The Official Publication of the Fresh WaterFishing Hallof Fame

VOL. 35NO. 2Spring 2011

Inside:

From theDirector's Deskby EmmettBrown, page 2

Hall AwardsAre Presented,page 3

Lindners on theTroll by BillSiemantel, page 4

Legendary AnglerVirgin Ward byDan Galusha,page 6

New WalleyeTheory by DanGapen, Sr.,page 8

Ol' Tackle Talk byChris Slusar,page 10

Spring Is Here!

Founded 1960Incorporated Not For Profit 1970

P.O. Box 690, 10360 Hall of Fame DriveHayward, WI 54843

Phone 715/634-4440http://www.Freshwater-Fishing.org

e-mail: fishhall@cheqnet.net

Printed February 15, May 15, August 15, November 15

Programs and Activities

• Recognition of World Fresh WaterSportfishing Records

• Record Book Published Annually• Enshrinement for Achievement and

Accomplishment• Library for Research and Pleasure• Educational Museum of Sportfishing

Artifacts

Museum open April 15 through October 317 days a week, 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

(no admittance after 3:30 p.m.)Administration Office open year ‘round

5 days a week, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (exceptChristmas-New Year interim weeks)

Executive Board of Directors

Bill Gautsche . . . . . . . . . . . . PresidentHarold Tiffany . . . . . . . . . .Vice PresidentTed Dzialo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . SecretaryTom Turngren . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . TreasurerScott Allen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . DirectorBill Beckwith . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . DirectorJohn Dettloff . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . DirectorDave Perkins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . DirectorDon Robinson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . DirectorJim Scheer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . DirectorWendy Williamson . . . . . . . . . . . . DirectorBen Wold . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Director

Professional and Volunteer Staff

Emmett Brown . . . . . . . Executive DirectorKathy Polich . . . . . . . . . Business ManagerDarlene Overman . . . . . . . . . . . . SecretaryMyrna Huber . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ClerkEmmett Brown . . . . . . . . . . . Splash EditorTim Gavigan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . WebmasterTim Lesmeister. . . . . . . . Media CoordinatorClaudette Kersten . . . . . . . . . . . . Volunteer

The Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame is anon-profit educational organization

dedicated to conservation andsportfishing and to the maintenance of ahall of fame where the history of fishingand angling achievements are displayed.

A 501(c)(3) organization© Copyright 2011 Fresh Water

Fishing Hall of Fame, Inc.2

From the

Director’s Deskby Emmett Brown

April 13, 2011

What a difference a week can make! Just a fewdays ago, I was ruminating that we were in foranother very late spring. A string of 70 plus

degree days has put a reluctant spring right back on the road to normalcy. I amhappy to report our snow is gone and our ice shrouded lakes are loosing thebattle to stay covered by their “hard water” captors.

In two days our museum will once again be open. Our maintenance crew is hardat work preparing our grounds and museum for the upcoming season. Theyalready look very nice!

I am very excited about our new museum display which should be finishedwithin a month or so. In a joint venture with the Rapala family of Finland andRon Weber (one of the original importers of the Rapala to North America) we arerecreating Lauri Rapala's original Finish workshop in our museum. Thisworkshop will be the only one of its kind in North America. It will feature manyof Lauri's original artifacts from his 1950's era workshop. The plan is to updatethe room on a continuing basis, displaying new artifacts each passing year. I amextremely grateful to Ensio Rapala, Ron Weber and Sirpa Glad-Staf for makingthis all happen. Thank you all very much!

Speaking of new additions, we have also just recently upgraded our entrance tothe “Big Musky.” This remodel centers around our Jim Beam Bottle Display. Itnow looks quite nice and reflects the proper decorum owed to our initial majorfund raiser. This initiative provided the necessary funds needed by the Hall toform and build. A huge thanks goes to Kurt and Craig Mazurek for donating theirconsiderable talent, time and effort toward this project!

Beginning with this issue of The Splash, we will now publish it on the 15th dayof the 2nd month of each new quarter. The only change is that now the springissue will be published in May instead of April. All other publish dates willremain the same.

Currently, we generally have less than 100 updates to our World Records Bookon an annual basis. It seems a terrible waste to produce a new book every year,when a simple two-page update would suffice. This is especially true when youconsider we also publish these updates on a quarterly basis in The Splash.Therefore, in the spirit of "greening," we will only produce a complete WorldRecords Book every other year. Commencing this year, we will produce a 2011World Records Update and publish this in lieu of a complete book. In 2012 wewill again produce a complete World Records Book. Please review a moredetailed explanation of this decision on page 3.

I'm sure you will all understand and support this conservation minded effort onthe Hall's part. Thank you.

Until next time.

Warmest regards,

Emmett A. Brown, Jr.Executive Director

3

Record Book Change

As the premier organization responsiblefor the qualification and publishing ofNorth America's fresh watersportfishing records, the Hall takes thisundertaking quite seriously. Currently,we recognize about 125 different freshwater species and have over 3,000entries in our record book. Our currentWorld Records Book has over 80 pagesdedicated solely to these recordlistings.

We have always been on the cutting-edge of world record keeping. Forexample, in 1993 we were the firstrecord keeping body to establish andencourage a Catch and Releasecategory.

Since its inception in 1972, our WorldRecords Program has been and remainsextremely popular with the fresh watersportfishing community. However, wehave recently noticed that many of ourmajor records have biologically reachedtheir plateau. Let's face it, fish onlygrow so large. Due to this naturalgoverning mechanism, we no longer seethe amount of "broken records" weonce saw during the early years of ourprogram.

