July 15, 2026

There’s the old standard song from the 1940’s entitled, “Don’t Let the Smoke Get in Your Eyes.” A great song no doubt, but it is also the theme for today in Hayward as well as the next few days. There are several large forest fires in the Boundary Water Canoe Area (BWCA) north of us, a few hundred miles, as well as several other western Canadian fires burning seemingly out of control. Hey neighbors to our north, perhaps it’s time to get a better forest floor plan in place. At any rate, it’s smoky throughout northern Wisconsin and Minnesota which, I must admit, makes for great sunrises and sunsets. Always a silver lining! 

It is with great sadness that I must report the recent passing of two of our Hall of Famers. On July 5th, Tom Neustrom of Minnesota died peacefully at home. It was in Northern Minnesota that Tom found his true calling. He started his own fishing guide business and never stopped. Guiding allowed Tom to share his passion while also providing unforgettable experiences to so many people. He guided everyone from beginners to fellow anglers, friends, families, professionals and  dignitaries. Then on July 10th, Stu Tinney of Tennessee was scooped up by the big landing net in the sky. Stu was a generous man and was instrumental in helping the Hall set up its ongoing youth writing contest. Stu is named one of the 100 Living Legends of American Sport Fishing and is regarded as one of the nation’s top authorities on fresh water striped bass. A professional fishing guide, tackle designer, and lecturer, he has been featured in national outdoor magazines such as Field and Stream and Outdoor Life, as well as in newspapers coast-to-coast, television and radio shows and numerous outdoor films. Both men were 2009 inductees. Tom and Stu goodbye. You will be sadly missed! 

Until the fall, 

Emmett A. Brown, Jr. | Executive Director