Ask the Walleye Pro: Tom Keenan
<bQ: What do you think of next year’s schedule? I saw you only fished two events this year, yet you still almost made the championship. Why not fish one or two more and get a free berth to the championship? Are you planning to fish a full schedule next year? Are there any lakes that you are particularly excited about? Are there any events that you aren’t looking forward to?
-Joe, Bloomington, Minn.
A: I am pretty excited about next year’s schedule. I have never been to the Detroit River, but I have read nothing but good things about it. I hope to catch a walleye over 12 pounds there this spring. As far as Red Wing is concerned, anytime we go there, I am excited about it. I love to fish that area. Devils Lake is an awesome fishery, and I am excited to go back there as well. Green Bay is my favorite tournament site for this year. It is located in my backyard, and I love to catch open-water walleyes.
I had to take a year off in 2004 to spend some time with my family. I spent a week at Disney and a week hunting elk. It was great! Look out, because I will be fishing the entire circuit this year, and I want to win the FLW Walleye Tour Angler of the Year award.
Q: What is your general belief about the relationship between catch-and-release and the health of our treasured walleye fisheries? In Minnesota, we’re known for our tremendous walleye angling, yet I feel catch-and-release has yet to really catch on. Everyone releases bass, yet they keep walleyes for the frying pan. I feel this general attitude is having a tremendously negative effect on our fisheries. I’m seeing more and more bass as the years go on and less and less walleyes. It seems the bass have taken over some of the structure that the walleyes used to key on. We should be encouraging catch-and-release on walleyes, and put a few bass in the frying pan. What are your thoughts? Do you see this trend ever ending?
-Mark Loslar, Grand Rapids, Minn.
A: I would say that the same thing is happening in a lot of lakes that I fish in northern Wisconsin. The bass fishing is awesome, but the walleyes are tough to come by. I personally wish more anglers would practice catch-and-release on walleyes. On the positive side, a lot of anglers are starting to let go some big walleyes. I think the key is to have anglers take younger anglers fishing and educate them on this. The future of walleye fishing will be bright if we teach young anglers to release some fish. Both of my daughters would rather let a fish go than keep it! Good coaching by dad.
Q: When do you officially put down the walleye rods and wait for ice fishing season to begin? Are there any lakes in the Midwest that you would recommend for good late-fall action? What lakes do you recommend for the winter?
-Peter, Pierre, S.D.
A: This may come as a surprise, but I actually like to hunt more than fish. When hunting season opens here in Wisconsin, I have a hard time going fishing. I do manage to get out a couple times in the fall for some big Great Lakes walleyes. I would suggest Green Bay or Little Bay de Noc for fall walleye fishing. The action heats up in November and continues until ice-up. As far as ice fishing goes, I make a trip every year to Devils Lake. The perch fishing has been down the last couple of years, but the walleye action is incredible!
Q: Being from the area, what will Green Bay be like in July? I know it was great in May this year, but I imagine it is a whole new ball game in the middle of the summer.
-Matt, Owatonna, Minn.
A: The fishing will be tough in July this year. The alewives will be in full spawn at this time of the year, which makes fishing very tough. Anytime there is plenty of natural baitfish around, we have to work to get bit. We will still catch plenty of fish, but the size will be down. I am still very excited that the tour is going back to Green Bay.
Tom Keenen is a well-known walleye angler from Wausau, Wis. Keenen won the 2003 FLW Walleye Tour Championship on the Mississippi River in Red Wing, Minn., and has also claimed victory at the PWT Walleye Tournament in Fond du Lac, Wis. In his illustrious angling career, Keenan has accumulated over $600,000 and has captured the 1998 and 2000 MWC Team of the Year honor with his brother Mark. Keenan’s sponsors include Ranger Boats, Evinrude, Lindy-Little Joe, Off Shore Tackle, Frabil, Stren, Gander Mountain and Minn Kota.