Currently, we generally have less than100 updates to our World Records Bookon an annual basis. It seems a terriblewaste to produce a new book everyyear, when a simple two-page updatewould suffice. Especially when youconsider that we additionally publishthese updates on a quarterly basis inour Splash magazine.

Therefore, in the spirit of "greening," wewill only produce a complete WorldRecords Book every other year.Commencing this year, we will producea 2011 World Records Update andpublish this in lieu of a complete book.In 2012 we will again produce acomplete World Records Book.

Thank you.- Editor

Hall Awards Are Presented

Four inductees for 2011 were so honored at the 32nd Annual America's Outdoor Show on January30th in Rosemont (near Chicago), Illinois. The honorees from left to right (front row holding theirplaques) are: Legendary Guide Todd Gessner; Legendary Angler Kevin Van Dam; Sandy Portincaso(accepting for her late husband Legendary Angler Tony Portincaso) and Legendary CommunicatorMike Jackson. Congratulations all! Standing in the background are previous Hall inductees who wereone hand to celebrate the occasion: (left to right) Babe Winkelman; Emmett Brown (Hall executivedirector); Ed McKauskas; Spence Petros; Al Lindner and James Lindner. A special thanks goes to themfor taking time out of their very busy schedules to attend this ceremony. Finally, a huge thanks goesto Jim Sugarman for allowing the Hall the opportunity to showcase its international awardsrecognition program at this fine venue. It is very much appreciated, Jim. Editor's note: About onemonth after this picture was taken, Legendary Angler Kevin Van Dam captured his fourth BassmasterClassic title by a very decisive margin of victory. Way to go Kevin!

Front row (left to right): Legendary Angler Dave Genz, Lengendary Angler Nick Adams, LegendaryCommunicator Mark Fisher and Legendary Guide Chris Kuduk are inducted in to the Fresh WaterFishing Hall of Fame on April 2nd at the 79th Annual NW Sports Show in Minneapolis, Minnesota for2011 in front of a standing room only crowd. In the back row are past inductees who took time out oftheir very busy schedules to help celebrate this year's inductions. They are (left to right): JimKalkofen; Gary Roach; Randy Amenrud, Ted Takasaki and Ron Schara. Thank you for your support!Finally, a huge thanks goes to show manager Jennifer Thompson and her staff for providing thiswonderful venue to the Hall.

If we were going to play a game ofname association it would start outsomething like this, Buck Perry(Spoon Plugging), Bill Murphy(Stitching), Bill Dance (the Tennesseehat), and then if we tossed out thename Al Lindner, he would have to benamed as one of the most wellrounded anglers for all species withsmallmouth bass at the top of thatlist.

his last winter I was fortunateenough to have the chance to fish anumber of days with Al. He was vis -

iting his son Troy who now lives out here insunny California. With the winter months ofMinnesota getting colder than Al could everremember, the vacation was timed perfectlyfor targeting cold-water Southern Cal bass.

You may not know, Troy Lindner and I havebeen tournament partners in severalSouthern California team circuits over thelast year. During our many pre-fishing days Alwould go with us and would help us put ourgame plans together.

At the end of Al’s stay, he asked me to do aTV show with him. We started brainstormingabout California fishing tactics and placeswhere we could film on the water. LakeCasitas was shut down from the threat ofmussels and Castaic charges to make a film.This left Diamond Valley as a goodalternative. After getting everything in placeto shoot the show over at Diamond ValleyLake, Al and I started to talk shop aboutcatching big fish.

As we continued to talk my blood started toboil about the chance to hook Al into alifetime fish. His time was running short

because his vacation was near its end.

“Okay buddy, when I am home from the firestation and I think the time is right you haveto get up here to Castaic ASAP.” I could noteven finish the sentence when he said, “Yougive me a call and I will be there in 30minutes with my boat ready to go.”

Two days later, after getting home from thestation, I could feel it in the air. I couldn’t hitthe redial fast enough to call my friend. As heanswered I just said, “Are you ready to catcha pig?” And his first reply was, “Can my kidcome along?” I do not know about you, butthat is just too cool and I said to bring him.The only bad thing about that was thetechnique I was going to use would onlyallow two guys to fish. I guess I was going tobe the guide for the day.

Within 30 minutes (not breaking anyspeeding limits) they were at the lake readyto go. I stepped out of my truck reached inthe back and grabbed only two rods, one boxof big baits and my camera case. They bothjust looked at me as if I was joking or I hadother rods still in the back of the bed.

I think one of them said when I got to theirboat was, “Are we trolling for trout?” The twosticks I brought were my Lamiglas XC 807big bait specials teamed up with twoShimano Triton Mark IVs spooled up with18lb lead line. I just gave them a big smileand said, “Let’s go.”

Within a few minutes I had both of them outin the water trolling 12” baits. You BassAngler’s Guide readers need to put this stuffin your memory bank.

Trolling has been a proven technique for agesand Buck Perry has promoted “SPOONPLUGGING” in his book that everyone needsto read at least once. The key to trolling isprecision depth control with a completeunderstanding of structure layout and lurecapability.

Here are my steps for long line trolling usinglead line and the trolling motor.

I put a seat up front in my Bass Cat so I cansit down and dial in the speed I need to makethe lure run the way I want it to. It is betterto see it two feet under the water to give youa better idea of what it is doing 30 to 40 feetdeep 100 yards back.

