You’ll find more than just fishing celebrities in this list. One can make a significant impact
on the lives of many without ever being well known. It is important to honor all of
those who had a great influence on the great sport of fishing, whether famous or not.
Corporate advances tend to be much more visible to us. For it’s their products that
shape the evolution of the sport of fishing.

Jimmy Bell is a professional angler from Ham Lake, Minnesota, with over 30 years of experience in competitive fishing. His career highlights include earning more than $300,000 in walleye and bass tournament winnings, being named Professional Angler of the Year in 1999, and receiving the Professional Rookie of the Year title in 1994. Jimmy has secured three national tournament wins and numerous top 10 finishes throughout his career.
Jimmy’s passion for fishing extends beyond his personal achievements. He has been instrumental in promoting youth angling, founding the Student Angler Organization and co-founding the Student Angler Tournament Trail. These initiatives aim to foster competitive student angling with a focus on conservation practices. He also serves as the youth coordinator for Lund Boats and is the President of the Lund Virtual Fishing League.
In addition to his professional fishing career, Jimmy has worked in IT, holding a position as the Director of IT Infrastructure at Michael Foods. He has effectively combined his professional and angling careers, promoting brands like Crystal Farms Cheese through his fishing activities.
Jimmy’s dedication to the sport and his community involvement has earned him a respected place in the fishing world. He continues to influence the fishing community through his competitive spirit and commitment to mentoring the next generation of anglers.

1994 Starts Professional Walley career fishing North American Walleye Association (NAWA)
1994 Wins first NAWA event Lacrosse, WI
1994 NAWA Professional Rookie of the Year title
1996 Signs with Skeeter Boats, and Yamaha Outboards
1996 Wins his second National NAWA event Garrison, ND
1998 Wins his third National NAWA event Red Wing, MN
1999 NAWA Professional Angler of the Year title
2000 starts fishing the In-Fisherman PWT series
2002 Signs with Crestliner Boats and continues with Yamaha Outboards
2002 starts fishing the FLW Walleye circuit
2004 Signed with Ranger Boats and continues with Yamaha Outboards
2014 Started fishing the National Walleye Tour
2014 – 2020 Elected by National Professional Angler Association members to be on BOD
2015 Signed with Alumacraft Boats and continues with Yamaha Outboards
2015 Fishing the MN AIM Walleye circuit with Daughter Chelsea Evazich, first Father/Daughter team
2016 & 2017 Elected by National Professional Angler Association members to be President
2017 Started the Student Angler Organization creating non-profit in 2018
2018 Signed with Lund Boats to become Student Angler Coordinator
2018 Co-founder and President of the non-profit Student Angler Tournament Trail
2021 Co-Founder and President of the non-profit Lund Virtual Fishing League
2021 Elected to Board of Directors MN-FISH
2021 to present invited by MN DNR to participate in MN DNR Roundtable
2022 Wrote, and was awarded, $49,000 Mn DNR No Child Left Inside grant request for the Student Angler Organization
2022 Invited to participate in the first-ever Minnesota Fishing Summit in May of 2022 with Governor Tim Walz and DNR Commissioner Sarah Strommen
2023 Elected to be on Minnesota Dept. Natural Resources Bass Workgroup
2023 and 2024 Partner with Minnesota Dept Natural Resources for Student Angler Org to organize and run MN Moms Fishing Challenge