Famous Fisherman By State

[EWREX]

only “known” angler from connecticut that i know of is elite series pro paul mueller

[WRB]

4 hours ago, FishinBuck07 said:

The only ones I can think of for Ohio would be Hunter and Fletcher Shryock.

Nick Creme from Akron Ohio invented soft plastic worms changing bass fishing forever.

Tom

[Bluebasser86]

Would have to be either Brent Chapman, or the most famous that people only know his first name, Ned Kehde.

[The Bassman]

Jacob Wheeler comes to mind.

[Hook2Jaw]

14 hours ago, WRB said:

Definitely one of the most infamous along with Mike Hart.

Tom 

I'll have to read up on Mike Hart.

[reb67]

Virginia 

 

Woo Dave

Jacob Powroznik

David Dudley 

Michael Hall

John Crews

Rick Morris

And of course let's not forget Sam

 

[Chowderhead]

Nebraska:

 

Really struggling to come up with someone besides Denny Brauer (I know it is a reach), and ”Flair” from the Googan Squad. 

[Mobasser]

Fred Arbogast- Ohio tackle inventor. Jitterbug, Hula Popper etc

[FishinBuck07]

7 hours ago, WRB said:

Nick Creme from Akron Ohio invented soft plastic worms changing bass fishing forever.

Tom

Did not know he was from Akron, I knew Fred Arbogast was from Akron.  Thanks for the knowledge, I appreciate it!

[Mobasser]

Missouri- Bert Hall. Inventor Road Runner underspin jig. Blakemore Lure Co.

[Hawkeye21]

1 hour ago, Chowderhead said:

Nebraska:

 

Really struggling to come up with someone besides Denny Brauer (I know it is a reach), and ”Flair” from the Googan Squad. 

Milliken Fishing is from Nebraska.  He's a pretty popular YouTube guy.  If anyone follows kayak tourney fishing then they should be familiar with Kristine Fischer who's from Nebraska.

[webertime]

13 hours ago, billmac said:

BASSMaster has Jaime Hartman from Arkansas.

He just moved there

[Dwight Hottle]

14 hours ago, FishinBuck07 said:

The only ones I can think of for Ohio would be Hunter and Fletcher Shryock.

Dick Kotis, president of Arbogast in Akron Ohio. His wife was my 5th grade teacher. 

 

Dick Kotis inducted into ODNR Hall of Fame

Mike Sever
December 11, 2010
By MIKE SEVER | STAFF WRITER

A legend in the world of angling, Richard J. Kotis of Twin Lakes has been inducted into the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Hall of Fame.

For 30 years, Kotis was president of the former Fred Arbogast Co. of Akron, an innovator and maker of fishing lures used by anglers all over the world. The firm was named for its founder, a former Goodyear employee, who started making lures in his home in the 1920s.

Kotis, 84, got his start with the company in the 1950s a few years after graduating from Kent State University, where he had played linebacker and guard, and later was backfield coach for Trevor Rees. Kotis also worked as an assistant basketball coach at KSU.

Kotis directed Arbogast Co. from 1959 to early 1989. He retired Dec. 31, 1989, after 35 years with the firm.

"I loved it. It was absolutely the best job in the world," he said.Kotis was well-known for his talents as a fisherman and he traveled extensively to fish and promote the company's products.

He got started fishing at a young age with his dad off Euclid Beach for blue pike. "For me, it was exciting as heck," he said.

Kotis made many films for the "American Sportsman" show on ABC.

"I enjoyed more than anything else the opportunity to fish with a variety of people" -- from the rich and famous to the regular guy -- he said.

Kotis said he's most proud of three accomplishments.

"One of the most significant things I was able to accomplish (was) we put together what is now called 'Fish Ohio,' the largest fisherman recognition program in the nation. The program gives recognition pins to anglers for notable catches. All I was trying to do was get more guys fishing," he said.

Secondly, Kotis said he was proud of taking coaching philosophy to sporting shows.

"I put clinics together to teach people how to use a rod and reel, how fish lived," he said. Starting in Cleveland, the idea took hold. "They discovered people really wanted to find out" how to fish. All I was trying to do was get more youngsters involved in fishing."

Kotis said probably the most important thing he did to help fishing was to get an excise tax expanded on all fishing tackle and equipment, with the money going back to ODNR.

Thursday's induction ceremony was a surprise. Kotis said he expected it to be a small group.

"When I got to ODNR I was shocked. There was the governor and 400 to 500 people there. It blew me away. You have no idea how humbling that is for me. I appreciate it tremendously," he said.