Next, understanding your equipment is justas important. Many bass anglers don’t knowabout lead line, so here are some quick tips.The line has a continuous lead core whichruns the entire length that is approximately100 yards per spool. It has 10 colors whichchange every 10 yards. It also has anapproximate sink rate of 1 foot down, with 2yards out.

This is the sink rate when you are fishing fortrout with small baits like a needlefish. Bigbaits have different depth factors dependingon lure design (billed or no billed baits),thermo clines and extreme water temper -ature change can affect the sink rate. Sounderstanding these differences will help youwhen trying to hit the key spot-on area withinyour troll.

Now, to dial in the running depth of the lurefor the speed you are going, you will need totake several things into consideration. If youare using a billed swimbait which floats andyou go faster with your trolling motor thatwill drive you lure down. If you are using boottail swim bait like a 8” Optimum the speedand friction will drive your lure up in thewater column. Let your line out, I call this “letback,” a calculated distance of line behindthe boat. Every line has different factors fromfluorocarbon, mono, wire to braid. Each onewill be unique in its capabilities.

This is easier than you think, it just takes alittle time going through the motions to get afeel for it. To figure depth control, locate anarea of the lake with a uniformed depth.Thenget your bait, (maybe a billed bait like an MSSlammer, a non billed bait like a BBZ-1 or aboot tail style). All have different featuresthat either drive the bait deeper or lifts thelures as speed is increased as stated aboveout behind the boat at a known distance.

The color change of the lead line helps, ifusing mono or wire a marking pen or reelcounter is the next best bet. So, say you are4 colors out and your lure hits the bottom at25’, keep going at a constant speed for aminute or so. If your lure stops hitting thebottom let some more line out. If you start todrag the bottom and your lure is notdeflecting properly then you are too deep, so

4

Lindners “On The Troll” By Legendary Angler Bill Siemantel

Troy (left) and Al Lindner are all smiles as Alhefts 2 fine California largemouth bass!

T

5

is what we had to do on the next pass. Wehave to come in at an angle with the windfrom 38’ of water and I would go past the tipof this point 50 yards. This is going to putthe boat in 6’ and should have the lures rightaround the 25’mark. This is basic BBZmindset on working “uphill,” creating a“funnel” and then doing “directional change.”That’s when I hit my “trigger point.” Anothermental calculation on “let back” is how far isyour lure behind the boat and at what pointdo you need to increase your speed andmake your turn so you do not drive the lureinto the point and get stuck. That is my“trigger point.”

I will have to kick the boat hard right and putit on high to keep the lead line from catchingthe bottom and to get the perfect “coursechange” (changing the path of one’s bait atkey structure or cover elements, creating theultimate “illusion of realism”) of the lure rightat the tip of the point. As we made the hardright hand turn I told them it should takeabout 20 seconds for the line to tighten upand then they should start to feel the big baithitting the bottom. Well I was off a little, be -cause it took about 30 seconds and both thefather and the son said at the same time thatthey could feel their lures bumping bottom.

Then there was a moment when nothing wassaid, but the boat rocked hard side to side. Iwas hoping that one of them got hooked up.As I turned around both of their rods wheredoubled over. Yes it was a double hookup onthe troll. Now you have to remember that thepurpose of the trip was to get Al into apersonal best bass. Well, as Murphy’s Lawwould have it, Troy was the one who hookedthe bigger of the two fish.

To say these guys were a little excited wouldbe way off mark. I have never seen two guys

jumping back and forth trying not to tanglethe lines of both of the fish they werefighting. They were screaming and laughinglike these where the first bass they had everlaid a hook into.

The Lindner’s were excited, but totally incharge of the fish.The funny thing is thateven though Troy Lindner is a professionalsports trainer and is in better shape thanmost of us, I had to laugh a little watchinghim getting out of breath with that littlegreen fish at the end of his line (okay, it wasa big fish).

After netting Al’s 7 pounder, I emptied thenet as fast as I could and scooped up Troy’sbig bass. At a whopping 11.50 pounds, Troy’sbass surpassed both his and his father’slargest bass to date.

After a handful of photos with Al and Troy, Icould truly see the love in Al’s eyes being inthe boat with his son and watching himcatch a fish of a lifetime.

I know if that were my Dad and I, my Dadwould be the first to say I just got lucky orhe let me catch that fish. Because he didnot want to hear me complain on the drivehome. I felt bad for Al and I told him I wassorry for him not catching the big one. Troyand I are tournament partners and we willhave our time on these big bass waters.

Al looked right at me and said, “We not onlygot a double hookup trolling big baits, but Iwas here with my son as he caught thebiggest bass of his life. Bill, this is morethan I could ever ask for, and it is a day Iwill always remember.”

Take care and keep it in the BBZ.

For more information, please contact Billat bigbasszone@sbcglobal.net

Lindners “On The Troll”

bring some line in. I like 3 to 5 bumps on thebottom with about a 4 second pause of freeswimming before I hit bottom again.

After you have the right line, mark yourtrolling motor with a grease pencil and thenglance at your fishing line for the right color.Remember that knowing how much line yourreel takes up per revolution and under -standing lure depth control with each lureyou use will make you more precise whenyou move your lure up and down in the watercolumn. Knowing this will help you hit thetop of the ridge in 30 feet of water as youpass over it, or present your bait perfectly toindividual fish you see on your graph. Fishabove or below moving schools of bait orpods of trout that the bass are keying on.

