Gary Parsons

Gary Parsons, of Glidden, WI, is a professional walleye fisherman, specializing in tournament fishing and walleye fishing promotions. Gary is a “Legendary Angler” inductee into the National Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame and one of the co-hosts of the popular The Next Bite TV show (now in its 13th season on air), airing on NBC Sports Network, CBS Sports Network, WFN, and Destination America networks.

Following are a few of his impressive tournament and career accomplishments:

Angler of the Year Titles:

• The only person to have won “Angler of the Year” titles in three open Professional Walleye Circuits.
• 1994 – Professional Walleye Trail (PWT)
• 1993 – Professional Walleye Trail (PWT)
• 1988 – Manufacturer’s Walleye Council (MWC)

Unprecedented Back-To-Back Titles:

• 2007 – Professional Walleye Trail (PWT)
• 1995 – North American Walleye Anglers (NAWA)
• Three time (PWT), “AOY” title record
• Along with the regional (PWT), “AOY” never been done before

Championship Titles:

• 1988 – Manufacturer’s Walleye Council (MWC), Dubuque, IA

Championship Qualifiers:

• 2016 NWT Championship Qualifier
• 2015 NWT Championship Qualifier
• 2014 NWT Championship Qualifier
• 2012 AIM Championship Qualifier
• 2012 FLW Championship Qualifier
• 2011 FLW Championship Qualifier
• 3 – Time AIM Championship Qualifier
• 17 – Time Professional Walleye Trail (PWT)
• 9 – Time Master’s Walleye Circuit (MWC)
• 5 – Time North American Walleye Angler’s (NAWA)
• 3 – Time Super Pro (PWT)

First Place Finishes:

• Many more not documented
• 2013 – AIM, Oconto Pro/Partner Challenge
• 2007 – PWT, Winneconne, WI
• 2004 – Berkley Walleye Cup, Chamberlain, SD
• 2003 – PWT, Mobridge, SD
• 1995 – North American Walleye Anglers (NAWA)
• 1998 – PWT, Pierre, SD
• 1998 – NAWA, Green Bay, WI
• 1994 – PWT, Mobridge, SD
• 1991 – Montana Governor’s Cup, Fort Peck, MT)
• 1990 – MWC, Bay City, MI
• 1988 – MWC, Saginaw Bay, MI
• 1987 – Saginaw Bay Walleye Club, Saginaw Bay, MI
• 1984 – World Championship Walleye Tournament Circuit (WTC), Sturgeon Bay, WI

Second place Finishes:

• 2014 – NWT – Escanaba
• 2009 – AIM, Saginaw Bay, MI
• 2000 – PWT, Sault Ste. Marie, MI
• 1995 – PWT, Au Gres, MI
• 1993 – PWT, Bay City, MI
• 1991 – NAWA, Pierre, SD
• 1991 – MWC, Bay City, MI
• 1990 – MWC, Spring Valley, IL
• 1987 – Walleye Weekend, Fond du Lac, WI

Third place Finishes:

• 2005 – PWT, Bull Shoals, AK
• 1998 – NAWA, Lake Sakakawea, ND
• 1996 – NAWA, Lake Cumberland, KY
• 1995 – NAWA, Lake Cumberland, KY
• 1994 – PWT, Put-in-Bay, OH
• 1993 – PWT, Mille Lacs, MN
• 1991 – PWT, Put-in-Bay, OH
• 1991 – MWC, Dubuque, IA
• 1987 – Otter Street, Oshkosh, WI

Fourth place Finishes:

• 2009 – AIM, Akaska, SD – Lake Oahe
• 2001 – PWT, Chamberlain, SD
• 1995 – PWT, Pierre, SD
• 1995 – NAWA, Pierre, SD
• 1995 – NAWA, Lake County, OH
• 1994 – NWT, Fond du Lac, WI
• 1988 – MWC, Lake Oahe, SD

Fifth place Finishes:

•   2005 – PWT, Bay City, MI
• 1996 – NWT, Fond du Lac, WI
• 1986 – MWC, Pierre, SD

Sixth place Finishes:

•    2007 – PWT, Cass Lake, MN
•   1989 – NWT, Fond du Lac, WI
•      1988 – MWC, Lake Winnebago, WI

Seventh place Finishes:

• 2015 – NWT, Devil’s Lake, ND
• 2010 – AIM, Winneconne, WI
• 2008 – PWT, Hudson, WI
• 2008 – PWT, Sault Ste Marie, MI
• 2003 – PWT, Bay City, MI
• 2000 – PWT, Bay City, MI
• 1994 – NAWA, Isle, MN
• 1989 – MWC, Dubuque, IA

Eighth place Finishes:

• 2010 – AIM, Brimley, MI
• 2009 – AIM, Winneconne, WI, Lake Winnebago
• 2007 – PWT, Dryden, OT (Canada)
• 1988 – PWT, Stockton, MO
• 1992 – NWT, Fond du Lac, WI

Ninth place Finishes:

• 2007 – PWT, Chamberlain, SD
• 2007 – PWT, Escanaba, MI
• 2002 – PWT, Chamberlain, SD
• 1997 – NAWA, Fairport, Harbor, OH
• 1987 – MWC, Spring Valley, IL
• 1986 – MWC, Oshkosh, WI

