Josh Hagemeister may have just become famous for being chosen as an official fishing guide to Lieutenant Governor Tina Smith for the Minnesota Fishing Opener, but he’s already held in high esteem as a Tech High School graduate of 1989.
Hagemeister started his fishing guide business in high school. Dreaming of always owning a guide business, he didn’t let his teasing friends sway him from his dream.
After graduation, Hagemeister attended St. Cloud State University and pursued a career in English and speech with the hope of obtaining his teaching license in order to allow time for guiding in the summer. He maintained his guiding business throughout college.
Hagemeister laughs, “I have more college credits than a NASA scientist!”
He gave back to Tech by working there during his college years as a security officer and has many fond memories of Principal Ed Johnson and the halls of Tech.
But it was the call of the lakes and rivers of Minnesota that changed his professional course.
Through his guiding business, Hagemeister got into radio and television production. He was an on-air host of the weekly show, “Outdoors Minnesota,” which also expanded to a magazine that published on a monthly basis.
Hagemeister soon took over American Bowhunter Magazine, a bi-monthly magazine with about 30,000 subscribers. After a few years, he sold the magazine. It was too much office time. The water and challenge of fishing were still too strong.
He started working for In-Fisherman as an instructional fishing guide in the Brainerd and Walker areas.
Then, 15 years ago, Hagemeister and a partner purchased Rainy Lake Resort near International Falls in northern Minnesota. He still owns the resort and has been opening Camp Fish every summer, which is a one-week fishing camp for people who want to learn how to fish.
“Camp Fish” has become very popular. Hagemeister plans on expanding to more weeks during the year and offering ice fishing as well.
When Hagemeister looks down the road, he knows he’ll still be doing exactly what he’s always wanted to do. He is expanding his guiding business, Minnesota Fishing Guide Service, with more guides to meet the new challenges of people wanting to learn to fish.
“If you want to do it [your passion], just do it,” advises Hagemeister. “Don’t listen to anyone else. Keep a clean slate and don’t look back.”
One thing is for sure. Hagemeister loves what he does.
“My favorite thing about my job is that it is a constant change and challenge,” he explains. “There is no playbook. It’s all in your hands.”
And, lucky for us, the St. Cloud area has great fishing according to Hagemeister. His favorite time to fish in the area is late summer and fall.
You must be logged in to post a comment.