Similar systems can be used with mono,wire, planner boards and down riggers. Thesetechniques are deeply ingrained in the mindsof the trolling angler who fish trout, salmon,walleye and stripers. If it has worked forthem for years then why can’t it work for usin the chase for monster bass?

All of this really comes into play when youare working inside or outside turns aroundpoints, humps, ridges, flats and creekchannels. Whenever you move the boat froma straight pull of the lure the line will docertain things. For example, the weight of thelead line will start to fall as you make yourturn. To keep your line from snagging on thebottom you have to increase the speed ofyour boat 2 to 3 times faster than youroriginal speed. Once you have straightenedback out, you can drop your speed backdown to the mark you made with the greasepencil on your trolling motor. Remember towatch your graph and look for hard bottomstructure to bang your bait against. Also domanual directional changes at key locationsin the water column to trigger the followers.

Now that you have the basics for a provenfish catching technique, I should get back tothe story at hand.

After trolling for about an hour, I went pastan inside corner of a subtle break line with avery small point at one end. The wind wasblowing just enough to make it hard for boatcontrol. I noticed four or five really goodmarks holding 2 feet off the bottom in 25’. Iremember looking back at my two friendswith a wicked grin and I told them the nextpass was going to be money!

It took me about 7 minutes to reposition theboat for the right approach. I told them this

Tom Christianson (left)presents Emmett Brown with adonation representing 3% ofhis guiding fees from 2010.This is the second year he hasbeen so generous. Tom haspledged to do it again in 2011!Thank you very much. Tomspecializes in guiding on thefamed Chippewa Flowage nearHayward, Wisconsin. For moreinformation about his guideservice please visit Tom'swebsite atwww.walleyemaxx.com

6

On September 13, 2004, the fishingworld lost one of its biggest legends -Virgil Ward. He started from humblebeginnings, and made it to “a com -fortable life”, as Virgil said it, throughhis love and dedication in teachingpeople to enjoy the sport of fishing.

irgil’s parents, William Sevier Wardand Pearl Lorence Wright, weremarried on June 25, 1902 in

Texarkana, Arkansas. After moving toEaston, Missouri, Virgil was born on May 25,1911.

His father had a good business in a ciderand saw mill. This was traded for a 120-acrefarm, near Amsterdam, Mis souri, for whichwas purchased cattle at $300 per head. TheDepres sion hit, and the price of cattledropped to $30 per head.

As with many families during that time, theywere extremely poor. Many times Virgil andhis brothers and sisters didn’t attend schoolbecause they had to work. When Virgil didgo to school he would walk three miles.

While attending Amsterdam High School hewas the county champion for three years intrack. He was never beaten in any runningor standing broad jump competition. He alsocompeted in the discus throw and pole vaultand was the leader of the basketball team.

When asked about his favorite subjects,Virgil jokingly said, “Geometry and girls.”Maybe that is why he was called the “sheik”in his high school yearbook.

Although Cleda Irene Thornbrough, who wascalled the “Prettiest girl in school”, attendedthe same high school, Virgil did not meether there. Their meeting took place duringone of Amsterdam’s band concerts, of whichthere were one or two each week.

The meeting eventually resulted in Virgil and

“A Legend - Gone, But Not Forgotten” By Dan Galusha

started Presley’s Country Jubilee, which wasBranson’s first country theater. Virgilappeared on Lloyd’s show reporting hisfishing success in the Ozark area.

It wasn’t long before Virgil was going strongin the outdoor media, with a column in 455newspapers and a radio show on 200stations.

From 1963 to 1964 Virgil hosted his first TVseries with co-host Bud Iman, for theMissouri Conservation Commission. Theshows aired on KY3 in Springfield, Missouri.At this same time he also taught a fishingclass at Southwest Missouri StateUniversity.

This was the springboard for his mostfamous accomplishment - the nationally

Cleada’s wedding on December 3, 1933.Virgil was 22 and Cleda was 21. They wereso poor they could not afford a weddingphoto or washer.

Their first child, Bill, was born in 1934.They also have three daughters: Barbara,Karen and Sandy, nine grandchildren andfive great grandchildren.

Virgil started a plumbing shop in Am ster -dam and also sold appliances. The familylived in the back of the shop, whicheventually became the home of the BassBuster Lure Company. It remained as oneof the Bass Buster plants until its closing afew years ago.

In 1955 Virgil and Bill started the BassBuster Lure Company and patented thefiber weedguard. This weedguardrevolutionized the weedless jig and is stillused today by jig manufacturers. He alsocreated the famous maribou jig and BeetleSpin. Later the company was sold to theS.C. Johnson Company, who owns JohnsonOutdoors.

Virgil’s athletic and competitive spiritcarried throughout his life. He playedbasketball until the age of 38 and base balluntil he was 48. In competitive fish ing hewon the 1958 Regional Bass Com petition,1962 World Series of Sport Fish ing, 1964National Championship of Fresh WaterFishing and the 1964 Outdoor Writers andBroadcasters National Fishing Tournament.

According to Bill Ward, this com peti tive -ness and faith in God is what carried hisfather through many tough times, includ inghis fight with bladder cancer, which iswhat finally took him.

Some of his first experiences with theelectronic outdoor media were with LloydPresley, who had a local outdoor radioshow in Springfield, Missouri. Later Lloyd

V

A wooden top water lure was the start for theBass Buster company. (photo courtesy of ToddHall, Amsterdam, Mo)

Brad Mosier, co-producer/videographer for TheWorld of Virgil Ward documentary, prepares foranother shot, as Virgil shows him the way heused to edit film for his shows.

