For years now I have run my own charter service out of Lake Champlain and Bomoseen, am a member of many Prostaffs, and try and give back to the outdoor community as much as possible. In having my hand in many opportunities to promote angling and the outdoor lifestyle, I have been fortunate enough to know and work closely with Dave Genz, and value this more than I can put into words.

I’m always excited to see my friend from the Midwest when he makes his way out to our Green Mountain state. To me, his visits mean fishing hard, eating great food (most of which we catch that day), and catching up on the stories we have from the past season.

This year will be a little different than our annual fishing trip however. With Dave doing these seminars here in Vermont, and one in Lake George, his trip will be much more rewarding, as it will be about teaching those he meets the new methods and applications of the latest technology and gear within the ice fishing industry. I learn more and more each time Dave comes around, and it is his insight and guidance that has made me a much better person and fisherman in a very short time.

I hope that this feeling of progressing in the sport of ice fishing can be shared with all of those who attend one of the events this month. Dave is a mentor to me, and his love for the sport motivates me to be both fun and educational in what I do here in Vermont, as that is the philosophy Dave applies to what he does nationwide.

Overall, this is my favorite time of year – the ice covered lakes and good time with friends out there fishing, chatting, and enjoying the resources we have right in our backyards. I hope everyone takes this opportunity to see first hand how ice fishing has evolved into what it is today by checking out the upcoming seminars, and I look forward to seeing you all soon!

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Shawn Hayes