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Steve To Be Inducted Into Fresh Water Fishing Hall Of Fame

Musky Hunter magazine’s longtime Managing Editor Steve Heiting is among six 2022 inductees to the Fresh Water Fishing Hall Of Fame, HOF Director Emmett Brown has announced.

Heiting, 61, of Minocqua, Wisconsin, will become the sixth Musky Hunter staffer to be so honored. He joins founding editor Joe Bucher, longtime publisher and editor Jim Saric, and field editors Spence Petros, Dave Dorazio and the late David “Crash” Mullins as inductees.

“I am thrilled and honored by the news, and humbled to have my name join the others who have been inducted before me,” Heiting said.

Heiting wrote his first article for Musky Hunter in 1993 and joined the magazine as managing editor in 1994. Previously he edited Wisconsin Outdoor Journal magazine, and before that had worked as a newspaper editor for nine years.

Despite working full-time for Musky Hunter, Heiting has found the time to tally more than 2,000 muskies in his boat that were caught by his friends, guests and himself.

Heiting has always considered the education of other anglers his primary purpose. “Musky fishing, and fishing in general, is such a great sport. My father and grandfather took me fishing when I was a kid, and I’ve always tried to pay it forward and help others enjoy themselves on the water,” he said.

In 1996, Heiting and Saric launched the University of Esox, a series of musky fishing schools that have been attended by more than 1,500 anglers with more than 3,000 muskies being caught. Since 2018, Heiting has been the lead presenter at the first-ever college musky fishing class held at Nicolet College in Rhinelander, Wisconsin.

Heiting has written, edited or contributed to 26 books about musky fishing, and written more than 500 magazine articles for Musky Hunter and many other top publications in the United States. He has produced five musky fishing DVDs and has presented more than 300 seminars.

Starting in the 2021 season, Heiting launched a weekly Northwoods Musky Report which is heard throughout northern Wisconsin on WJJQ Radio.

Heiting’s induction is planned for August 2022 at the National Championship Musky Open, the largest musky tournament in the world held annually in Eagle River, Wisconsin.

The five other anglers are being inducted include walleye pro Tom Keenan from Wisconsin, charter captain Steve Jones of Michigan, trout conservationists Dave Kumlein of Montana and Chris Wood of Virginia, and Berkley lure designer John Prochnow of Iowa.

“The Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame has chosen six incredible individuals to receive recognition with their induction into the 2022 class of Hall of Famers,” said a press release issued by the HOF. “From competitive angling backgrounds, to communicators, inventors and conservationists, the Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame had an eclectic group of nominees to choose from and it is highlighted by this year’s recipients.”

The Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame and Museum is located in Hayward, Wisconsin, and is the international headquarters for education, recognition and promotion of fresh water sportfishing. Its mission is to develop and maintain the Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame and its museum for the preservation and display of historical artifacts of fresh water sportfishing.

Visit www.freshwater-fishing.org.