Virgil stops to pose with Sam Johnson and hiscrew, as they prepare to take another fishingtrip.

One of the most famous segments in TV fishing,was Virgil Ward demonstrating lures in a tank atthe end of each show.

guests. Whether they were professionalanglers like Roland Martin and CharlieCampbell, country entertainers like RoyClark, Dotty West, Junior Samples, Box CarWillie and Mel Tillis, sports celebrities likePete Rose, Stan Muscial, Darrel Porter,George Brett and Wayne Gretzky,entertainers like Nanette Fabray, HughO’brien, Fred McMurray, Glenn Ford andMartin Milner, guides like Jim Rogers oroutdoor media people such as myself.

Virgil felt his best show was a trout episodeshot in Alaska out of Golden Horn Lodge. Hesaid the fishing was fantastic, with at least afive-pound fish on every cast.

After Virgil’s retirement from the show, itwas hosted for about three years by hisgrandson Greg Ward. Greg had beengroomed to take over the show and knewthe hard work his grandfather had put intoit. However, Greg did not like the work andfame which went with it and would justrather hunt and fish anonymously.

Many of the people in the outdoor media,including myself, have had their careersinfluenced either directly or indirectly byVirgil. One such person is Al Lindner, whodecided to start his TV show after being aguest on Virgil’s show.

Throughout his life there were numeroushonors bestowed. He was a member of theOzark Fisherman’s Hall of Fame, the IGFAHall of Fame and the Fresh Water FishingHall of Fame. He was the recipient offishing’s highest recognition, the DolphinAward and was included in the LivingLegends of American Sportfishing.

In 1975, Missouri’s Governor Christopher S.Bond proclaimed October 19 as Virgil WardDay. Governor Bond said, “Virgil Ward,through his many efforts, has made aninvaluable contribution to Missouri tourismand has made millions of Americans awareof the world of fishing.”

In 1997, Brad Mosier, photojournalist, and Ihad an idea to produce a documentaryabout Virgil’s life. By 1999 The World ofVirgil Ward was first aired on WQPT PBS-TV,in Moline, Illinois and later on other PBSaffiliates. It is still available to PBS stationsacross the nation.

While taping the documentary we askedeveryone why he or she thought Virgil wasso popular. Perhaps it can best be answered

7

“A Legend - Gone, But Not Forgotten”

by paraphrasing the statement we receivedfrom his grandson, Eric Curnutte – bysaying, “He is more than a fishing showhost, he is a friend that we looked forwardto seeing each week.”

I feel a big part of his success was the factthat the person you saw on television wasthe person you would meet. He was a good,religious, family man and projected that tohis audience.

One of the guests on my radio show oncesaid, “If all people in our industry were asnice as Virgil we would have very fewproblems in the fishing community.” I wouldchange that a bit by saying, “If all people inthe world were as nice as Virgil we wouldhave very few problems anywhere.”

Virgil championed the causes of catch-and-release and cleaning up litter, such as oldfishing line, way before it was popular. Hehas taught us a lot, not just in fishing, butalso in how to be a good person.

Virgil was 93 years old and fished up until acouple of weeks before his passing. His lasttrip was on his private lake with his son Bill.

In some way try to keep a little bit of Virgilin your heart and allow The World of VirgilWard to live on forever.

He will be missed.

God has a great fishing partner.

For information, listening to his memorabletheme song and photos regarding Virgil andthe documentary visit the Dan’s Fish ‘N’Tales® website at www.dansfishntales.comand click on the link to The World of VirgilWard page.

syndicated Championship Fishing TV Show.He hosted the show for 25 years. Twenty-one of which took the number one rating forfish ing shows, according to the Nielsen andArbitron rating services. One year the showplaced number one over 400 syndicatedshows - one of Virgil’s proudest achieve -ments.

The show had many top name sponsors.Three of which were Bass Pro Shops, RangerBoats and Johnson Outdoors. The owners ofthese companies (Johnny Morris, ForrestWood and Sam Johnson) were not justbusiness acquaintances, they were alsoclose friends with Virgil.

This same friendship carried over to his

Virgil wins another tournament.

A lot of the camera and sound work was doneby Virgil.

The earlier days of the Championship FishingTV Show were produced on 16mm film.

Catching another nice bass was not unusual forVirgil.

8

has a good population of lake trout. Iassumed the fish on my Humminbird LCRwere lakers.

Suddenly, both rods went off. This time I waswatching the underwater screen as it showedclearly a walleye pursuing the lures, thenstriking them.

As my fish was netted I observed it wassnag-hooked on the side of its head outsidethe mouth. At the time I didn’t think thatfoul-hooking a walleye was too unusual. Suchan action occurred hundreds of times in mylifetime while working walleye and otherfresh water fish. I would learn later this wasthe beginning to a new theory we provedover the next two days.

With the deep diving Flub Dub running at 10to 12 feet, it was obvious the walleye wewere catching over the 100 to 140 feet deepwater were in suspended positions feedingoff the lake’s cisco. They traveled between20 to 10 feet deep.

Two more circles over the deep waterproduced five more fish, two over six pounds.All had that black dark coloring. The last fish,

A New Theory for Catching Walleye By Legendary Angler Dan Gapen, Sr.

fter working the island shores atthe center of Kagianagami Lake inOntario, ‘Bobber’ Anne and I made

the decision to cross over to the main landshoreline. We’d been searching islandshorelines attempting to film northern pikeon our underwater video. We were successfulby filming three pike strikes on a 4-1/2 inchfire tiger Flub Dub plug. But, all were underten pounds. What we wanted was a fish over40 inches striking the bait.