Kotis remains an ardent Golden Flashes fan, attending most Kent State football and basketball games.

"I can count on one hand the number of games I've missed," he said.

Kotis said he likes to say, "I never played on or coached a team that lost to Akron."
________________________________________________

 

[JK Jake]

Texas-

 

Alton Jones

Alton Jones jr

Chris Zaldain (born in CA moved to Texas)

Keith Combs

Todd Faircloth

James Niggemeyer

Shin Fukae(born in Japan)

Gary Klein

Jeff Sprague

Takahiro Omori (born in Japan)

Todd Castledine

 

Zell Rowland

 

Youtube-

Lake Fork Guy

Tyler Anderson

 

 

[JK Jake]

And George H. W. Bush, who was friends with Ray Scott, helped pass laws benefiting the environment and bass anglers, read Bassmaster magazine, and of course enjoyed bass and saltwater fishing. Also a Bass Fishing Hall of Fame inductee.

[rboat]

22 hours ago, SC53 said:

There’s a few from Florida. Not sure they we all born here but all lived here.

Roland Martin, Shaw Grigsby, Terry Scroggins, Jim Bitters and Peter Thliveros.

Saltwater there’s a bunch. Jose Wejebe, Flip Pallot, George Poveromo, Troy Perez, Blair Wiggins, Rick Murphy are just a few off the top of my head.

Another would be Doug Hannon "the bass Professor"  RIP.

[OCdockskipper]

19 hours ago, Hook2Jaw said:

@WRB, it is arguable that Mike Long is the most famous angler from California. 

Yes, although he now goes by the name Stu Pidasso.

[WRB]

13 hours ago, JK Jake said:

Texas-

 

Alton Jones

Alton Jones jr

Chris Zaldain (born in CA moved to Texas)

Keith Combs

Todd Faircloth

James Niggemeyer

Shin Fukae(born in Japan)

Gary Klein

Jeff Sprague

Takahiro Omori (born in Japan)

Todd Castledine

 

Zell Rowland

 

Youtube-

Lake Fork Guy

Tyler Anderson

 

 

Gary Klein and James Niggemeyer moved fron CA to Texas to be closer to the tournaments as did most of the western pro's.

There is a long list of Texas bass Pro's from the 70's- 80's.

Bobby Murray and the Hemphill gang come to mind, Sam Rayburn and Toledo Bend was more then likely the birth place for bass tournaments.

Tom

 

[Caliyak]

On 12/23/2019 at 5:05 PM, billmac said:

I got nothing for New York.

In kayak fishing, Greg Blanchard

he lives in Cali now, he’s NY 

[deadadrift89]

     Mississippi 

Paul Elias

Alfred Williams 

Pete Ponds

Cliff Pace

Brock Mosley

Jim Winter(Bandit Lure)

 

[TBAG]

On 12/23/2019 at 7:41 PM, Log Catcher said:

Mark Menendez and Terry Bolton are the ones I can think of right now from Kentucky.

Brandon Johnson and Bradley Roy

[2tall79]

On 12/23/2019 at 4:19 PM, Columbia Craw said:

Stan Fagerstrom

Dick Posey

Gary Loomis

Luke Clausen

Pretty sad showing for Washington State.  I do recall that Larry Nixon is related to Paul Nixon of Nixon's Marine in Pasco however.  Although he wasn't born here.

[keagbassr]

On 12/24/2019 at 1:34 AM, EWREX said:

only “known” angler from connecticut that i know of is elite series pro paul mueller

 Ct. Gave us Bryan Kerchal only amateur to win a classic and i believe  herb reed inventor of the slug-go.  a short ride up 395 to my neck of the woods(mass.) And the pickings get slim. About all we got  is charlie moore- the original abnoxious angler,[sorry ike,]and danny corriea who finished 2nd in the classic once.

[Team9nine]

1 hour ago, keagbassr said:

 Ct. Gave us Bryan Kerchal only amateur to win a classic and i believe  herb reed inventor of the slug-go.  a short ride up 395 to my neck of the woods(mass.) And the pickings get slim. About all we got  is charlie moore- the original abnoxious angler,[sorry ike,]and danny corriea who finished 2nd in the classic once.

Believe Connecticut can also claim Rich Zakeski, and Massachusetts gets Bill Plummer, inventor of the Super Frog... both of which rank very high in my book ?

[J Francho]

Another vote for @RichZ

 

Also, no love for @Glenn for Washington?