Jason Holmer, Ron Schara and Jim DaRosa
The Mille Lacs Smallmouth Alliance (MLSA) is a 501(c)(3) charitable non-profit organization, recognized by the IRS under IRC 401(a). The Alliance is dedicated to rebuilding, preserving and maintaining Mille Lacs as a world class trophy smallmouth bass fishery. Our work will include: educating fishermen, local businesses and visitors to the lake about the benefits of catch and release and advocating with conservation officials about sound fish management practices. We believe a healthy trophy smallmouth bass fishery contributes to the economic vitality of the Mille Lacs Lake area through tourism and overall property values and a robust community. Plus, taking care of a precious natural resource is just the right thing to do.
The founder and President of the MLSA, Jim DaRosa, was and is the spark plug behind the effort to unite area stakeholders in preservation and conservation efforts of the Mille Lacs Lake fishery. Jim and wife Jeannette live on Malone Island, in Isle.
Jim has been involved in the outdoor industry for over 45 years. He is the retired host of the Fishing and Outdoor Radio Show which aired on five radio stations in the Chicago market for 32 years. He has been a bass tournament angler for 20 years and has won many events in the Midwest and southern states. Beside Mille Lacs Lake, he has fished for smallies in Lake Erie, Sagnaw Bay, Sturgeon Bay, St. Clair (Detriot) Kentucky Lake, and Pickwick in Alabama.
Recognizing from the early 90’s that Mille Lacs was a world class smallmouth fishery, he through his radio show sponsored trips to Mille Lacs for his listeners, bringing up to 60 anglers from the Chicago Area to experience Mille Lacs. Anglers marveled what a great bass, walleye and musky fishery Mille Lacs was.
After retirement and for the past 10 years, Jim has been guiding exclusively for smallmouth bass on Lake Mille Lacs. The MLSA is dedicated in preserving and maintaining a World Class Trophy Smallmouth Bass.
MLSA is excited about the BASSMASTERS Angler of the Year will be showcasing the lake in September 2016. Thousands of visitors will attend and estimates that 3.4 million dollars in new money will injected into the local economy during those four days.
With the Angler of the Year event comes ESPN 2 Bassmasters television series. This TV show is viewed by millions of bass anglers across the nation. Jim predicts that Mille Lacs will be placed on the bucket list of bass lakes to fish.
MLSA Officers:
Jim DaRosa, President
George Liddle, Vice-President
Linda Dahlen, Secretary/Treasurer
MLSA Board Members:
Justin Baldwin
Tony Roach
Brian Wood
Jason Holmer
Mark Schutz
Terry McQuoid
Janet Parker
Scott Bonnema
Honorary Board Members:
Ron Schara
Mark Zona
Al Lindner
Ron Lindner
James Lindner
Denny Brauer
For more information about MLSA or Jim DaRosa, see the websites below.
www.MilleLacsSmallmouthAlliance.com
