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03-12-2004, 02:30 PM
03/12/04
D'Arcy Egan
Plain Dealer Outdoors Writer
Gary Parsons is on his way to Cleveland today for the 67th annual Cleveland Sport, Travel and Outdoor Show at the International Exposition Center. The walleye fishing expert is looking forward to returning this summer, when big walleyes and money will be on the line.
Cleveland will host its first major walleye tournament on July 21-23, the In-Fisherman Professional Walleye Trail's Lowrance/Lund Pro-Am. Central Lake Erie is the perfect location at just the right time of year, said Parsons, featured on this show's fishing stage Saturday at 5 p.m. and Sunday at noon and 4 p.m.
"When the pro anglers' advisory council met with PWT officials last year on potential sites for summer tournaments, Cleveland was at the top of our list," said Parsons, of Glidden, Wis. "It's a super place for big walleyes, and the weather on Lake Erie is usually pretty good at that time of year."
Parsons and his teammate and brother-in-law, Keith Kavajecz of Kaukauna, Wis., are two of the country's top walleye pros. Both have sparkled in Lake Erie tournaments.
"We've caught some great stringers of walleye right off Cleveland in the past," said Parsons. "We know there will also be big schools of walleye to the east in the Fairport Harbor area, as well as to the west off Lorain and Vermilion.
"I expect that we'll have a blast in Cleveland and catch lots of big fish."
Parsons will focus on two top methods for catching Lake Erie walleye in his seminars this weekend. He'll tackle vertical jigging for walleye, a springtime mainstay around western Lake Erie, and summertime deep-water trolling with lead core line.
"The lead core line techniques have really been at the core of our success the last two years and helped Keith and me win more than $200,000," said Parsons. "It is a way to more naturally take a lure to walleye, no matter how deep they are, without using diving planers, add-on weights or downriggers.
"Using lead core line is an artistic way of trolling for walleye and more difficult than regular trolling. But it is more flexible, a reason it has become a major weapon in our arsenal."
The Professional Walleye Trail also will be featured at the Cleveland Sportsman's Show with tour head Jim Kalkofen and tournament director Charlie Moore staffing a show exhibit.
Outdoor experts also on stage this weekend include Port Clinton's Rick Nemecek on waterfowl hunting; steelhead trout expert Jeff Liskay of North Olmsted; and bass angler Shawn McCarten. Bowhunter Chuck Adams will be featured March 19-21; In-Fisherman's Dave Csanda tackles walleye and crappie fishing on March 19-20; Tom Keenan will talk trolling for walleyes on March 17; turkey experts include Steve Lecorchick (March 17 and March 20-21) and Alex Vedrinski (March 16-17); and Don Schonauer will cover fly-fishing for steelhead trout (March 19-21).
To reach this Plain Dealer reporter:
degan@plaind.com, 216-999-6136
© 2004 The Plain Dealer. Used with permission. » Send This Page | » Print This Page
http://www.cleveland.com/outdoors/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/sports/1079087455253911.xml
D'Arcy Egan
Plain Dealer Outdoors Writer
Gary Parsons is on his way to Cleveland today for the 67th annual Cleveland Sport, Travel and Outdoor Show at the International Exposition Center. The walleye fishing expert is looking forward to returning this summer, when big walleyes and money will be on the line.
Cleveland will host its first major walleye tournament on July 21-23, the In-Fisherman Professional Walleye Trail's Lowrance/Lund Pro-Am. Central Lake Erie is the perfect location at just the right time of year, said Parsons, featured on this show's fishing stage Saturday at 5 p.m. and Sunday at noon and 4 p.m.
"When the pro anglers' advisory council met with PWT officials last year on potential sites for summer tournaments, Cleveland was at the top of our list," said Parsons, of Glidden, Wis. "It's a super place for big walleyes, and the weather on Lake Erie is usually pretty good at that time of year."
Parsons and his teammate and brother-in-law, Keith Kavajecz of Kaukauna, Wis., are two of the country's top walleye pros. Both have sparkled in Lake Erie tournaments.
"We've caught some great stringers of walleye right off Cleveland in the past," said Parsons. "We know there will also be big schools of walleye to the east in the Fairport Harbor area, as well as to the west off Lorain and Vermilion.
"I expect that we'll have a blast in Cleveland and catch lots of big fish."
Parsons will focus on two top methods for catching Lake Erie walleye in his seminars this weekend. He'll tackle vertical jigging for walleye, a springtime mainstay around western Lake Erie, and summertime deep-water trolling with lead core line.
"The lead core line techniques have really been at the core of our success the last two years and helped Keith and me win more than $200,000," said Parsons. "It is a way to more naturally take a lure to walleye, no matter how deep they are, without using diving planers, add-on weights or downriggers.
"Using lead core line is an artistic way of trolling for walleye and more difficult than regular trolling. But it is more flexible, a reason it has become a major weapon in our arsenal."
The Professional Walleye Trail also will be featured at the Cleveland Sportsman's Show with tour head Jim Kalkofen and tournament director Charlie Moore staffing a show exhibit.
Outdoor experts also on stage this weekend include Port Clinton's Rick Nemecek on waterfowl hunting; steelhead trout expert Jeff Liskay of North Olmsted; and bass angler Shawn McCarten. Bowhunter Chuck Adams will be featured March 19-21; In-Fisherman's Dave Csanda tackles walleye and crappie fishing on March 19-20; Tom Keenan will talk trolling for walleyes on March 17; turkey experts include Steve Lecorchick (March 17 and March 20-21) and Alex Vedrinski (March 16-17); and Don Schonauer will cover fly-fishing for steelhead trout (March 19-21).
To reach this Plain Dealer reporter:
degan@plaind.com, 216-999-6136
© 2004 The Plain Dealer. Used with permission. » Send This Page | » Print This Page
http://www.cleveland.com/outdoors/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/sports/1079087455253911.xml