Thursday, December 5, 2024
The Hood County Commissioners Court honored local aquaculture expert Bob Lusk Tuesday for "reeling” in an extraordinary honor of being inducted by the Texas Parks & Wildlife into the Texas Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame.
According to the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center, the Texas Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame honors individuals and organizations that have made significant contributions to freshwater fishing in Texas. Inductees are chosen by the Texas Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame Committee from among those nominated by the public.
Lusk, a native Texan and Hood County resident, has devoted his life to the study of aquaculture and fisheries management.
With a degree from Texas A&M University in 1979, Lusk’s work has included revolutionizing the care and upkeep of ponds, as well as developing fish foods and feeding practices.
"He was doing pond management before pond management was even a term,” said American Sport Fish Hatchery Team Coordinator Walter Bassano in a video created by Texas Parks & Wildlife. “People would call and ask how they could grow bigger fish in their pond, and he would say, ‘Well, we need to implement some pond management practices,’ and they'd say, ‘What's that?’”
Lusk was recognized with the 2020 American Fisheries Society award for Excellence in Public Outreach and induction into the AFS Fisheries Management Section Hall of Excellence that same year.
He is also past president of the Texas Outdoor Writers Association and a recipient of the L.A. Wilke Award — the organization’s most prestigious honor.
“It totally drives him every moment of every day,” Bassano added. “Because he absolutely loves what he does.”
Lusk is also the editor of Pond Boss Magazine — the nation’s leading resource for private fisheries management and stewardship.
“We started at I think 600 people, of which 200 of them were my clients,” Lusk said in the video. “I sent letters to customers, asking them for a check for a magazine that doesn't exist. I got 192 checks for $24.”
Within the first year, the magazine had grown to printing 750 copies — but now, Lusk reveals that 4,200 copies are printed every edition.
"We're in 42 states, plus all the Bass Pro Shops that sell magazines,” he said.
“The magazine has made a difference educating the customer how to successfully manage your pond,” Bassano said.
“He’s not afraid of anything,” said Mike Otto, who is a contributing writer to Pond Boss Magazine. “One of his favorite sayings is, ‘You get one chance to make a good first impression,’ and he always does that.
“Bob's contribution to his field truly has been his knowledge and his leadership and the fact that he will gladly share all of the knowledge that he has learned with other people and do that willingly.”
Lusk explained in the video that when he started, there were 750,000 private ponds and lakes — but now, there’s 1.3 million.
"People need to know how to take care of that,” he said. “I can't do that by myself. I love to share what I know and I love to teach other people, but I love even more to watch them go do it.”
According to the proclamation presented by the Hood County Commissioners Court, Lusk is a “true pioneer in the development and management of freshwater ponds and fisheries.” It states that he has rightfully earned his reputation as “one of the country’s foremost experts in the field,” and that his “legacy of leading-edge research and innovation has had a profound impact on the anglers and fishery owners in Texas and around the world.”
“What this career and what my clients have given me is a chance to never have a job — to follow my passion, and to be able to go out and keep that fire burning and never snuff it out,” Lusk added in the video.
“The Texas Parks and Wildlife started this in the 70s or something,” Hood County Judge Ron Massingill explained during the commissioners meeting Oct. 22. “There's 39 members in this hall of fame deal, so this is a very prestigious organization to get into.”
The proclamation states that the court is honored to have Lusk representing the county on the Upper Trinity Groundwater Conservation District.
In addition, the court encourages all Hood County residents to join the court in congratulating Lusk on his induction to the Texas Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame.