Tenth place Finishes:

• More than a dozen other Top Ten Finishes not listed
• 2008 – PWT, Bay City, MI
• 2005 – PWT, Russell Springs, KY
• 1992 – PWT, Devils Lake, ND
• 1990 – PWT, Saginaw Bay, MI
• 1985 – MWC, Pierre, SD

Other:

• 2011- Named as one of Outdoor Life’s 20 Best Anglers on the Planet
• 2008 – Optima “TOP GUN” Title
• 2007 – PWT, Most Consecutive Top 10 Finishes: 1st, 6th, 8th, two-9th, and 10th * PWT Record
• 2007 – PWT, “Cool Under Pressure” Dryden, OT (Canada)
• 2005 – TNB TV, received The Outdoor Channel’s “Golden Moose Award” for Best Freshwater Footage
• 2005 – Midwest Outdoors Magazine, “Readers’ Choice” Award
• 2004 – ESPN, Great Outdoor Games, Qualifier
• 2003 – Storm Lures, “Angler of the Year”
• 2001 – “Legendary Angler” inductee into the National Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame
• 2000 – PWT, “Heavy Weight” Sault Ste. Marie, MI
• 1995 – PWT, “Big Walleye” Au Gres, MI
• 1994 – PWT, “Heavy Weight” Lake Oahe, SD
• 1993 – Lowrance Electronics, “Best Tournament Trail Performance”
• 1992 – Book of “Who’s who”
• 1992 – Lowrance Electronics, “Best Educational Article”
• 1991 – Lowrance Electronics, “Best Educational Article”
• 1986 – MWC, 2nd place, “Most Consistent Team” w/ Brother-Doug
• 1985 – MWC, 2nd place, “Most Consistent Team” w/ Brother-Doug
• 1983 – State of MI, D.N.R., “Master Angler” Award

Appeared on television shows including: “In-Fishermen”, co-host, Bass Pro Shops “Outdoor World”; and co-host “The Next Bite” To name a few.

Featured in publications including: Walleye In-Sider, In-Fishermen, North American Fishermen, Fishing Facts, Outdoor Life, Field & Stream, Sports A field, Bass & Walleye Boats, Michigan Fisherman, Outdoor Canada, Dakota Outdoors, Walleye Unlimited of Montana-Fish Tales, Mid-West Outdoors, Walleye Tips & Trips, and many more.

Author of: “Walleye Trolling Secrets” book

15 Magazine covers

Over 1000 or more published articles

Contributor to Faculty of Fishing website

1983 – First Place, first competitive fishing tournament, Oshkosh, WI

1986 – helped Yarcraft Boats design the “Best deep – V boat design” as awarded by Popular Mechanics magazine

Instrumental in the research and development of:

• In-line planner board “Willie Board” & “Off Shore Tackle”
• Jigs “Jig-a-Whopper”, “Northland Fishing Tackle”, & “Bass Pro Shops”
• Soft Plastics “Berkley”
• Crank Baits “Storm”, “Rapala”, & “Berkley”
• Reels “Diawa” & “Bass Pro Shops”
• Rods “Diawa”, & “Bass Pro Shops”
• Boats “Yar Craft” “Skeeter” & “TRACKER”
• Outboard Motors “Mercury Marine”
• Trolling Motors “Minn-Kota” & “Motor Guide”
• Hooks “Mustad”

About Gary:

• Born: Appleton, WI 1954
• Grew up just 6 miles from Lake Winnebago, & 22 miles from Lake Michigan
• Practiced Dentistry for 15 years
• Retired at the age of 40 to fish professionally
• Passions: Walleyes and Whitetail Deer Hunting, Grouse & Pheasant Hunting with his 5-Vizsla pointer dogs, & any time spent with his wife Mary

Favorite fishing technique: jigging

Most known for: Open water, Trolling

Favorite Bodies of Water: Bull Shoals, AR and Fort Peck, MT – Both are Reservoirs

Biggest Walleye: 13.3 #, Bay de Noc, MI

Biggest Sturgeon: 79” @ 134 Lbs. Through the ice, Lake Winnebago, WI

Biggest Whitetail: 12 Point 310 Lbs, Saskatchewan Canada, 1995

Biggest Black Bear: 450 Lbs, Bow, Ontario Canada, 1982

WI Grand Slam: w/ a bow, whitetail deer, bear 2003 or 4, & coyote

Race snowmobiles for 3-years in his youth

Race snowmobiles for 3-years in his youth

Race snowmobiles for 3-years in his youth

Best Asset: Tremendous Support from wife Mary

Gary is sponsored by:

• Mary Parsons (his wife)
• Tracker/Nitro Boats
• Bass Pro Shops
• Mercury Outboards
• MotorGuide Electric Motors
• Berkley Soft Baits
• Berkley Lines,
• Berkley Hard Baits
• Lowrance Electronics
• Mustad Hooks
• Off Shore Tackle
• Strike King
• Power-Pole
• Moonshine Lures (Shiver Minnows)
• EGO Nets
• Clam Ice Fishing
• Ice Armor Clothing
• ION Ice Drills
• JT Outdoors (Hot Box),
• G2 Gemini
• AIM (Anglers Insight Marketing)
• The Next Bite Media