursued many species, whatever was available through the seasons. A passionate angler, “I know my role is to represent all of you, to ask the questions you would want to ask, to try to articulate the story, as the lucky one who gets to fish with, interview, and make images of the best anglers in the world.”

Strand has a journalism degree from the University of Minnesota, with a minor in Fisheries & Wildlife Science, where he worked as a reporter and editor for the Minnesota Daily newspaper. He has extensive experience and training in newspaper, magazine, radio, television, video production, corporate communications, and public relations. He has been a staff member of several newspapers; a researcher/writer for the Hunting & Fishing Library book series; a writer/photographer for Babe Winkelman Productions, where he also wrote television and video scripts and assisted in their production.

Over the course of his career, Mark has amassed thousands of freelance magazine credits; developed, produced and hosted two nationally-syndicated radio programs and five podcasts; and has written, produced and voiced many video projects.

In addition, Strand is known for his ghost writing ability, having written books, magazine articles, newspaper columns, and more, in the voice of numerous clients. Ghost writing is an art, something that he has worked hard to master.

As the tide of technology swept through the media business, bringing challenges and opportunities, Strand has remained on the cutting edge. He has conceived and built websites from scratch, and can produce anything from audio to video to blended multimedia content.

“Fishing, and the places we go fishing,” he says, “deserve to be covered by media members that love the sport. “I have been blessed that my career adds to my day, rather than putting it on hold, and this honor was made possible by real experts who allow me to spend time with them.”