Ron Lindner deserves every accolade ever bestowed on him—inventor, idea man, original, Hall of Famer, salesman extraordinaire, publisher, TV host, writer, etc. This legacy has been built with 60 years in the trenches of the fishing industry. He has seen it all, written about it all, coined terms for most of it, created some of the best tackle, shared concepts with dozens of manufacturers for better products and more.

Most people at age 81 would be sitting on the beach or playing cribbage with their buddies. Ron is not retired. He never will (he says himself) and stays busier than ever. His brain churns out plans, his command of social media is amazing, he pushes those around him to achieve new heights and he’s always thinking.

Fishing was always his game—and still is. From those early years in the Chicago area to today in the Brainerd Lakes region of Minnesota, his waking moments revolve around fishing. It’s likely fishing occupies his dreams. He knows everyone in the business; when he calls, they pick up the phone.

Now he is busy with a new project, and wants everyone to join him at targetwalleye.com.

Open-water walleyes and all species during the ice fishing season are covered extensively on Ron’s new project. It is a free digital format, which means subscribers get the fishing information a couple times each week via emails on their smartphones, tablets, computers or devices.

Ron started and published In-Fisherman magazine with his brother Al. It developed into one of the most famous educational fishing magazines. He knows a thing or two about delivering news to anglers. He is one of the creative forces behind Lindner Media Productions, Lindner’s Angling Edge on TV and now Target Walleye.

“With Target Walleye, they get it when it’s happening,” Lindner says.

The difference between his new project and the paper format is that everything is digital and free.

“I love delivering these emails. They’re loaded with tips and information and is up-to-the-minute.”

Target Walleye is now transitioning into its winter version called “Target Walleye/Ice.”

“ … Walleyes most of the year, but with more ice fishing—all species—in the winter. Sportsmen don’t stop fishing. They just trade in their boats for their ice fishing houses and shelters. They chase whatever bites in the winter,” he emphasized. “Fishermen in the North Country don’t stop fishing, they just change tactics from open water to hard water.”

The innovations, gadgets and gear for ice fishermen have expanded at an exponential rate, with so much available to make a trip on the ice comfortable, warm and productive.

“We cover the tactics and how to use the new tackle, plus cover what’s biting and where,” he adds. “And, you won’t believe the photos of really nice fish coming from all across the icescape.”

That’s one of his projects. Another is examining closely the latest fisheries knowledge combined with mapping and many other sciences.

“Some states don’t get it, and are doing their utmost to destroy populations of giant walleyes, despite strong opposition, but that’s another story for another day,” Lindner said.

With the growing subscriber base of Target Walleye, more people will be made aware of some of these local issues.

Target Walleye/Ice is now reaching 10,000 subscribers twice each week. Ron wants all his old friends who read this publication and all his new fishing friends to subscribe. The Facebook followers number in excess of 500,000 per month. The Instagram site is the largest walleye-only site in the social media world. For those wondering why they haven’t heard about Target Walleye, it could be because it’s not even 1 year old yet.

Ron arrived at this point in his life the old-fashioned way—with hard work. When he began the journey, he was fishing from 12-foot boats with 5-hp outboards (or oars). Depth finders were weights tied to strings. GPS was lining up two trees with a cabin on shore.

“Times sure have changed,” he reflects, not realizing he was responsible for many of those changes.

The top three fishing innovations Lindner has observed over the past six decades may not be what most anglers would expect, but number one is a slam-dunk.

“The Colt of the west was called ‘the equalizer,’” he says. “And today, the GPS combined with the depth finder is the equalizer. What took some guides 25 years to learn, any angler can do by looking at a map and punching in a destination and going right to it.”

The number two in greatest innovations in his estimation has been the transfer of information. The media (radio, TV, magazines, seminars and a tournament trail, as the Lindner empire was a forerunner in all this info-sharing) and now social media quickly tell people everything they need to know.

“A guy with plenty of money and time and a few skills can now enter the tournament game and do fairly well rather quickly, because his quest is shortened by a decade or two. The spread of information is a game-changer,” he said.

Number three on his list is safety. With GPS, maps, depth finders, boat sizes and boat floatation, big outboards, kickers and cellphones, anglers can safely fish big waters with an eye to the sky, but weather conditions are not as much a factor with today’s equipment.

Talking about Ron Lindner in general doesn’t do him justice. These are some of the projects and innovations where his hands and brains came into play:

• Invented the Lindy rig

• Invented the “R” bend for spinnerbaits

• Invented the stand-up jig

• Part of the Twister tail craze

• Developed what is today considered modern foul-weather gear

• Intimately tied to transom splash guards

• Invented the No-Snagg sinker

• Helped various lure manufacturers design products

• Tested and worked with electronics companies

• Handled rods and reels years before they went to market

• Media innovator with graphic illustrations, teaching anglers how to catch fish

• Took TV filming and production to a new level

• Popularized walleye-tournament fishing with high-stakes Professional Walleye Trail

• Initiated the Target Walleye/Ice through emails, Facebook and Instagram

• Realized ability to get to people directly one-on-one using social media

• Now talks to thousands with one comment when he hits “send”

• Engages people when they want to read the info

• Remedied the lack of walleye information with Target Walleye/Ice

• Coined most of the fishing terms in common usage today

• Always striving to make life easier/better/smarter for anglers.

Even though more walleye tournaments are being conducted in a much wider area than ever before, the knowledge seems to stop at the water’s edge and is not transferred from Montana to Michigan.

“I wanted to change that,” Lindner says. “Target Walleye was created to remedy this situation.”

To subscribe fans can punch in their email addresses at targetwalleye.com for emails about walleyes and ice fishing.

“The information is set up so readers can scan the contents and check out what interests them. With two emails a week, there is plenty of that to check out.” he said.

When asked about how he saw himself in the fishing world, Lindner says, “Been there. Did that. …

Am doing it again.”

What many of us want to say to Ron Lindner: thank you.