Ask the Walleye Pro: Rick LaCourse
Q: I saw you whacked 30 pounds on day one last year at Green Bay. Where were you fishing and what technique were you using? Will the guys be able to bring in similar weights at the upcoming Green Bay event? Lastly, can anglers run out to Lake Michigan or do they have to stay in the bay?
-Josh, Shawano, Wis.
A: All three days of the 2005 FLW Walleye Tour event on Green Bay I started north of Oconto in 5 to 8 feet of water. I ran two Off-Shore planer boards shallow with a worm harness and No. 4 Tom Harris blades with no weight added. On the outside or in 7 feet of water I ran the same harnesses and blades but added a 1/4-ounce split shot to get them down slightly. I feel the weights should average a little less this year than last year. That’s mainly because the fish will be deeper and more spread out in July. All waters that you can reach by boat are open, but I’ve not seen any tournament where Lake Michigan was a factor.
Q: I’ve got two or three basic spinning rods that are great for jigging and slip-bobbering. But I’d like to begin trying other techniques such as using leadcore and planer boards. What rods do you recommend for these techniques (and others) as I expand my collection?
-Tom, Albertville, Minn.
A: Picking rods is like picking a puppy out of a litter. Just about all the rod manufacturers have a full line of actions to chose from, and it boils down to personal preference. My choice for board rods are Shakespeare Ugly Stik’s model No. CAL1100. Basically, it is a 7-foot, medium-action, one-piece rod. I have used these rods for about 10 years now and have had no problems. For leadcore I use the same 7-foot rods if I’m using planer boards, but use a combo of long and short softer action rods if I’m running them off the side of the boat. My longer rods are 9-feet, medium-light action. My shorter set consists of 6-foot rods that also have medium-light action. By having two separate sets of lengths, this gives me a good spread on the lines.
Q: I’ve heard rumors that the FLW Walleye Tour will be expanding from four qualifying events to six qualifying events in 2007. How do you feel about possibly adding two more tournaments and what would your ideal schedule look like for 2007?
-FLWrube
A: Every year at this time rumors start to fly about what next year will bring. One thing I can say for sure is that FLW Outdoors is committed to growing the sport of tournament walleye fishing. Personally I would like to see the FLW Walleye Tour add one or two events next year. Each additional event would enable 300 spots for anglers to participate and that’s what we need to continue to grow the sport. Specifically, I’d like to see four events in the months of April through June with one each in July and August. Then, I’d like the season to conclude with the FLW Walleye Tour Championship in the fall. Believe me, there are plenty of quality fishing locations available all season.
Q: Other than Lake Erie, what does the state of Ohio have for walleye fisheries?
-Minnesotaman
A: Lake Erie has always gotten the most press and rightly so, but some of the inland waters are not too far behind. Start looking in Northeast Ohio at Pymatuning, Mosquito and Berlin Lakes. All three have good populations of walleyes. On the West side look for Alum Creek, Indian Lake and Grand Lake St. Mary’s. And last but not least the Ohio River has a healthy population of both walleyes and saugers.
Rick LaCourse is a veteran walleye angler who has fished the Wal-Mart FLW Walleye Tour, Professional Walleye Trail and Master’s Walleye Circuit. The Port Clinton, Ohio, resident won the 1997 PWT Championship and finished in fourth place at the 2004 FLW Walleye Tour Championship. LaCourse, who has earned over $100,000 in FLW Outdoors events alone, competes against his wife, Julia Davis, who also fishes as a pro on the FLW Walleye Tour. LaCourse’s sponsors include Ranger Boats, Evinrude, Minn Kota, Lowrance, Gemini Sport Marketing, Off Shore Tackle, Panther Marine Products, Dixie Marine, Clamps, Inc.