Brainerd, Minnesota.....The world’s best walleye anglers conduct thousands of seminars every year. Who teaches best? The top seminar presenters were named by the In-Fisherman Professional Walleye Trail (PWT) touring pros.

Gary Parsons captured the top spot in the survey. The Glidden, Wis. pro makes his living fishing. He conducts more than 50 seminars annually, most at major sport shows. This season already, he scored his third PWT victory on Lake Oahe. In his illustrious career, Parsons cashed checks in 51 of 79 PWT tournaments fished, and ranks third on the all-time money winning list with more than $330,000 to his credit. Of the tournaments where he cashed checks, he placed 20th or better 70 percent of the time. He is the only 2-time PWT Angler of the Year.

“More than any of my multi-media seminars during show season, I like teaching in the boat during PWT tournaments,” he said. These are Pro-Am events, and each day a new amateur is drawn into Parsons’ boat. “We start the day getting to know each other. I explain the tactic we’ll begin with, and the reasons why this is the best presentation. Of course, we go over the safety operations, but concentrate on fishing. When I hit the throttle at 7 a.m. that’s when the instructional period really becomes meaningful,” he said.

The World’s Top 10 Walleye Seminar Presenters

1. Gary Parsons, Glidden, Wis.
2. Keith Kavajecz, Kaukauna, Wis.
3. Tommy Skarlis, Walker, Minn.
3. Ted Takasaki, East Gull Lake, Minn.
5. Scott Glorvigen, Grand Rapids, Minn.

6. Daryl Christensen, Montello, Wis.
7. Marty Glorvigen, Grand Rapids, Minn.
8. Sam Anderson, Rosemount, Minn.
8. Scott Fairbairn, Hager City, Wis.
8. Mike Gofron, Antioch, Ill.

All PWT pros are available to walleye fans who want to fish with them. At each tournament, like the upcoming Escanaba, Mich., Lowrance/Lund North Central Pro-Am Aug. 22-24, amateurs will learn from the pros. Most pros named on this list will fish in Escanaba. They represent 16 tournament wins, four Anglers of the Year, and have won more than $1,900,000 on tour. Escanaba, home of legendary walleye waters Little Bay de Noc and Big Bay de Noc, is the final stop prior to the Mercury Championship, where a very big payday waits. For instance, if the Michigan state record walleye, 17-3 pounds, is broken during the Sept. 12-14 competition in Houghton, the PWT record-setting pro will earn a $1,000,000 prize from Quantum Performance tuned rods and reels.

The anglers who are at the top of the Angler of the Year standings know another fishing milestone is within reach. The Mercury Marine $250,000 bonus is on the table. If the Angler of the Year also wins the Championship, the extra quarter-million dollars will be paid. The Angler of the Year leaders (Keith Kavajecz in first; John Bergsma in second; Bill Ortiz in third; Gary Parsons in fourth; and Todd Riley in fifth) are all Mercury owners and eligible, as are many other walleye pro anglers just a few points behind. Anglers of the Year have won Championships, just not in the same season. Will it happen in Houghton? The tournament pros want it, and Mercury will gladly pay it.

The PWT is an integral element of the In-Fisherman Communications Network headquartered in Brainerd, Minnesota, and PRIMEDIA, America's leading producer of targeted media. PWT sponsors include: Mercury Marine, Lund, Berkley Gulp!, Trilene, PowerBait, Realtree, Miller High-Life, Nissan, Frenzy, Lowrance, MinnKota, Optima Batteries, Gander Mountain, Blue Fox, Northland Fishing Tackle, Lindy Legendary Fishing Tackle, Coleman, Storm, Eagle Trailers, Raymarine, Rapala, Matzuo, Pflueger, Ram rod holders, Drift Control, DeeZee, Cotton Cordell, Seal Skinz, Aqua-Vu, IMCO, Plano, KeepAlive, Stowmaster.net, Quantum Performance Tuned rods & reel.

NOTE TO MEDIA: If you want to visit the Escanaba site and fish with the pro anglers, contact Jim Kalkofen as soon as possible, and prior to Aug. 14. Jim Kalkofen office: 218-824-2552.