“Anne, let’s not pull up the underwatercamera. It takes too much time to reset it.Instead, let’s leave it down and troll acrossthe two blocks of open water that separatesus from the main shoreline,” I commented asI throttled the boat towards the far shore.

We reached the 140 foot depth mark whenAnne’s rod rapped hard and bent under thestrain of a fish strike. I had not beenwatching the screen which showed us whatwas happening behind the trolled Flub Dub.Later that night, when we reviewed the tapefootage, we were able to see the action as afish struck Anne’s lure.

After a short two minute battle a 4 pound,black-backed, orange-bellied walleye came tonet. We previously finished a TV showworking the lake’s rocky reefs, shorelinepoints and rocky shoreline. All of these fishhad greenish-grey backs, white bellies andyellow sides. This fish was completelydifferent in color than the shoreline walleyewe had done the TV show on.

“Anne, let’s make a circle and see if thatdeep-lipped Flub Dub attracts a freak fish,” Isuggested. The time of the day was 4 p.m.with the sun still high in the western sky.

As we circled I noted suspended fish at 80,60, 50 as well as 40 to 20 feet. Kagianagami

A a beautiful 6 pounder, was seen striking mybluish-colored Flub Dub hard from behind. Itmissed the bait’s hook as its shoulderslammed the bait sideways. The fish thencircled within sight of the camera lens andinhaled the bluish-colored bait. There’s asecond and third clue to my walleye theory.

The red fish marks on my Humminbird werenot lake trout, but walleye rising up off thebottom in the 100 to 140 foot deep water.The blue Flub Dub was the color of the lake’scisco population.

“Anne, do you think these are separatewalleye that feed mainly on the lake’s cisco?”I asked, as we headed to the lodge forsupper.

“This could make a separate TV show. I’mgoing to give it a try in the morning,” camemy final thoughts as the outboard motor wasrevved up and we headed in.

The next morning we were out on the samespot. But, the graph showed all the fish onbottom. Where had the walleye gone? Werethe red marks on the bottom walleye ortrout?

Not until 2 p.m. did any fish action occur, asred dots began to rise off the bottom.

“Anne, here they come, take a look,” Icommented, pointing to show my partner theLCR screen.

We had only caught two 7 to 8 pound pikeduring the time we left the lodge’s dock. Theblur of ciscoes could easily be seen on theunderwater camera at 20 feet below surface.

Not until the sun lowered at 3 p.m., did wehit fish. The walleye were up!

During the next four hours we caught andreleased 47 walleye, all released. They allwere caught on the cisco-colored Flub Dub.

While catching these fish we successfullycaptured 39 of the strikes on the underwatercamera. This all added positive informationto my new theory. These walleye were risingup off the bottom each day as the sunreached 2 o’clock in the sky. With a brightAugust sun blazing down off the lake’ssurface, walleye refused to rise to feed.Perhaps because of their eyes, which arehighly sensitive to bright light.

What was most amazing was an actionperformed by the dark walleye, as theyattacked the bait. Of the 39 fish we caught,seven were hooked outside the mouth—foulhooked. This occurred when the attackingThe Ol’ Man with a nice deep water walleye.

Black-backed walleye that came out of 140 feetof water.

9

muskie, smallmouth bass and stripers.Thanks to the underwater camera, a wholenew feeding technique used by fresh waterfish has been exposed.

I want you to ask yourself these twoquestions. “How many times, when retrievinga lure after a cast or when you are trolling,have you received a tap on your bait, then amoment later there comes a hookup? Howmany foul-hooked fish have you landed?”

I guess you’re never too old to learn.Although walleye were not the original target,that day on Kagianagami Lake createdexcitement for this “Ol’ Man!”

A New Theory for Catching Walleye

2011 Mega Raffle

walleye slammed the bait from the side, as itseemingly attempted to stun the Flub Dub.Numerous fish slammed the Flub Dub on itsside and failed to return to eat the lure andhook up. During those four hours of fishingwe also observed six body slams by walleye,an immediate circle and a mouth hook up.

Anne and I had observed a new action bysuspended walleye. Like sailfish, marlin andtuna which intentionally stun baitfish by theirbills, certain fresh water fish will perform asimilar act.

Since that day on Kagianagami I haveobserved this action with northern pike,

This year's boat package extravaganza isagain sponsored by Lund Boats andMercury Marine. It is a 1625 Rebel XLLund boat/trailer with live well, aMotorGuide bow-mount trolling motor,pedestal seats and much more. It ispowered by a Mercury 60hp motor withpower trim and tilt. What a great prize forsome lucky individual.

Tickets will again be priced at $5 each or$10 for a card of 4 chances. These ticketswill be available at the Hall and on ourwebsite beginning May 1st.

A tremendous thank you goes to LundBoats, Mercury Marine and Hayward PowerSports for their tremendous support. Thank you to all who havesupported us in the past. We look forward to your continuedsupport. It is very much appreciated!

A Must Read

If you are lookingfor fishing yarnsand adventureranging from thesouthern tip of SouthAmerica to thenorthern reaches ofAlaska look no furtherthan Dan Gapen, Sr.'s(co-authored byBobber Anne Orth) hardbound oddesyentitled, "Adventure Fishing theAmerica's." Dan and Anne's masterpieceis not just another sportfishing book. It isstory telling that only the "Ol' Man" DanGapen could have told in his near 80years of sportfishing! Although I would behard-pressed to pick out a favorite,certainly Dan's chronicle of finding a newmethod to catch suspended walleye over140 feet of water rates near the top.

