New York Mills, Minn. (October 20, 2014)
There’s no denying it, being inaugurated into any hall of fame is the most prestigious honor for anyone who’s made a career out of what they love to do. In the fishing industry, induction into the Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame is the pinnacle of individual angling accomplishments.
With that said, please welcome 2015 Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame inductees Mike Gofron and Mark Martin. Both Lund pro-staffers have set records in walleye tournament-fishing history, and still work diligently to pass the passion of angling along to future generations.
Gofron, a resident of the Antioch, Ill., area, has been a pioneer in developing new techniques for catching fish in peculiar places since his first tournament, and Lund has been his boat of choice since 1996.
"I’m honored to even be considered, let alone inducted," says Gofron. "The dependability of a Lund boat to get me back into tight quarters, as well make 100-plus runs on big water have been crucial throughout my entire career," he stresses. "I’ve never had to worry about not making it back to the ramp. Never."
Today, Gofron exhibits how-to videos on tackle and boat rigging on his website, and teaches the public what he’s learned throughout his more than 60, top-10 finishes during his career, which include winning a Professional Walleye Trail (PWT) Championship, two Angler of the Year titles, a Top Gun and Sportsman of the Year honors.
Martin, also no stranger to winning streaks, has been coined "the original champ" for taking home the cup from the inaugural PWT Championship in 1990. 2015 will mark his 30th year in a Lund boat.
As of late, the Twin Lakes, Mich., resident works assiduously to promote fishing education via Mark Martin’s Fishing Vacation/School, which provides hands-on open-water and ice-fishing instruction for anglers of all ages.
"Being inducted is the biggest compliment I could have ever received," says Martin. "It’s kudos to the hard behind-the-scenes work it takes to be full-time in the fishing industry, and I’m grateful Lund has been there since the beginning."
Tony Kolker, marketing manager for Lund Boat Company, adds: "Along with their peers in the fishing industry, everyone at Lund would like to further congratulate both Mark Martin and Mike Gofron on their inductions into the Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame. Their contributions to the brand while working tirelessly both on and off the water, and in real-world testing in the most harsh fishing conditions, have helped us design and build better boats for all."
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