Steve Quinn

In his more than 45 years in the fishing and communications businesses, Steve Quinn has combined work in the fields of science, media, and freshwater fishing to promote the sport and conservation of fish and aquatic resources and the watershed ecosystems they depend on.

After working in the book-publishing business in New York City, he returned to higher education and received a M.S. degree in Fishery Biology in 1982. He worked for the Georgia Department of Natural Resources for five years, managing reservoir and river fish populations and conducting research on largemouth bass and flathead catfish. He moved to Minnesota in 1988 to take a job as Editor for In-Fisherman Magazine and edited the company's many annual guides, as well as being a regular television host and radio commentator. He remained in that role until he entered semi-retirement in 2018, now acting as a Field Editor for In-Fisherman and freelancer outdoor writer.

Steve was the first fishery scientist to become editor of a popular fishing magazine and he used that platform to promote cooperation and communications between fishery management agencies, anglers, and angler groups. He wrote hundreds of popular articles about fishing and fishery management topics, such as genetics, stocking, regulations, invasive species, and more. He's covered many gamefish species, though he's recently focused on bass fishing as well as conservation topics.

In addition to popular magazine articles, he authored over 50 scientific publications and chapters in fishery biology reference books and delivered many scientific presentations at statewide, regional, and national meetings. He's been an active member of the American Fisheries Society volunteering on many committees and planning sessions. He also worked on the Conservation Committee of the American Sportfishing Association to promote and plan activities of the Fish America Foundation and other conservation initiatives. He's worked to promote recreational fishing and conservation by making presentations for school and church groups, bass clubs, lake associations, stakeholder groups, and junior and high school fishing organizations. In all these efforts, he's sought to improve communication between fishery scientists and anglers who are an important part of their clientele.

As an avid tournament angler, Steve's earned dozens of victories and countless high finishes in local, regional, national, and bass club tournaments in over a dozen states. He's fortunate to have fished in five other countries and counts his experiences in Canada, Mexico and Brazil as especially remarkable, as well as adventures in the Pacific Northwest including Alaska. He was humbled and grateful to be inducted into the National Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame as well as the Bass Fishing Hall of Fame.