GARRISON – The membership reads like a list of “Who’s who” in North Dakota fishing. They are the inductees into the North Dakota Fishing Hall of Fame.

The hall started with an impressive first class in 1981 and has since grown to 40, 37 individuals and three clubs. Over the history of the North Dakota Fishing Hall of Fame there have been some ups and downs, times when dollars or volunteers were scarce, such as from 1992-2003 and 2005-2013.

However, since the Hall of Fame reorganized in 2012 it has slowly been gaining momentum and has once again been bringing recognition to deserving individuals and organizations that have exemplified what the sport of fishing is in North Dakota. The hall, with various displays, photographs and biographies, is located inside the showroom of North Country Marine and Motorsports.

“There’s a few people that come in every month that we know about and more that come in that we don’t ask,” said Jason Foss, North Country Marine and a member of the Hall of Fame board of directors.

The displays include antique fishing tackle – rods, reels, motors and lures. Photographs of the inductees and their biographies are on display too. For anyone interested in fishing in North Dakota it’s worth a look.

“We’re always looking for unique stuff,” said Foss. “We want to have a story behind it though or we really don’t want to go after it.”

Aware that the Hall of Fame will eventually outgrow its current location, a long-range goal of the Hall is to construct an area large enough to handle growth and further showcase those individuals and clubs that have made a difference in fishing in North Dakota.

New members inducted into the Hall are usually honored in front of a large crowd at the rules meeting for the Governor’s Cup Walleye Derby. This year though, due to COVID-19, the tournament and ceremony was not held. Ken Cumber, Jamestown, the lone member of the 2020 induction class, will be recognized prior to the 2021 Governor’s Cup.

North Dakota Fishing Hall of Fame inductees

1981 – Ole Breum, W.C “Mac” Johnson, Mort Bank, Dale Henegar

1983 – Don & Hannah Saufferer, Russell Stuart

1988 – Don Steckel, Dr. John Owen

1989 – Jerry Rafferty

1990 – James Ragan, Tony Dean

1991 – Bill Mitzel, Marlin Hvinden

1992 – Tom Pruitt, David Jensen

2003 – Bob Frohlich, Fred Rykman

2004 – Emil Berard, Lee Klapprodt

2005 – Jim Fischer

2013 – Dennis Jeffrey, Louis Gaukler

2014 – Dean Hildebrand, Gene Van Eeckhout

2015 – Allen Freidig, Robert Haglund, Tolly Holton, FM Walleyes Unlimited, Inc.

2016 – Terry Fleck, Jason Mitchell

2017 – Richard Fink, Clayton Folden, Paul Haug, Lake Region Anglers

2018 – Duaine Ash, Johnnie Candle, Dakota Anglers

2019 – Bob Meter

2020 – Ken Cumber