Brothers Al and Ron Lindner of Brainerd have established formidable business careers based on nearly unparalleled abilities to fish well, and to teach others how to fish well.

But most critical to their successes might be their mutual capacity to dream big.

Whether inventing a walleye rig, building a publishing empire or developing cutting-edge video production studios that develop television shows and advertisements, Al and Ron always deliver.

Turns out, it's a family trait.

Today, Dawn and Jim, Dan, Troy and Bill Lindner, the next generation, inspire the day-to-day operations at Lindner Media Productions in Baxter, just outside Brainerd. (Jim and Dan are co-owners. Bill is a noted photo­grapher and videographer who owns Bill Lindner Photography.)

This includes resurrecting a summer camp Al and Ron once owned whose instructors taught kids, and adults, about fish and fishing.

"Camp Fish" was purchased by the brothers in 1983. Located on a pristine lake near Walker, in northern Minnesota, the camp offered kids and adults opportunities to receive detailed fishing instruction in weeklong settings.

Instruction was graduated, and many campers returned year after year to improve their fishing knowledge. Canadian fly-ins were part of the coursework, as were adult/child sessions, adult workshops and celebrity fishing gatherings that raised money so disadvantaged kids could attend the camp.

Though highly regarded by its staff and students, Camp Fish was closed in 1991.

Now Troy, among others at Lindner Media, is "rebooting" the camp in a big-idea attempt to stave off fishing-participation declines occurring across the country.

"We'll run the camp at its old site for a few weeks next summer," Troy Lindner said, "while also looking for ways to expand it outside of Chicago and other metropolitan areas nationwide."

Work is underway to update the camp's curriculum, and some of the camp's original instructors have signed on to lead next summer's sessions, Troy said.

The resort-type setting that once was Camp Fish is now a wilderness retreat for veterans and their families. The Lindners will rent the facility for a few weeks next summer to house the re-imagined Camp Fish.

But first, a 25-year reunion will be held at the once-and-future camp site this Friday and Saturday, with many of Camp Fish's original staff and campers expected to attend.

"Camp Fish played a big role in the lives of a lot of people, and helped to develop their lifelong interest in fishing," Troy Lindner said. "People have fond memories of it."

For more information, contact Troy Lindner at 218-829-9500 or info@mycampfish.com. • danderson@startribune.com