ESCANABA — Tom Keenan, a Rapid River native, has been inducted into the 2022 Class of the Fresh Water Fishing Hall a Fame

Keenan is a professional angler who grew up on the shores of Little Bay de Noc and his passion for fishing started at a young age.

Keenan fished his first tournament in 1989. He teamed up with his brother Mark and took second place at their first Masters Walleye Circuit Event. This competition inspired him to get a college degree and land a job in the fishing industry.

Keenan has fished tournaments for over 30 years and has accumulated various titles along the way. He has won Team of the Year twice with the MWC, was a three-time RCL/FLW Angler of the Year and won the National Walleye Trail Angler of the Year title in 2019. He surpassed a major milestone in 2016 having made over $1 million in career earnings. His career milestone win came in 2003 when he won the RCL Championship and earned $300,000 for this single event. He is the all-time career earner on the RCL tour and currently is second for earnings on the NWT Trail.

Keenan worked for Gander Mountain for over 27 years and was a store manager for one of the highest volume stores in the company for 20-plus years. He continues to perform seminars and speaking events throughout the Midwest and has always been willing to instruct anglers of all skill levels.

The Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame and Museum is the international headquarters for education, recognition and promotion of fresh water sportfishing. Its mission is to develop and maintain the Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame and its museum for the preservation and display of historical artifacts of fresh water sportfishing.