Dan and Anne's beautifully hardbound400 page book features 50 chapters andhas 32 pages of color photographs.This book is a must for everysportfisherman's (and woman's) bookshelf.

Reserve your copy today by calling Dan at877.623.2099 or go to his website atwww.gapen.com. The cost is $32.50 plus$6.95 shipping and handling.

–Editor

Anne shows off a near 9 pound walleye takensuspended over 110 feet of water. Caught on aFlub Dub.

‘Bobber’ Anne with one of those black-backeddeep water walleye.

Jim Lennox (right) of Issaquah, Washington is all smiles as hepicks up his 2010 Lund/Mercury boat shortly after theNovember 1, 2010 drawing at the Hall. It could be you this year!

10

nce or twice each year I’ll makeit to the home of the Fresh WaterFishing Hall of Fame, Hayward,Wisconsin. A visit isn’t complete

without a quick view of the landmarkmusky that guards HOF territory. As asymbol of my favorite fresh water fish, Iam quickly drawn to memories of myearly musky fishing years and those thatinfluenced my enjoyment of the sport.Near the top of the list is Verlin ‘Frenchy’LaMay, a well-known musky fisherman,storyteller and top-notch lure maker.

Frenchy was a fixture on the ChippewaFlowage (near Hayward) for the betterpart of 50 years and was as great afisherman and personality as he was alure builder. While I’d enjoy recanting afew stories, it’s his lures that haveprovided an enduring memory for most.

Although Frenchy was creating and usinghis own musky lures prior to the late1960’s, it was during this time that hisfish catchers began to attract anaudience. In the early years, Frenchy builthis lures for personal use, but graduallybegan sharing his works with friends andacquaintances. His earliest pieces weresimple surface lures, distinguished by sizeand strength. His pieces were generallysolid shafted, which meant that the linetie was directly connected to the reartreble hook - an improvement from theweaker screw eyes often used during theperiod. Water-churning propellers wereover-sized and hand cut from stainlesssteel. Through the 1970’s his musky luresgained local interest. His early 1980’sretirement from the teaching professionallowed for greater production.

I was first introduced to Frenchy in oraround 1981. It was shortly after this timethat his lures were branded with the word“LeLure”- I’m sure a play on his nickname.Lure production from the early 80’sdemonstrated improved design andcosmetics. Topwater lures continued to bethe mainstay, with most productioninvolving Toppers, Globes, Wobblers,Creepers and the emerging Thumper.

Aside of the LeLure hallmark, LaMaycreations of this period are identified bythe solid shaft design, well soldered onthe ends. Belly hooks were connected tothe center shaft via handmade wire clips.Frenchy avoided the use of split rings, sobelly or spreader hooks were oftenfastened with soldered brass rings. Paintdurability and patterns were greatlyimproved and included scale, striped andother fancy finishes.

By the mid to late 1980’s, Frenchy was athis creative and productive peak. Inaddition to his staples, he ventured intosub-surface lures and musky sizedremakes of old classics. His legendarystatus meant that all production wasflying out the door faster than it could bemade. I recall visiting his home duringthis period and picking newly made luresoff the drying wire in his small shop. As acollege student, dollars were tight, but Ispent every dime I had!

By 1994, Frenchy had signficantlyreduced production following loss ofeyesight in one eye, giving rise to a newventure. In 1994 or 95, Frenchy and agroup of close friends formed the LeLure

Tackle Company and began making hisfamous baits. The earliest offerings werevery high quality and made in limitedproduction - 2,500 or fewer of eachcolor. Each piece was housed in ahandsome, marked box. After the initialrun, the company developed fishermanversions that sold on a carded bubblepack. While the lures were an earlysuccess, rising costs are thought to havecurtailed production by or around 2000.Although LeLure designs were morerecently produced by overseasresources, models and colors arelimited.

Production figures on LeLures madebefore 1995 are not known, but it is safeto say that field finds are unusual if notrare. There are many LeLures in thehands of caring collectors and still manyin the tackle boxes of avid and knowingmusky fisherman….I still fish withseveral Frenchy classics. Although valuecan be quite subjective on these pieces,those looking for original Frenchy’s canexpect to pay $100-$400 for an excellentexample. Offerings from the LeLureTackle Company are collectible but willbring substantially less.

Until next time, please do forward yourold fishing tackle questions or requeststo slusar@wi.rr.com. Alternatively, sendyour queries to Chris Slusar in care ofthe Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame.

Frenchy LaMay

O

Chris Slusar

This Topper dates to the mid-late 1970’s and waspreviously owned by another well-known ChippewaFlowage musky fisherman and guide, Ron Dettloff.

The picturedGlobe stylelures areFrenchyclassics. Theupper piecedates to themid-late 70’sandcharacteristicof the cigarshaped design of the period. Note that the brass prop isallowed to float freely on the central shaft. The lower piecewas made in the late 80’s or very early 90’s and is stampedLeLure. The larger body is accompanied by a rotating prop,now connected to the head.

Famous for itssurfacestrikes, thisFrenchy madeCreeper datesto the late1980’s. Notethe stronglymarked LeLurename andsoldered brassrings securing the treble hooks to the spreaders.

This LeLureTackle Companycreation wasmade around1995 and is oneof fewer than2,500. ThisWater Thumpermodel wassigned byFrenchy.

