Twenty Questions With Walleye Pro Don Loch
A relative new comer to the Pro Walleye Tournament scene Don Loch is making a name for himself right out of the gate. In his second year he has several top ten finishes to his credit and a great reporte with the young kids who attend the weigh ins with their parents. He's a tall drink of water who towers over everyone in the crowd but is as down to earth as they come. Read below to learn more about what makes this man tick.
Also, join us in the Walleye Central Chat Room Wednesday night, December
22nd, at 7PM Central Time where you can visit with Don and ask him your
own "Twenty Questions".
 Juls: Who is Don Loch?
Don: Boy, that’s a difficult one; I hope they get easier after this. My wife is still trying to answer this question herself.
I guess I am a mixture of many things. I am the guy who loves being outdoors and watching everything around me just happen. Whether I am in a tree stand or in a boat it doesn’t matter to me. I love the idea of being in situations others might be uncomfortable with. I guess that is why I love the big water and being out fishing in 6 footers miles from shore and no one around. I took a co-angler that I fished with on Lake Winnebago this year, out on the Bay of Green Bay and it was very rough that day, 6 footers going out to Chambers and all of 7’s and 8’s coming back. About half way through our second run my partner said he thought I was nuts, I realized I had been grinning ear to ear like an idiot for the last half hour.
But I also like being home fart’n around with nothing, just putzin, accomplishing nothing at all. I love doing nothing; I’m really good at it.
Juls: How old were you when you went fishing for the first time? And, who
was it with?
Don: My Uncle Wally took me fishing, and shooting all the time, if it was outside we did it. I would guess I was about 5.
I sure miss that old guy. He treated my sister and I like his own.
Juls: What did you want to be when you grew up?
Don: This is an easy one, I wanted to be shorter. (He Laughs) I was 6’ in 4th grade. Actually I went to school to be a cop, always wanted to be one. My goal was to go to a big city and get involved with narcotics or homicide. When the incident happened with Rodney King my instructor, Marious, told me to forget it. He felt because I was white, male and , by the time I was to graduate, also too old.
That’s ok, I love what I do now.
Juls: What is your most memorable experience while fishing? (Either tournament or fun fishing...doesn't matter)
Don: I have had so many, I always have fun every time I get to go. Of course some people might question that if they saw me in action doing a bone headed move. It can get interesting.
But my most memorable experience was when I was about 5-6 years old and I was fishing with Uncle Wally at the Suamico boat landing in Suamico, WI.. It was either early spring or late fall because it was real cold. A boat just came in and they gave me a fish, I think it was a bluegill. I didn’t catch anything so I built a small “corral” for it and was playing with it when I fell in. I can still remember looking up at the sky from under the water and just floating there. I don’t know how long I was under but my Uncle pulled me out. It was cold but there was no way I was going home yet, I hadn’t caught a fish yet. I guess being nuts started young for me.
 Juls: How long have you been fishing tournaments and which event is/was
your favorite?
Don: This is getting easier. I have fished only two years. I did fish many years ago and messed around with local stuff, but basically I have been walleye fishing on and off for about eight years and involved in minor tournaments for two.
My favorite event was Detroit River this year. Probably because of all the hard work and the dream of getting involved with the professional side of angling was coming true. I had wanted to do this for along time. It would have happened sooner if I did not fall and break my back in 2001.
But after all this time everything just seemed to work out at Detroit. The fish were hungry and all you had to do was get it in the right zone and get ready to put lots of bandages on the fingers after culling all day. It was a great feeling and I had great co-anglers too.
I have to mention Lake Winnibigoshi also. I met a young man there, Dillon, and he ended up prefishing with me for 3 days while I was getting ready for the AIM tournament. I had a blast, he is an awesome kid and we still talk about once or twice a week. In fact he shot his first deer this year, a 7 pointer in Minnesota, and he is helping me pick out boats. It was a great experience and I now have new friends in Minnesota. I can’t wait for this winter when I go back there perch jerking with him.
Juls: Who are your sponsors?
Don: Myself mostly, but I am happy that some went out on a limb for me this year. Amsoil, local Subways, Optima batteries, TeamAmericasHeroes.com, and Green Bay Propeller. Its been a costly 2010 but 2011 is looking good already. I have been in front of my computer non stop these past few months writing letters and sending resumes out, I just sent out 187 new resumes. I am very happy how I did this year being my rookie year and it looks like it is paying off with some new sponsors. I actually might have a different wrap on my boat this year.
