Jackson: Here's how you can crack the fishing career code

My decades of involvement within the outdoor industry has presented me with situations where I am often asked about how I got into this business.

I also am asked about how a person can get a position as a "tackle rep." I am even asked about my broadcasting tenure and what made me get into this end of the business as well.

I am saying this out front without any prejudice.

Today, it's not easy to ascend into the big pool of outdoor communicators, tackle reps, photographers, and the like. Forty years ago it was much easier to start at the bottom and work one's way up the ladder.

With that said, I now bring you the good news.

The brothers Lindner, Ron and Al of Lindy Rig fame, In-Fisherman television and the magazine as well the Angling Edge television, have come up with a new and improved formula for getting into this business. It's called a Fishing Careers Workshop.

Camp Fish was a highly touted getaway for youngsters in northern Minnesota. It was started by the Lindners under the auspices of giving kids major-league fishing instruction along with some religious teachings.

And last year marked the 25th anniversary of the camp's origination.

With that in mind, Al and Ron decided to put together a one-day seminar-type session composed of a dozen or so of the Lindner's top professionals within dozens of segments of the outdoor industry.

There are pros in the publishing aspect, pros from tackle manufacturers, experts in video production and photography, television production, and more.

The speakers are well-known names that almost everyone will recognize. They are tasked with sharing their life's story and how they entered the business.

"Both Ron and I have lots of friends we've made over the years in the fishing business and many of them jumped at the chance to be part of this one-day workshop," Al noted.

Co-hosted by Al and son Troy Lindner and boosted by a lineup of successful professionals currently working in the sport fishing industry, people attending will get detailed, practical information, guidance and expertise to navigate the sport fishing waters.

This special event is being held at Cragun's Resort on Gull Lake (special rates for those who sign up) in the Brainerd Lakes Area on Saturday, Oct. 28, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. This one-day intensive workshop is open to everyone from high school and college students with a passion for the outdoors to business owners and professionals already working in the industry.

The cost for attending all the seminars is $250. Contact 1-800-378-5095 for more information.

• Contact Mike Jackson at angler88@comcast.net, catch his radio show 7-9 a.m. Sundays on WGCO 1590-AM (live-streamed at www.1590WCGO.com) and get more content at www.mikejacksonoutdoors.com.