John Peterson
John Peterson was born in Bemidji, Minnesota on February 6, 1949. He grew up on the banks of the Mississippi river and spent many of his childhood days digging worms, seining minnows and fishing off the banks and bridges for anything that would pull his bobber down. His mother, Alice, knew the value of taking a kid fishing and often brought John and the family to a favorite dock on Sunday afternoons to catch sunfish, rock bass, perch and bullheads. It was fun, exciting and John was hooked on fishing for life.
The Peterson family got their own boat in the early 1960’s and John’s brother, Duane, took him fishing every weekend during the summer and taught him not only how to fish, but also the values of the great outdoors and natural resources we had in our own back yard.
John and Duane had the fishing bug bad. They would fish night and day rain or shine or walk miles through deep snow and ice to read their fishhouse, despite -40 degree temperatures during the winter months. The thrill of watching and catching perch, walleye and northern pike through the ice enhanced John’s desire to learn more about the species and what triggered them to bite.
John won numerous prizes at fishing derby’s in the early seventies and soon began to guide and fish competitively around the Upper Midwest for bass, walleye and musky. Today, John Peterson is known as one of Minnesota’s most versatile, competitive and successful multi-species tournament anglers.
In 1975, John started pouring jigs and tying tackle for his tournament fishing and guiding business in a small remote cabin near Bemidji. The lures were innovative, made with high quality components and, most importantly, were catching fish when no other baits were working. The word spread like wild fire, the phone started ringing…and the Northland Fishing Tackle brand was in hot demand.
During the past 25 years, John and the Northland Pro-Staff have been designing, testing and perfecting an exclusive line of products that catch fish like no other brand on the market today. Manufactured in the heart of Minnesota’s finest fishing waters, Northland is one of the country’s leading producers of premium quality jigs, live bait rigs, spinnerbaits and spoons for panfish, perch, walleye, bass, trout, northern pike and musky. John acknowledges and credits his success to Minnesota’s great fishing resource, the teachings of In-Fisherman, his family, friends, promotional staff and employees who have provided the feedback, support and encouragement that has allowed him to make fishing his career.
John is highly committed to Selective Harvest, Catch & Release and the preservation of water quality. He has been a leader in helping to teach our youth the values of sport fishing and exposing them to our great natural resources.
John Peterson’s accomplishments include:
- Founder, President and CEO of Northland Fishing Tackle®. Established in 1975. The company employs over 140 workers in the Bemidji and Ranier, Minnesota locations.
- Author of the NORTHLAND FISHERMAN™ “Secrets to Fishing Success” booklet with over 250 fishing tips and secrets! Over 1.5 million copies published.
- Founder of the legendary 225 man Team Northland® Pro Staff that works to help promote the great sport of fishing throughout the U.S.A. and Canada.
- Featured guest on over 35 national and regionally televised fishing show over the past 25 years to promote the great sport of fishing.
- Guided Minnesota Governor Rudy Perpich and party to a successful catch of 10 walleyes, 3 northern pike and 8 perch during the 1986 Governor’s Fishing Opener!
- Contributor and supporter to over 900 Take-A-Kid Fishing and non-profit sport fishing events over the past 30 years.
- 1975 Muskie’s Inc. International Tournament Champion. ( 52”- 37 lb. muskie from Big Lake in Minnesota)
- Three time Minnesota B.A.S.S. Qualifier.
- Fished 13 years on the Professional Walleye Trail™, and captured 14 Top Ten finishes!
- Pro-Angler and 9-Time Professional Walleye Trail Championship Qualifier. Fished over 170 Walleye, Bass and Muskie Tournaments!
- Champion of the 1996 Professional Walleye Trail Lake-of-the-Woods – 1st Place.
- Recipient of the 1999 Professional Walleye Trail™ Sportsman of the Year Award.
- Charter Member of the NPAA National Professional Angler Association.
- Served on Board of Directors for NPAA National Professional Angler Association..
- Class of ‘2000 Inductee to the Minnesota Fishing Hall of Fame.