Juls: You recently went through something pretty scary...your truck,
camper, and boat went up in flames on the side of the highway (Yikes!)
What happened? And, what are you going to be driving (both truck and
boat) for the 2010 season?
 Don: Yea, I lost my boat, truck and camper. Boy, what a feeling watching it all burn. I only can say it happened fast. Someone behind me was trying to get my attention and I saw smoke. Long story short is I gave up trying to save anything once the boat cover caught…. It just went. I was in Green bay walleye and musky fishing, so I had everything in the boat. Its weird what you grab and what you leave behind when something like this happens. All I could get were three rods and my dirty clothes bag, (my wife was happy, she still got to wash my clothes) The side of the camper blew out and I had to get out of the area, I already burnt my hand and there were two propane tanks still in there along with 40+ gallons of gas. After all was done I lost all my walleye and musky fishing equipment. I can still go perch fishing with the rods I have, from shore. So what the heck, life is good.
The insurance paid off the truck and I am now the, very proud owner of a Toyota Tundra Rock Warrior. I love it and it has all the power I need towing my 5th wheel camper (the one that didn’t burn). As far as boats go, I am not sure yet, I really loved my Ranger 620, but after all this I have to take the best deal. (hint, hint)
I still have to replace all that equipment, I’m just going to take it one step at a time.
Juls: What do you do for a living, or do you fish and promote for a living?
Don: I own Loch Acoustic. We do interior, light gauge steel stud framing and also acoustical drop ceilings. Unfortunately its been a tough year and a half and I have had lots of time off, so why not fish. As far as doing this gig for a living (fishing) I’ll let you know in a couple years. Lol
Juls: Now that it's the "off season" what do you do?
Don: Hunt, hunt, hunt, hunt and oh yea, estimates for jobs.
Juls: When did you get your first boat, and what was it?
 Don: I was 16 and it was a 12’ olive green aluminum boat with a new (at the time) Sears Kingfisher 7.5 hp motor with a home made trailer.
I fished Lake Michigan with that boat in the fall and caught salmon like crazy. I even ran it out 5 plus miles during the summer to get at the trout. I have some picture around here somewhere, I’ll have to find them. Did I mention my dad thought I was nuts too.
Juls: Many anglers are all around outdoorsmen and hunt too...do you also
hunt? And, if so, what kind of hunting do you do?
Don: Archery is a passion, but give me a foot of snow and put my muzzle loader in my hands and I’ll see you whenever. I LOVE LATE SEASON MUZZLE LOADING !!!!!!!!!!!!! Colder the better, yea ha !!!! Actually I am getting ready to do just that while I am writing this. I will be in Richland Center, WI. this week and then I will continue up north in Michigan during December. Time to go BONE collecting.
Juls: What are your plans for the 2011 season?
Don: Hopefully get a boat. Lol
Actually I learned a lot from the other guys this year and after three top tens this past year I feel confident. I have met such great guys (and gals) that I really am excited to get at it again. I plan on fishing all FLW and I am waiting to see what happens with AIM‘s schedule. I did fish 6 FLW’s last year and 2 AIMs. So I do feel comfortable with a tight schedule. I’ve also been asked to team up with a partner for the MWC. I would like to try 1 or 2 team tourneys this year but I think they would have to fall into the same areas and times of the country to work out. Hope AIM’s schedule comes out soon. Time will be tough but I hope to get more people out fishing this year. Funny, sometimes its hard to find people to take fishing, maybe its my deodorant.
Juls: Do you guide? If so, how can people contact you?
Don: I don’t guide yet. But for now I take as many people out fishing as I can to promote fishing and especially ethics. I don’t allow any fish to be kept unless it is going on the wall (most don‘t want to keep the fish anyway). I do this for free for children, men and women that do not have the chance to fish with any regularity. I like to thank people that do good things in the communities by taking them fishing. I take a lot of police, firemen and veterans out. This is my way to thank them. I wish more people would appreciate them for what they do for us.
Its pretty simple just log onto www.TeamAmericasHeroes.com and send me some info about you or someone you want me to take fishing. I do the best I can with one boat. I am always in need of more to help take people out. Its a lot of work but when you get that one kid that catches a fish, its worth it. Besides, I want to be out there fishing anyway.
Juls: Of all the waters you have fished in your lifetime, what are your
top five favs? And, why?
Don:
*Dolan Lake in Wisconsin for Lg. Mouth bass and huge bluegills
*Fort Loudoud in Tenn. for monster crappies (we actually troll for them)( I’m going there in Feb.)
