Biography of an Outdoor Personality and Educator

There are expert anglers in every corner of North America, but only a small percentage of fishing's finest possess the skills necessary to communicate and educate. Outdoor personality and professional guide Chip Leer is one of the elite.

Chip is a northwoods sportsman through and through. For a decade and a half, Chip guided on such legendary waters as Lake of the Woods, Lake Kabetogama, Rainy Lake, Lake Mille Lacs, and Leech Lake, where he presently guides. Chip directs the Leech Lake Guide Coalition, which he founded during the mid 1990's, and his annual competition, The Leech Lake Mercury Walleye Classic, has evolved into one of the Midwest's largest walleye tournaments. 

He has authored a number of fishing articles, which have appeared in Midwest Outdoors, Minnesota Sportsman, Outdoor News, Fish & Game Finder, and several local newspapers. Chip has provided valuable content, through interviews, to the Minneapolis Star & Tribune, Chicago Sun Times, North American Fisherman, In-Fisherman, and others. 

Chip's recognizable voice is heard weekly on over 20 radio stations. He regularly contributes to Bear Facts & Fish Tales (am 1500 KSTP), which is a syndicated outdoors show based in the Twin Cities, as well as Minneapolis and St. Paul's KFAN (am 1130) and Mike Jackson Outdoors out of Chicago, IL. Currently, Chip broadcasts fishing/hunting reports and fishing tips on KLLZ (Brainerd/Bemidji/Park Rapids/Walker, MN).

Despite his regular-radio and print impressions, Chip Leer is best known as a television personality. Since 1992, he's been a staple segment-host on Midwest Outdoors' popular outdoor program. Chip has also done television work with North American Fisherman, Ron Schara's Minnesota Bound, Venture North Outdoors Show, local news programs, and several other regional outdoor shows.

Chip Leer and professional angler Tommy Skarlis recently teamed up to emcee the 2000 Minnesota Pro-Am Bass Tour (formerly Silverado) and host the affiliated show which airs on Midwest Sports Channel. Their on-stage charisma and playfully combative chemistry has drawn a lot of attention in bass fishing circles!

Chip's latest and greatest work is again with Tommy Skarlis. Together they've created On Ice Tour, which is an intensive effort directed at expanding the sport of ice fishing. Chip and Tommy, ice fishing's Dynamic Duo, offer public seminars and kid's clinics; appear at in-store events; exhibit at sport shows and ice fishing competitions; broadcast a weekly radio show and conduct hands-on product demonstrations. On Ice Tour publishes an annual ice fishing magazine (On Ice), and they can be found on the Internet at http://www.onicetour.com