The Pierce Brothers, Michael Scherer to be Inducted into the Texas Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame

The Pierce Brothers, Michael Scherer to be Inducted into the Texas Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame

March 18, 2026

Media Contact: TPWD News, Business Hours, 512-389-8030

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ATHENS - The Texas Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame has announced the inductees for the class of 2026 - the Pierce brothers (Clayton and late brother Jason) of Alba and Michael Scherer of Houston.

The Pierce brothers own and operate Lake Fork Taxidermy, which creates fish replicas for clients across the world, including replicas awarded to anglers who contribute Legacy Class fish to the Toyota ShareLunker Program. Scherer, program director of Fishing's Future, has shaped angler education throughout Texas with countless volunteer hours through TPWD's angler education program and a multitude of other groups and organizations.

"This year's inductees are incredible ambassadors when it comes to Texas freshwater fishing, and their achievements have had tremendous positive impacts for the sport of fishing worldwide," said Kelly Jordon, Texas Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame selection committee chairman. "The Pierce brothers are innovators who revolutionized the taxidermy industry with their fish replicas-giving anglers something to commemorate their catch of a lifetime while promoting conservation. Michael has touched the lives of thousands of people through his work on educating anglers across the country and world. He has also been a champion for conservation and making sure we care for and are good stewards of the natural world. The Pierce brothers and Michael were resoundingly selected to be the 2026 inductees, and the Hall of Fame is proud to have them."

More than 30 years ago the Pierce brothers decided to follow their dreams and love of fishing by opening Lake Fork Taxidermy. The goal was to help anglers remember their special catches while at the same time help them become stewards of natural resources. Anglers had limited options for fish replicas when the Pierce Brothers arrived on the scene with their new venture.

"From a very early age our dad was teaching us conservation," said Clayton Pierce. "We were kids fishing family ponds in Arkansas and always releasing the bass and only harvesting the bluegill and crappie. Releasing any fish infuriated my grandma, so imagine her shock when we started down this career path. It's been an honor to be a part of the many TPWD programs and projects over the years. My late brother, business partner of 32 years, and best friend Jason would be so proud today."

Anglers traveled from all over the country to Lake Fork in search of largemouth bass, and the Pierce brothers were there to help commemorate their catches. They spent countless hours with anglers showing them what quality replicas look like. They traveled to local marinas to measure fish and taught all hours of the day and night in their studio.

The Pierce brothers' philanthropic efforts extended to a multitude of charities and organizations. They donated fish replicas to patients at St. Jude Hospital and the Make a Wish Foundation along with young anglers at Camp Bass. The Pierce brothers also provided donations and auction items for projects at the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center.

They conducted seminars on fish replicas at bass clubs and boat shows, and fish replica painting seminars through the Texas Taxidermy Association. The brothers have also played an integral role in the emergence of catch and release and fish conservation in Texas. In total, they have aided in the return of more than 20,000 fish to the water thanks to collaborating with anglers for fish replicas.

"Supporting Texas fisheries has always been a part of who we are at Lake Fork Taxidermy, whether it be making replicas for the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center or the Toyota ShareLunker program, it's just part of who we are, but it's nice to be recognized," said Pierce. "It always seemed like such a shame to see those big bass harvested for skin mounts and not released for someone else to catch. That's why we really worked hard to make such beautiful replica mounts that look better and last longer. It saved big bass for others. We didn't fully realize how much of an impact our work would have on conserving Texas' big bass. We just knew it was the right thing to do."

Michael Scherer is the program director of Fishing's Future, which has a mission to reconnect youth to family, strengthen family relationships, reconnect families to nature and teach environmental stewardship. Additionally, the program aims to increase awareness for the protection, conservation and restoration of the nation's aquatic natural resources and increase participation in recreational angling.

Throughout his life, Scherer has strived to be a good steward of the environment. This can be seen through his involvement in Scouting America's 'Leave No Trace' program. It is also apparent in his volunteer work with local school districts.

"I'm still kind of numb from receiving the call from Kelly Jordon, chairman of the Texas Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame selection committee," said Scherer. "I do not do this work for me. It's always for families, teachers and students. When I took the call, my mind started racing. It was like somebody noticed what I was doing. Maybe something I said at a presentation or changed somebody's life or career path. You just don't think like that because you don't think about yourself or the word 'me.' It's about everybody else."

In 2014, he worked with the Hutsell Elementary School Council to launch the Green Hornets group, which meets four times a year to learn about water issues and conduct a park cleanup. The catalyst for this initiative was a day of fishing that captured more trash and fishing line than fish at a local community park. Scherer went on to write an instructional guide for anglers entitled "Prevent Monofilament from Becoming the Next Invasive." The guide provides instructions for how to build, install and manage monofilament fishing line collection tubes so that the line may be recycled. The guide is being used across the nation in programs, clubs and colleges.

In 2016, Scherer started the 2^nd CASTSolutions program, which collects used fishing tackle and gear that is refurbished, cleaned up and issued to families and other groups to help advance the sport of fishing. He also piloted a program called "First Catch Centers" in conjunction with Fishing's Future and the Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation that brings additional educational fishing opportunities to families.

Scherer teaches angler education events with Fishing's Future across the United States. He was certified as a TPWD Angler Education Instructor in 2011, and, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Scherer adapted the traditionally in-person program into an interactive online experience, which allowed angler education and TPWD certification workshops to continue to be offered. He has conducted more than 100 angler education instructor workshops, training more than 1,200 angler education instructors and contributing more than 8,000 volunteer hours. Scherer has taught more than 1,100 freshwater fishing classes, reaching more than 43,400 youth and nearly 31,000 adults.

"Teaching people how to fish and getting text messages that read 'I didn't catch a fish, we caught a fish!' is what's most rewarding to me," said Scherer. "That's the driving point of everything that I have ever done. It is all about the family and making sure they get out there together."

Scherer has coined the saying, "Teaching today, to catch one tomorrow", which embodies his mission to educate anglers of all ages. For his efforts in teaching others the basics of fishing and stewardship, Scherer received TPWD's Sapphire Award in 2024 and has been honored with the President's Lifetime Achievement Award for Volunteer Service.

"I think what comes to my mind on being inducted into the Hall of Fame is that I need to do more," says Scherer. "I'm overjoyed and deeply honored for my name to be going up on a wall with people that mean the world to me and who helped me grow - my heroes and mentors. That wall is a massive food web of giving, teachable skills, stewardship, giving back, and conservation. That wall is dedicated to individuals who have changed lives and I still haven't been able to fathom that yet. My family and every person I have ever educated, tied a knot with, or caught a fish with are going to be up there with me on that wall. My family today will see me with my heroes, and when my grandkids visit the Hall of Fame, they are going to say, 'That's my Pops.' I just can't get over that, right now, every time I think about it. It's such an incredible honor to be recognized for something that you were just doing because it is how I share my passion."

About the Texas Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame

The Texas Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame is located at the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center in Athens. Its mission is to "recognize and honor those who have made a lasting contribution to freshwater fishing in Texas, and to foster a sense of appreciation, awareness and participation in the sport of fishing."

Since 1997, the Hall of Fame has inducted 41 individuals and organizations, including Ann Thomasson-Wilson of Jasper, Texas and Rick Clunn of Ava, Missouri in 2025. The Pierce brothers and Scherer will be inducted as the 42nd and 43rd members during a ceremony at the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center in October. For photos of the recent Hall of Fame induction banquet, visit the TPWD Flickr page. To see the videos about each of the 41 members, visit TPWD on YouTube.

Nominations are accepted year-round, while forms and instructions are available online or by calling (903) 676-2277.