10/14/2024
This picture really says it all… But I still go ahead and give you the breakdown and my thoughts. Coming into this tournament, I knew we were in the lead for Team of the Year, but I honestly didn’t even look at the standings much or worry about who was sitting where. It’s always the same mentality; what are the fish doing, where are they at, how can we pattern and catch the big ones? The rest will take care of itself.
When practice started last Tuesday, I hadn’t been on the lake for over a month as we were traveling Europe and fishing the Predator World Championships. The first thing I noticed was the open water basin fish were not in a good mood. The water was still 68 degrees, it was mixed as my Fish Hawk showed the exact temp top to bottom, and the fish were scattered. A big bag on an open water trolling bite was just not going to happen. We also had some nautical shifting winds making the lake seiche back and forth which would create major current seams along small shallow pieces of structure, hence key ambush points for fall walleye. We started to put it together Wednesday evening, and by the time practice was over, we had a milk run of about 12 different spots we felt like we could snipe some big walleyes, and all close to takeoff; which was key considering the big winds we were going to have for both tourney days.
The fishing was an absolute riot. We would drift these keys areas and snipe the fish using Lowrance Active Target. When the current was strong, it was mostly a jig and a crawler or blade right near the bottom. As the current slacked off, the fish would rise off the bottom and we’d pick them off with a Berkley finisher or glide bait.
I can’t say enough about the Fenwick world class walleye rods I was using. The 6’9” MF matched with a size 30 Abu Garcia MGX reel and Berkley X9 braid; it’s like the rod becomes part of your hand. Not only does the rod explode in your hand when the big walleyes thump your bait, but I could feel every little peck from the nuisance 2” white perch, and I could also feel the difference in my jig if my crawler got tangled up, hence making for extremely efficient fishing. I have to give props to Dakota Lithium as well, reliable all day power in extremely strong winds and currents. I worked that trolling motor HARD, no issues whatsoever and super clean electronics reading all day.
For the 2 year in a row, we won the Lake Erie Walleye Trail championship event and the Team of the Year title, and this year we added in 1st place big fish pot and 3rd in the Fat 5! Total purse $29,105! I never thought an ice cold water poured over my head on a 50 degree day would feel so good. Huge thanks to Julia Buddie and my girls for supporting me and being there to celebrate the big wins! Also major shout out to my teammates Tyler, Joe, Mike, Bryan, and Jason, TOY doesn’t happen without them. And Jason Fischer and the LEWT crew, this is the best walleye circuit around, hands down. And last but not least, my sponsors, please support these great companies that are the best in the business and all have great people working for them…
Marine Detail Supply Company Port Clinton
Marine Detail Supply Company
Starke Yacht Care
Vic's Sports Center
Mercury Marine
Dakota Lithium Batteries
Lowrance
Berkley Fishing
Abu Garcia
Fenwick Fishing
Off Shore Tackle Company
Ranger Boats
Aqua Traction
Power-Pole Total Boat Control
