DAVE WASNESS

Where do you spend most of your time fishing?

Otter Tail Lake, MN.

Aside from fishing, how are you involved with the angling community

I am the President of FM Walleyes Unlimited, Inc., a volunteer boat captain for high school angling, and organizer of many youth fishing clinics and derbies.

If you had to build the ultimate tackle box with only five lures, what’s in it?

1/8oz white jig, puppet minnow, rippin shad, lindy rig, and a #7 flickershad in firetiger.

What is your go-to rod and reel setup?

7'2" Medium Light Fast action rod with a Shimano Stradic reel.

If the bite is tough, what’s your go-to strategy to turn things around?

Start eating. Fish always bite when you are busy doing something else.

When did you first start fishing?

I started fishing at a very young age. My dad and grandpa would take my twin brother and I fishing in an older 16-foot red Lund boat with the bench seats. Started out pulling bottom bouncers and spinners until we were old enough to start casting from the boat.

When did you first start fishing?

It would be the 1975 Pro V. I absolutely love that there is storage for everything, and the layout works well in every situation. Whether I'm heading out for a tournament, or a fun weekend with the family, the Lund 1975 Pro V is the right boat for me. The layout works very well for me to take my daughter and her friends tubing in the afternoons and fishing in the evenings.

When you’re not fishing, what’s something you love to do?

Hunt. I love the chase, whether it’s for the next big bite or the next big game. It's all fun.

What life lessons has fishing taught you that apply beyond the water?

Patience. You can never make a fish bite, but with patience you can find those windows when the fish will become active. Always have multiple fishing spots to circle through. Patience extends beyond the water into every aspect of your life. In most cases patience will result in a much better experience.

How do you stay motivated and focused, even during tough seasons?

Every season can be tough. It's the chase. It is called fishing and not catching for a reason. Once you think you have something figured out, it all changes because of various reasons; wind changes, cold front moves in, blue skies change to cloudy skies, etc. This is also what makes fishing so fun. Figuring out why their behavior has changed and adapting to it is what makes good anglers great. The bend in the fishing rod and the tug on the line can make any bad day turn into a fun day, regardless of fish on the end of the line.