The North Dakota Fishing Hall of Fame Board of Directors revealed the upcoming induction of two new members to the Hall of Fame. Jason Mitchell of Devils Lake and Terry Fleck of Bismarck will be inducted during a ceremony conducted in Garrison on July 14, 2016 at the City Auditorium. The ceremony will be conducted prior to the rules meeting for the Governor’s Cup Walleye Derby.

The purpose of the North Dakota Fishing Hall of Fame is to conduct and maintain a program to recognize and honor those persons, organizations, or institutions that have made significant and lasting contributions to sportfishing in North Dakota. This year’s inductees have made significant contributions that make them well qualified for induction into the Hall of Fame.

Jason Mitchell

Jason Mitchell has earned legendary status as a widely renowned fishing and hunting guide on Devils Lake. In the span of a decade, he developed Mitchell’s Guide Service into one of the largest open water guide services in existence and was a key member of the famed Perch Patrol Guide Service. Jason has spent thousands of hours on the water and ice, earning a reputation for not only being an extraordinary guide, hunter, and angler, but also is a gifted writer, communicator and promoter. He willingly passes along his knowledge to educate others how to be successful in their fishing efforts while protecting our natural resources. Jason is well known for his credibility as a guide and educator which is a result of his extensive experience combined with a well earned reputation for honesty and integrity.

Jason has been a longtime partner of North Dakota Tourism. His television show, “Jason Mitchell Outdoors” has introduced thousands of anglers to fishing in North Dakota. He has effectively used his show as well as print, digital and social media resources to educate anglers and improve their fishing skills as well as to recognize practices that promote healthy fisheries in North Dakota, such as encouraging catch and release practices and compliance with ANS regulations. While Jason is based in Devils Lake, he also enthusiastically serves as an ambassador for all fishing opportunities in North Dakota.

Jason is a true outdoorsman, who is professional, personable and always willing to help others be successful in their fishing efforts. While he has an outstanding reputation as a guide, hunter, and angler, what continues to drive his popularity is his modesty and humbleness while serving as a true advocate for sportfishing in North Dakota.

Terry Fleck

Terry Fleck is a resident of Bismarck and he has served as a leading advocate for sportfishing and recreational interests concerning Lake Sakakawea and the Missouri River System over the past 15 years. Terry has been chairman of the Friends of Lake Sakakawea since 2006 and has served as an eloquent and dedicated spokesperson in leading that group in its efforts to advocate for the preservation and improvement of Lake Sakakawea. This has included testifying at many public hearings to include the annual operating plan meetings of the United States Army Corps of Engineers. While testifying, Terry is always unquestionably an extremely strong advocate for the fishing, hunting, and recreational interests concerning Lake Sakakawea and the Missouri River System. He was also very involved in the redraft of the Lake Sakakawea Master Plan, a document that guides the future of the lake and surrounding public properties.

Terry currently represents North Dakota as a recreational representative on the Missouri River Recovery and Implementation Committee. MRRIC was created by the US Army Corps of Engineers to develop a path for the recovery of the endangered species on the Missouri River. He is also an at-large member of the North Dakota Missouri River Advisory Council which is a stakeholder group that serves to provide advice to the Governor, State Water Commission, and Legislature on Missouri River issues. He has served as chair of the Burleigh County Water Resource District, is a life member of Voices of Oahe, and a member of the North Dakota Sportfishing Congress.

Terry has a never ending passion for protecting opportunities for sportfishing and other recreational opportunities on Lake Sakakawea and the Missouri River. He is a proven leader who has volunteered untold hours in his efforts to protect and provide education for these great natural resources. His efforts have definitely led to increased attention by Federal and State agencies as to importance of Lake Sakakawea and the Missouri River system as an extremely valuable natural resource in North Dakota.

The North Dakota Fishing Hall of Fame is located at North Country Marine & Motorsports in Garrison, North Dakota.