Walleye Masters Institute is Successful!!

[Juls_WI]

I just wanted to post a thank you to Ted Takasaki, Mike Norris, Ron Seelhoff, John Campbell, and Tom Keenan for an outstanding performance today! Each Pro gave an hour long seminar that was packed full of good information. You name it and they covered it! They fed us lunch and at the end of the class they raffled off some great prizes. Scott Richardson, a regular poster on Walleye Central, won the Grand Prize of a expense paid trip for two to Anderson's Resort on Lac Seul (sp?). Way to go Scott!
Enjoy it..;-)
I had a great time today! Thanks!

Juls

[steve(IL)]

Right on! This was my first WMI and I really enjoyed it! I was impressed how many people raised their hands when Ted asked who had participated in previous WMI's. Some people told me this was their 5th one! It was a good education w/ tons of question and answer.

Some people came a long way to participate. It might be nice to have a Friday night mixer if that isn't already being done. It was great to get to meet other WC folks and it's always nice to see Juls :-).

[Reels]

I agree, this being my 5th WMI, it was another greet day in March. I was dissapointed in Mike Norris though. I did not like his informercial on the lakemap company. It is nice to know its out there, but it was more of a sales pitch than education. I have seen his seminars for over ten years, and I have learned alot from them in the past. Other than that, Great Seminar!!!

[CJW]

LAST EDITED ON Mar-04-01 AT 08:36AM (CST)[p] Is Tom Keenan still a fireball like last year I enjoyed him the most last year. Sorry I had to miss, but it landed on the snowmobile auction in Bronson Mich. the same day. Nephew wrecked my 4 wheeler needed to look for another one. Will see Ted talk at Lunkers in Edwardburg Mich. today. I enjoy his talks also. Will get there next year for sure. Craig

[reels]

Oh yea, Tom is still a fireball. Another great presentation with alot of humor. Ron really blew me away. I have allways heard he was shy, but he had us rolling on the floor. Funny guy with great fishing knowledge.

[delgue]

How was Ron Seeloffs seminar? thanks in advance

[Juls_WI]

Each Gentleman gave an hour long seminar examining such topics as, structure fishing, trolling tricks, and how to catch river walleye & Sauger.
Ted gave an excellent overview of fishing structure. His first piece of advice was to "visualize it". Know the structure your fishing. He went on to talk about how sonar helps us to read what's below us. To help an angler learn what the sonar is telling him/her, it is recommended to use an underwater camera to clarify what they see. What does a sand bottom look like compared to a muck bottom. Rocks, sand grass, and the different kinds of weeds all make a differnt pattern on the screen. Learn to read those patterns and you will understand what your sonar is telling you. It will help you put more fish in the boat. He talked about structure and used pictures to help us identify with what areas he was specifically talking about. That was very helpful.
Ron Seelhoff was a hoot! He started out a bit nervous, but warmed up to us pretty quickly. He had the crowd roaring with laughter with some of his down to earth analogies. He had some good stories to tell. He went over some trolling tricks with us. Ron talked about boat control, and how important it is to control the boat around structures and points. Getting the boat in the right place is critical to catching the winning fish, he said. He discussed when to use flatlines and when to use boards. What type of line should be used and why. He uses this rule of thumb: Use monofilament for 10 feet and under, a superline for up to 17 foot of water, and lead core for 17 foot and deeper. If you want to know why, you will just have to sit in on one of his scarce seminars! It was a real treat to be able to hear his stories, since he doesn't do seminars very often. He did a long question and answer session, and shared a lot of experiences.

Mike Norris amused us with his jokes and talked about the new lake map cd's. They look like a real good deal. There are a lot of details in these maps and they have the capabilities of downloading or uploading information. They can be seen at www.lakemap.com.
John Campbell shared his secrets for catching walleye and sauger in rivers. He explained the difference between a natural river and an channel river. A "channel river" would be a river that has commercial barges running up and down it. The Illinois and Mississippi rivers are examples of a channelized river. A natural river is a river that is, well, natural. There are no barges running these rivers. He talked about the seasons and what to expect at each time of year. John talked about the different places a walleye is probably going to hang out in each season too. He talked about locations such as, the dam, wingdams, eddies, holes, and flats, and how to fish them. What presentations would work best where and when. John showed us how to break down 39 miles of river to only 600 feet of water to focus our efforts on. Water that would hold the best concentration of fish. He talked about jigging, how to drag a jig properly, and cranking.
Tom Keenan was the highlight of the day with his fast talking antics! He is an excellent speaker, and kept us all laughing throughout the entire seminar. Just don't try to take notes while listening to him talk. You won't be able to keep up to him! He covered everything in his hour. He covered topics from the advantages of trolling, equipment, line, planer boards, lures, depth control, hooks, locating fish (starting points), to getting started. It was truly an amazing seminar.

They were all very informative. Thanks again guys!

Juls

[delgue]

thanks for the detail on the speakers- how i wish i could have made it, especially for Ron Seeloff and Anderson. Was there last year, Keenan was the most entertianing, Probst the most legendarY-a thousand great campfire stories in one hour!
I wonder why the PWT does not affiliate with local Walleye Clubs to organize the logistics of space rental, and put on a series of Walleye Institutes during the highgt of cabin fever season within the Walleye Belt.
Doing the math, subtracting the exorbitant fee the Holiday Inn charges for the daily rental of a conference room, it would seem feasiable to bring on Pros to give important seminars on thier technique for catching walleye.
anyway , wish i coulda been there!

[Jay Angel]

I disagree about witht he comment about Mike Norris's seminar. I think that the Lake Master CD was useful information and I have already ordered one for myself. In fact, I wrote about that part of his seminar in my lastest article. I believe that not every fisherman can afford an $800 Global Map 2000, this mapping software just made the less expensive GPS units more useful.

Jay Angel

[Larry]

Several of these speakers are members of Walleyes Unlimited, USA and do seminars at the local club meetings. They always pack the house and you need to arrive early when they talk. Each month features a speaker at both the Illinois and Wisconsin meeting. Check out the club listings on the main page for more details.

[jedeye master]

Well said! Another great way to spend a saturday when you can't be on open water. Great lectures,great food,great participents,great raffle, nuff said. See ya all next year!
the jedeye master

[Gunga Din]

I wish they'd bring their seminars out west, as we usually don't get these types of opportunities. I know they'd fill up fast!

Jealous in Salt Lake

[Delgue]

Larry where is the Illinos meeting held?

[Techcampus Walleye]

The Walleyes Unlimited meetings are the second Wednesday of the month at Bass Pro in Gurnee, Ill and the last Wednesday of the month at Classic Lanes in Oakcreek, Wisconsin. Start at 7:00 p.m. Mark Brumbaugh spoke this last meeting at Bass Pro and Mark Martin is scheduled for the month of March. Past speakers this year included Jay Janny (PWT & MWC), Dale Stroshein (PWT), Mark Brumbaugh to name a few. Excellent club with excellent outings, contest and best of all speakers!!

[Jesse-WI]

Your locations are the exact opposite of what they should say. Basspro shop is last Wednesday of the month.

[Techcampus Walleye]

You are correct...I apologize for getting them switched. Thanks for the clarification and help. Bass Pro the last Wednesday and Oakcreek the second Wednesday of the month.