World Angling Records Granted

GOURAMI/ All- 24” Leonard J. K. P. Lake, 11/5/2010Giant Tackle Kouba Thailand, Asia

(only)

MAD BARB All- 23” Leonard J. Gillhams Lake, 10/26/2010Tackle Kouba Thailand, Asia(only)

PIAU/ All- 14” Leonard J. Rio Negro, 12/1/2010Flamengo Tackle Kouba Brazil, South America

(only)

PIRANHA/ All- 20” Leonard J. Padaueri River, 11/30/2010Black Tackle Kouba Brazil, South America

(only)

TIUI All- 15” Leonard J. Ciuini River, 12/6/2010Tackle Kouba Brazil, South America(only)

DIVISION #2 – FLY FISHING - FOREIGNLine

Fish Class Length Angler Where Caught DateBLACK All- 19” Leoanrd J. K. P. Lake, 11/5/2010SHARKMINOW Tackle Kouba Thailand, Asia

(only)

CARP/ All 24” Leonard J. K. P. Lake, 11/3/2010Catla Tackle Kouba Thailand, Asia

(only)

CARP/ All 20” Leonard J. K. P. Lake, 11/1/2010Chinese Tackle Kouba Thailand, Asia

(only)

CARP/ All 29” Leonard J. K. P. Lake, 11/1/2010Jullien’s Golden Tackle Kouba Thailand, Asia

15 lb. 29” Leonard J. K. P. Lake, 11/1/2010Tippet Kouba Thailand, Asia

CARP/ All- 22” Leonard J. K. P. Lake, 11/3/2010Silver Tackle Kouba Thailand, Asia

(only)

CARP/ 15 lb. 37” Leonard J. K. P. Lake, 11/3/2010Siamese Giant Tippet Kouba Thailand, Asia

JACUNDA All- 17” Leonard J. Bariri River, 11/29/2010Tackle Kouba Brazil, South America(only)

PARROT All- 13” Leonard J. Bariri River, 11/29/2010CICHLID Tackle Kouba Brazil, South America

(only)

ROHU 15 lb. 22” Leonard J. K. P. Lake, 11/3/2010Tippet Kouba Thailand, Asia

11

David MohlerWalleye, 34", DogtoothLake, Ontario,Canada, 9/5/09

Al NorakerLake Trout,36", LakeAthabasca,Saskatchewan,Canada,9/14/10

Timothy Geni Walleye, 33", LastMountain Lake, Saskatchewan, Canada,1/5/11

Matt Ziomek BlackCrappie, 17", Great

Pond, Massachusetts,USA, 12/23/10

Leonard J.Kouba Caparari,39", PadaueriRiver, Brazil,South America,11/30/10

2nd QUARTER - 2011 UPDATENOTE: World angling records are updated quarterly and the ultimate synthesis ispublished annually in book form each April, distributed free to members, media,manufacturers and world fisheries as a public service.

NOTICE TO REPRINT©COPYRIGHT 2011 FRESH WATER FISHING HALL OF FAME. Ex cerpts or whole may be reprinted withoutwritten permission as public information only, but not for commercial profit purpose. The source of thisinformation must be credited to the Fishing Hall of Fame in a type size readably noticeable or as thecontents of the companion text.

“Kept” World Records List

DIVISION #1 – ROD/REEL - FOREIGNLine Lbs./

Fish Class Ozs. Angler Where Caught DatePIRANHA/ All- 5-8 Leonard J. Padaueri River, 11/30/2010Black Tackle Kouba Brazil, South America

(only)

“C&R” World Records List

DIVISION #1 –ROD/REELLine

Fish Class Length Angler Where Caught DateWALLEYE 17 lb. 34” David Dogtooth Lake, 9/5/2009

Mohler Ontario, Canada

DIVISION #2 – FLY FISHINGLine

Fish Class Length Angler Where Caught DateTROUT/ All- 20” Matthew Frye Mesa Res., 2/23/2011Gila Tackle Rinker Arizona, USA

(only)

TROUT/ 4 lb. 31” Al Lake Athabasca, 9/15/2010Lake Tippet Noraker Saskatchewan, Canada

15 lb. 36” Al Lake Athabasca, 9/14/2010Tippet Noraker Saskatchewan, Canada

DIVISION #4 – ICE FISHING – POLE/LINELine

Fish Class Length Angler Where Caught DateCRAPPIE/ Longest 17” Matt Great Pond, 12/23/2010Black (only) Ziomek Massachusetts, USA

WALLEYE Longest 33” Timothy Last Mountain Lake, 1/5/2011(only) Geni Saskatchewan, Canada

DIVISION #1 – ROD/REEL - FOREIGNLine

Fish Class Length Angler Where Caught DateCAPARARI All- 39” Leonard J. Padaueri River, 11/30/2010

Tackle Kouba Brazil, South America(only)

CARP/ Unltd. 24” Leonard J. K. P. Lake, 11/5/2010Jullien’s Golden Kouba Thailand, Asia

A NON-PROFIT MUSEUM-EDUCATION ORGANIZATIONCustodian of Historical Sport Fishing Artifacts, Enshriner of Persons for Outstanding Achievementand Accomplishment, Official Qualifier and Recorder of World Fresh Water Sportfishing Records,Librarian, Educator and Clearing House for Contemporary and Historical Fishing Facts

Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame & Museum

P.O. Box 69010360 Hall of Fame Drive

Hayward, Wisconsin 54843Phone 715/634-4440

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