BILLY GIANQUINTO

"Billy G," as he's known across America, is best recognized as one of the world's best duck callers, the inventor of specialty calls for teal and wigeon used by thousands, and a conservationist who has led dozens of fundraisers for wetland protection.

For 38 years, he has provided thousands of seminars, including volunteer fundraising seminars for the California Waterfowl Association and other groups. He has freely revealed his techniques in more than 300 appearances on television shows and DVDs.

Gianquinto has also worked extensively with youth education. With the Boy Scouts of America, he has taught rowing and canoeing for 45 years, and has also taught flyfishing at the Golden Gate Casting Ponds in San Francisco, among many volunteer outreach programs.

MARTY MACDONNELL

McDonnell of Sierra Mac River trips, is the premier outfitter on the Tuolumne River, an inventor whose ideas have affected thousands, and a prominent conservationist who has inspired many to protect the state's rivers.

As a rafter, McDonnell made the first descent of the Cherry Creek/Upper Tuolumne run and began commercial rafting on the hairball ride. He was the only outfitter allowed to run the Middle Fork of the Feather River.

McDonnell has dedicated his life to getting thousands of people safely and comfortably down whitewater rivers. He invented the first self-bailing cataraft, helped develop the Sotar self-bailing raft, and invented the "boom truck" now used by all rafting companies at takeout.

He created a new way to rescue people caught at waterfalls, now the standard technique for guides.

McDonnell is a charter member of the Tuolumne River Preservation Trust and helped saved the Tuolumne River and the Clavey River from getting dammed. The only book written about The T, "Rocks and Rapids of the Tuolumne River," by W.H. Wright in 1983, is dedicated to "Mr. Tuolumne, Marty McDonnell."

JERRY KARNOW

Karnow is the state's No. 1 wildlife detective, the political leader of game wardens in California, and an avid hunter and angler with a specialty for tracking big game in remote locations.

As a game warden, Karnow has donated thousands of hours beyond his normal shifts, using FBI-type detective skills, to bust hundreds of poaching cases. One such case was profiled on national television and attracted attention to California's force of game wardens from across America.

He is the political leader for game wardens; after election, Gov. Jerry Brown had a meeting with Karnow.

He's an avid hunter and angler, fishing salt and freshwater, and hunting deer, elk, antelope, upland game and waterfowl throughout the west. The past season he took a lifetime-best mule deer in remote terrain that required 11 hours to pack out.

Karnow has an easy, friendly personality that engages the public and puts people at ease, regardless of their backgrounds. In the process, he has become one of the state's most effective advocates for fishing and wildlife conservation and enforcement.

SKEET REESE

Reese is a world-renown bass fisherman and ambassador for fishing. He won worldwide fame in 2009 when he won first place in the national Bassmaster Classic in Alabama.

As a tournament angler, he has 48 top 10 finishes and five wins, including first place in 2010 at the Smith Mountain Lake Classic in Virginia and also at Potomac River in 2007. He was BASS Angler of the Year in 2007.

In 2010, Western Outdoor News named Reese as California's No. 1 bass fisherman. Reese is also one of the most sought-after speakers in fishing. He not only provides insight to his special world, but also reveals exactly what lures and locations he uses to attain his record catches.

On television, his name evokes instant recognition among anglers. In the process, Reese has not only attained greatness, but has inspired thousands to go fishing.

His seminars on flipping and pitching, sight-fishing at Clear Lake for 10-pound bass, are landmarks in the fishing world. He has just the right mix of enthusiasm, craft excellence and mental toughness to make him one of the top anglers in California history.