*Lake Erie
*Green Bay
*A small unnamed lake in the U.P for big 10-12 inch bluegills with a fly rod and float tube. (awesome!)
Juls: Who are some of your fishing idols? Who did you look up to when you
first got into tournament fishing?
Don: Another hard one. I have watched and read so much over the past 10 years that I have to thank them all. Without the information they provide thru seminars, articles, TV shows and DVD’s I probably still would be looking in instead of out.
I watched a lot of Al Linder and actually, I got to get my picture taken with him after the Leach Lake Championship this year, that was cool. But this year has been great meeting and talking with pros like Jason Przekurat, Paul Meleen, Dan Stier, Tommy Skarlis, Pat Neu, and all the rest. They have been great.
Its funny , I have always had a hard time “bottom bouncing“ (no patience for snags), but Tommy Skarlis showed his technique at the AIM championship, I went out and bought 2 new 7+ foot St. Croix’s and I used them on Leach Lake, the technique worked great locating walleyes pre fishing. And now I have another technique to add. Thanks Tom!
Juls: Do you do any kids events?
Don: Definitely………….. TeamAmericasHeroes.com were involved with 4 weekend events this year for kids. One was up on Caldron Falls in Wi. with the BWMC (Back Water Musky Club), one was on the Bay of Green Bay with “Take em Outdoors” (kids that have illnesses) and two other small events. I love it, kids need this and enjoy it so much. Anytime I can get a child out fishing is awesome for me.
Juls: What is your favorite presentation to use? What is the most fun for
you?
Don: Light tackle rigging with chubs for sure !!! Watching my Lowrance locator and seeing a bolder with a fish next to it, then feeling the chub get “nervous” because a big old “eye” is lickin his lips, no way can it be any better !!!! Yea ha!! Fish on baby !!!!!!!!!!! Any other questions?! Lol
Juls: How do you break down a body of water you've never fished before?
How do you approach your prefishing?
Don: Trade secret (Laughs)……………….. Everyone of the tournaments I fished in this past year were on bodies of water that I have never fished before, except Green Bay (and I stunk!)(just ask Jason P. , I think he was giggling at me the whole time)
What I do is find out were the water is and find out past tournaments at these bodies of water. I find out where and what was used. Then I bring my Lowrance inside for the winter and plug in the appropriate navionics chip, and get to work. Of course things change, water temps, water elevation, pressure, etc. but I have ideas and a starting point before I get there. Once I get there and look at the body of water, I take out all that info I learned over the winter and toss it in the garbage and go have a beer. (lol) Seriously though, I do as much homework as possible and gather as much info as possible, and I am not afraid to burn tons of gas looking.
Juls: What are you most proud of in your life?
Don: You are asking “what” am I most proud of. I would have to say starting up and running my own business for the last 6 years is at the top of the very small list of achievements. And also I am proud of what I have accomplished so far with my fishing career . It might be a little less stressful with partners but I run alone and it s working.
I would prefer to answer “who” am I most proud of? My wife is the most amazing woman. I have done some pretty bone headed things in my life an I wouldn’t mind changing a couple things, but I wouldn’t change being married to my wife. She lets me do anything within reason with no complaints, I can fish, hunt and be gone working for a month and she’s fine. She’s a very strong woman when it comes to being patient with me. There’s not too many wife’s that will let their husbands do what I do.
Juls: If you could only give ONE piece of advice to a new angler who
wanted to start fishing tournaments professionally, what would that be?
 Don: I’m probably going to sound like a broken record but you have to believe in yourself and your abilities. This is my first year and I can relate with new anglers wanting to get into tournament angling, and I am talking about taking the next step after local events and such.
A one day tournament held at your local lake is fun and I have a ball with them but it is different, you have to commit yourself to those couple of days of fishing, whether its 2 or 3 days. No mater what the weather throws at you , you have to keep practicing and fishing. Its turned into actual work, but fun work. You have to ask yourself if you can push yourself physically, and mentally fishing in 6’ waves for 2-3 days, freezing you butt off, so cold you can’t unclip the boards without a pliers.
Some people think this thing we do is easy, just catch fish and get paid, I wish. I do get paid at most tournaments, maybe not by cashing a check but by what I feel, and you wont know what I mean until your number is next and you throw that throttle down, hold on and plow through those waves that the 40 boats ahead of you turned up. At the end of the day when you return and your boat is broken and your back, neck and legs hurt and you stand up there with a limit of walleye and look out into the faces of the people that wish they were in your shoes, only then will you understand why we do it, and how I get paid.
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