Joe Bragg
Joe Bragg
Topekan Joe Bragg believes fishing saved his life.
Bragg, a U.S. Army veteran who had post-traumatic stress disorder upon returning home from two tours of duty in Iraq, soon found that his love of fishing allowed him to move forward. In fact, this year will mark his entry into the world of professional fishing as he joins the Crappie Masters Tour.
As a crappie guide and founder of the Kansas Crappie Club, Bragg will present a seminar each day at the Kansas Boat and Outdoor Show, beginning with a Thursday seminar on tournament tactics on Kansas Lakes and following with seminars Friday and Saturday on breaking down new waters for those exploring new fishing sites.
Halls of Fames:
*February 26, 2020, Kieser was inducted into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame, the first outdoor writer in Missouri’s history to be inducted.
*2010, Inducted into the National Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame in the Legendary Communicator class for his fishing stories and work with mentally and physically challenged kids and healthy kids too in fishing.
* November 9, 2013 inducted into the Missouri Waterfowler’s Hall of Fame as a writer on.
*January 23, 2019, inducted into the Park Hill High School Alumni Hall of Fame to honor his writing career and his kid’s fishing programs.
*September 1, 2023, The Association of Great Lakes Outdoor Communicators presented Kieser with their biggest honor, The Golden Glow Award honoring his outdoor writing career. He received three standing ovations from the over 300 press and outdoor industry members in attendance.
WRITING AWARDS:
*Kieser (71) has won over 60 writing national awards.
Conservation Honors:
*March 20, 2015, named the 2014 Conservation Communicator of the year at the Conservation Federation of Missouri annual conference on
*February 27, 2016, named the 2015 Conservation Communicator of the year in Kansas.
(Kieser is the third man in history to win this prestigious award in both Missouri and Kansas.)