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Walleye First Tournament Series; Going From Pro-Am to Team Fishing

 May 23rd, 2011 by OutdoorsFIRST 

Modified May 23rd, 2011 at 12:00 AM

Two pro walleye anglers will be fishing team tournaments this season, a change from their days of following the pro-am tour across the country.  Jim Orcutt, Ely, Minnesota and Johnnie Candle, Devils Lake, North Dakota, are both fishing guides at home. 

    Their competitive thrust will be the MWC western division.  They shared about the upcoming summer and tournaments in general.  Johnnie is the current MWC World Champion, and Jim scored Top Gun honors the final PWT season, with a third in Angler of the Year standings with a third place Championship finish that year.

Q:  What did you learn from pro-am tournaments that is beneficial now?
A:  Jim – One of the biggest things I learned as a pro was patience with people.  The different levels of experience, from people who have never fished for walleyes to people who could be driving the boat.  I had to judge people and teach them quickly and adjust my game plan to their abilities.  I actually had Johnnie at one of my first tournaments where I fished as a co-angler.  He explained and showed me how to use planer boards on Lake Erie.
A:  Johnnie – A tournament is a tournament.  No difference if you have a co-angler you just met or a partner you have known for a long time.  All the decisions are the same:  time management, when to move, how long to stay, how to prepare.

Q:  Is your confidence level “up” fishing with a partner?
A:  Jim – My confidence level will be a lot higher knowing my partner has the experience to do everything involved in fishing a tournament.  He can control the boat in any situation.  Also, making decisions are a team effort now, not just me alone.
A:  Johnnie – I fish with more confidence than in a pro-am.  I am no longer looking over my shoulder constantly to see if my partner’s line is on the bottom.  I know that if we are on fish, Dave (my partner) will catch as many or more than I will.

Q:  Explain costs?
A:  Jim – The biggest savings will be in fuel during pre-fishing and the tournament with just one boat.  We’ll have two boats on site, just in case, however, with Barry coming from Nebraska and me from northern Minnesota.
A:  Johnnie – The costs associated with a team event are the same as a pro-am.  The difference is that we now split those costs.  Dave Noble and I split food, hotels and boat gas for the week, and travel to and from the site.  The entry fees are the biggest difference.  Instead of paying $1,500, we split the $650 entry fee.  Obviously, the earning potential is less, but earning does not enter my business model. I view entry fees as payment for possible exposure, which I am still getting from team events.

Q:  What about overall costs?
A:  Jim – The savings in just the entry fee is huge: from around $1,500 per person to $325.  This was a big factor for me this year.
A:  Johnnie – Tournament expenses have been going up; boats, motors, electronics, fuel, bait, tackle, lodging, etc. is very expensive.  In these hard economic times, the number of anglers that can afford to fish is down.

Q:  Do MWC events scratch the competitive itch for you?
A:  Jim – Yes, definitely!  There are great fishermen on the MWC, and I look forward to the competition.  This winter, I looked at the money situation and was depressed to think I might not be competing this summer.  When Barry Walker, my tournament partner from Nebraska said “I just want to fish,” I agreed.  Fishing at this level is mentally and physically challenging.  So is sitting in a boat for eight hours in 30 mph winds trying to catch five 15-inch walleyes, but I love it.
A:  Johnnie – Yes, the MWC anglers are incredibly good.  Many names from the PWT, FLW and AIM fish including Denny Lantzy, Jeff Koester, Tommy Skarlis, Bob Propst Jr., Dan and Danny Plautz, Greg Yarbrough, and many more.  Add the top local teams that seemingly dominate, plus both anglers add their knowledge and experience to the mix, and the competition is some of the best anywhere.

Q:  What will you fish this season?
A:  Jim – I will fish the western division of the MWC, and when in the running for Team of the Year, will sign up for an eastern event.
A:  Johnnie – This year we will try to defend our MWC Championship title, and have entered the western division and the Cabela’s NTC at Bay de Noc.  We will also fish the October Championship.  Bobbi Lunday, my significant other and I will fish a couples event on Devils Lake.

Q:  Both of you are guides.  How do people contact you?
A:  Jim – I’ve been guiding primarily walleyes, but also smallies and crappies in the Ely, Minnesota area for seven years.  My email and phone are [email protected] and 218-349-3658.
A:  Johnnie – I guide on Devils Lake, and enjoy meeting new folks and sharing my fishing knowledge.  It’s much the same as fishing a pro-am, but without the pressure of winning to cash a check.  My website is www.johnniecandle.com.

Q:  What do you miss most about the Pro-Am Tour?
A:  Jim — I know the biggest thing I’ll miss this year is all the friends I’ve made.
A:  Johnnie – I will not see a lot of the regulars – my friends from the pro-am days.  But, I will be fishing competitively.  I will also fish some old favorites and new waters, while doing the job I love of promoting.  Only the faces change.

Q:  What does your personal crystal ball say about the future of competitive walleye fishing?
A:  Jim – Hopefully tournaments are on the upswing.  Some fields seem to be up.  The last couple of years really hurt, with some people not being able to afford to fish.  The payouts were also down with less sponsorships.  However, with good exposure and prize money, the future should pick up.  One of the hardest aspects of walleye tournaments is fishing great fisheries like Mobridge, but with no population base to support the events.
A:  Johnnie – There are times when it appears to be rebounding.  I love the FLW numbers at Erie and the MWC fields at Spring Valley and the Detroit River.  It seemed like the corner was being turned, but the Winneconne AIM event and the MWC western division are struggling.  The national economy is the key.  Without discretionary income, guys won’t fork over $3,000 to fish these events.  Even those of us that do this for a living have had to make tough decisions about where and how to spend our money.  I think the worst is behind us.  Anglers are speaking positively, and all are hoping it moves near the peak of what it was.

Q:  List your sponsors.
A:  Jim – My biggest sponsor has been my sister Katherine Hill and my family and friends.  I could not have done this without their support, and Lund, Mercury, Lowrance, Lindy and the Grand Ely Lodge.
A:  Johnnie – Scheels, Crestliner, Mercury, Fishouflage, Lake Region State College, Berkley, Fenwick, Pflueger, Rapala, Humminbird, MinnKota, Navionics, EGO nets, Dutch Fork Custom Lures, Costa Del Mar and Fin-Tech tackle.

Q:  Final comments?
A:  Jim – Fishing as a co-angler when I first started on the tour was one of the greatest experiences I ever had.  Switching to the pro side of the boat has also been one of the greatest times of my life. 
A:  Johnnie – Team events have allowed me to market myself to an entirely different group of consumers.  It seemed hard to show sponsored pros and even many sponsored co-anglers new products, because they had their favorites.  Team events put me in front of new anglers willing to listen.  Now, I answer questions for anglers who love the sport and want to take what they learn back home and share it.  I have expanded into this segment of the market that I was previously missing.

Author’s Note:  Jim and Johnnie are like many pro anglers out there.  They both urge anglers to find tournaments (local, state, charity, etc.), and support them by entering.  Growth will take place when walleye tournament numbers build.  So will the payback, which will result in more media and better fields for the future.