(Plymouth, Minn.) — Outdoor News, Inc., publisher of locally written fishing and hunting outdoor newspapers in seven Great Lake states, officially entered the Minnesota Fishing Hall of Fame on Saturday, March 28, during an event held in conjunction with the 2015 Northwest Sport show in Minneapolis.

The Minnesota Fishing Hall of Fame was the brainchild of Jeff Arnold, owner of Reed's Sporting Goods in Walker, Minn. Arnold, along with Outdoor News, Inc., Rapala VMC Corporation, and fishing legends Dave Csanda, Dan Sura, and James Lindner were chosen for the honor back in 2012. The actual induction ceremony, however, was delayed due to a merger between the Hall of Fame and the Minnesota Fishing Museum.

With the merger now a reality, Outdoor News and fellow 2012 inductees joined the newly honored class of 2015 consisting of Leroy Ras, Tom Neustrom, Duane Peterson, Vexilar, and Northland Fishing Tackle for the formal Hall of Fame recognition held on March 28 at the Minneapolis Convention Center.

A steady theme during the acceptance speeches was that the inductees were both honored, yet humbled. Sitting among other current members like Gary Roach, Ron Schara, Joe Fellegy and many others, each inductee spoke of their passion for angling that a mentor had instilled in him at an early age.

The corporate members ranked Minnesota as the No. 1 state for ideas and individuals that spawn the innovations that have driven and motivated the entire fishing industry. Tom Mackin of Rapala noted that while his company has a broad international footprint, Minnesota is where they call home, and it was from Minnesota that the world learned about Rapala. Outdoor News President Rob Drieslein noted that the publication's founder, Jim Peterson, had entered the Hall in its inaugural class 15 years ago at the individual level. This year's inclusion focuses upon and celebrates all the fantastic employees who have allowed Outdoor News to thrive for 48 years.

The merger that blended the Minnesota Fishing Hall of Fame together with the Minnesota Fishing Museum received a boost via the fundraising held at the "Night with the Legends" event on Saturday. During the banquet, the Hall unveiled plans for a new joint facility. Read more about the educational and historical experience the center will create in the April 3 issue of Minnesota Outdoor News.

About Outdoor News, Inc.: Outdoor News provides in-depth coverage of hunting, fishing, archery, conservation and outdoor activities including analysis of state and national outdoor agencies, local lake maps and fishing reports. With regional editors, columnists and sales representatives in seven states, Outdoor News appears weekly in Minnesota and bi-weekly in Wisconsin, Michigan, Pennsylvania, New York, Ohio and Illinois. Outdoor News, Inc. is privately held by Publisher Glenn Meyer. Company headquarters are in Plymouth, Minn. Visit www.outdoornews.com or call (800) 535-5191.
Media Contact: Evy Gebhardt (763) 398-3455 or evy@outdoornews.com