The Early Days
Algona Marine & Sport, Inc., is a family owned and operated business founded in 1943 by Walter A. Hall. It was originally opened as Algona Implement, Inc., primarily an International Harvester equipment dealership. Walter laid the ground work for the transition into the marine business by carrying Blue Water Boats on a limited basis. In 1970, Bill came aboard. Convinced Lund boats and Mariner outboards were the wave of the future, and that he could sell boats in the middle of nowhere (in boating terms), Bill started selling boats in 1979.
In 1985, with the farm economy in less than desirable condition, and Bill’s passion for boating, he made the transition into primarily a marine store with other recreational vehicles, and exited the farm equipment business.
Bill has always had a love for the water, spending most of his free time fishing and boating. 1982 was the same year professional walleye tournaments started and Bill started fishing in them. In 1985, Bill started fishing the pro walleye tournaments with his son Chad. They went on to compile several top-20 finishes in a couple of years. Chad joined Bill full-time at the store in 1986. By 1987, the marine business was starting to really grow and Bill had to stay at the dealership to take care of the business.
The Professional Fishing Circuit
Chad went on to team up with Bob Propst, Jr., on the Manufacturers Walleye Circuit. Chad and Bob had great success in three years. They were the youngest team competing, at the ages of 18 and 19 years respectively, and one of the most competitive on the circuit. In 1999, the Professional Walleye Trail was started with one inaugural event at Mille Lacs Lake. Chad fished the entire PWT in 2000 and won the Midwest regional event, becoming the youngest winner on the PWT, a record that still stands today. In 2001, Chad won the Western Regional and became the first ever multiple winner on the PWT. At the end of the 2001 season, Chad was the highest all-time money winner. Chad had many top-ten finishes and hit the winner's circle again in 1997 at the PWT Super Pro, becoming the second person ever to win three PWT Championship events.
 All of this success was brought home to Algona Marine & Sport, Inc., and shared with all of their customers. Every new Lund is professionally rigged for fishermen, by fishermen.
A Roll-Reversal
The tide as changed again, and in 2007 Chad “retired” from the pro fishing circuit and traded places with Bill. Now Bill is traveling all over, fishing competitively and having a great deal of success. Bill did not stop fishing tournaments competitively; he just does not fish a whole circuit. He also has had a lot of success by winning the Wave Wacker Tournament in 1991— the largest team tournament at the time.
Over the years, Algona Marine & Sport, Inc., has won many sales & service awards. In 2006 they received the Mercury CSI Customer Service Award. There are 5,700 Mercury dealers in the United States, and only 61 dealers received this coveted award.
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