by Pat Schlapper

On a recent ice fishing outing to a nearby body of water, my friend and I experienced some excellent midday walleye action. We ventured out at 10 a.m. with high expectations for the day ahead. It was an exhausting journey to reach our destination. We had to walk through some rough terrain and scale some extreme hills to get to our secret hole.

Upon arrival we drilled about twenty holes and started checking them with our Vexilars. We set out four tip-ups with shiner and sucker minnows, then started jigging. We both started with medium-sized jigging Rapalas.

My friend almost immediately caught a nice 19.5 inch walleye. Shortly after, I caught two smaller fish on a tip-up. From about 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., we consistently caught walleyes both jigging and on tip-ups. For some reason the fish that day seemed to really prefer the shiner minnows over the sucker minnows we also had out. The fish we caught on the jigging Rapalas hit the bait so hard that the rod almost jumped out of our hands! Once I got the hang of the jigging rap I had a blast catching fish on my light action rod.

To entice the fish to grab the bait, we were ripping the bait extremely hard three or four times in a row. This seemed to get the attention of the fish. Once we saw a fish come in our flashers we would slowly jig the bait to entice them to eat it. When a fish committed there was no question you had a bite.

My setup consisted of a 24-inch light action rod with 4-pound test line. My friend was using a slightly stiffer rod with 6-pound line. On the tip-ups we used 35-pound Dacron line with 10 flourocarbon leaders and No. 10 treble hooks.

Throughout the two hours we caught fish it seemed like the bigger fish wanted the jigging raps. We did catch some 15 to 16 inch fish on tip-ups but the two nicest ones came while jigging.

It is a common belief that walleyes are very difficult to catch during the midday hours, especially during ice fishing season. However, on this day of fishing my friend and I caught between 15 and 20 walleyes from 10 to 1 p.m. This just goes to show that if you are willing to put in the time and effort to find fish, you can catch them when other people are at home waiting for the "evening" bite.

Pat Schlapper is a fishing manager at Scheels in Eau Claire, Wisc. He is also a Scheels-sponsored tournament bass fisherman.

Rob McClanahan, former Olympic hockey player,

coaches his daughter's team at the International

Squirt tournament in Fargo, N.D.

Thirty years ago, Rob McClanahan was part of one of the most memorable and influential hockey games ever played.

Today, McClanahan shares his one-of-a-kind experiences in the game with his daughter Sara and the rest of the Squirt ‘B’ hockey team he coaches in Orono, Minn.

The squad was in Fargo for the International Squirt Tournament and Tom kindly took a few moments to recall his experience playing with the 1980 U.S. Olympic hockey team.

The 1980 team left a lasting impression in the hearts and minds of Americans when they upset the powerful Soviets – which had won every hockey gold medal since 1960 -- in an Olympic medal-round matchup in Lake Placid, N.Y. It’s a story that’s been immortalized by movies, documentaries, books, and virtually all things that are capable of recording or recounting the event.

“It’s hard to believe it’s been 30 years,” said McClanahan. “We’ve had a lot of fun with it.”

Today’s younger hockey players and fans were not around to experience the significance and hysteria surrounding the win over Russia and subsequent victory over Finland in the gold medal game.

“If you’ve never seen the documentary HBO created, I would recommend it to anybody from ages 5 to 90,” McClanahan suggests. “Watch it.

“The American psyche at the time was at an all-time low. We were aware of the excitement within the Olympic Village and Lake Placid, but we had no idea of the impact nationwide until after the Olympics were over,” McClanahan said. “It’s been a great 30-year ride. It’s hard to believe people still talk about. We’re very proud of what we did.”

The U.S. accomplished the feat under the leadership of coach Herb Brooks, the fiery general who lined up 61 exhibition games and conducted grueling practices in the five months leading up to the Games.

“To put it simply, Herb Brooks prepared any team he coached to play their very best at the most important times. That’s why, in seven years, he won three NCAA titles at Minnesota and lost in the finals another year,” said McClanahan. “He had us ready in 1980. When the opportunity presented itself, we were prepared to take advantage of it.”

Even under the tutelage of Brooks, how stacked were the odds against the United States in the game against Russia? Perhaps McClanahan’s explanation of how the team itself felt tells the story.

“You ask all 20 players on the team, if we played them 100 times, how many would we lose, and the answer would be 99,” said McClanahan, who scored five goals in the 1980 Olympics. “We just happened to win the right game.

“We had played them earlier in Madison Square Garden and we lost 10-3, and it wasn’t that close. During the Olympics, we watched them play Canada and we watched them play Finland. They had to come from behind in both those games, and they were flat.”

With one second remaining in the first period of the medal-round game, Mark Johnson of the United States – who McClanahan frequently stays in touch with to this day – scored a goal to tie the game 2-2, and once again, the Russians were struggling early.

Frustrated, Soviet coach Viktor Tinkhonov replaced goalie Vladislav Tretiak, who was considered by many to be the best in the world at the time.

“It was huge. Psychologically it was huge,” said McClanahan. “I can understand why the coach did that. He realized his team was flat, and he realized he needed to shake them up. But it also gave us a boost of confidence. Jimmy (Craig) made some great saves and we were able to weather the storm, and the rest is history.”

McClanahan concurs that Herb Brooks was truly calm and calculated under pressure -- just as is portrayed in the movies and documentaries -- especially after the U.S. scored to take a 4-3 lead with ten minutes remaining in the game.

“Herbie, in his masterful way, prepared us. And though we were outplayed that game -- I think we were outshot 12-2 in the second period alone -- we scored the right goals. They made some mistakes, we took advantage of our opportunities, and Herbie remained calm after we went up 4-3 and all he said was, ‘Play your game, play your game.’”

“It was the longest ten minutes of our lives, I guarantee you that.”

On Sunday night, Scheels attended the Central Iowa Sports Awards at the Prairie Meadows Conference Center in Des Moines, IA. Beautiful, handmade trophies made by Sticks were presented to winners in four categories: High School, College/University, Professional/Motorsports/Other, and Lifetime Achievement.

This was an outstanding collection of Central Iowa athletes, and Scheels was proud to be a sponsor of the event.

Each of the four categories had subcategories to honor the best in male, female, individual, and team sports, and all nominees were invited to the banquet. The neat thing about this awards ceremony is that people were invited to vote on the most deserved team, athlete, game, or play on The Des Moines Register's special site. The awards weren’t announced prior to the banquet; it was all live, so most of the awards were a surprise.

We shared a table with Ames High School basketball star Harrison Barnes, his family, and his coaches during the ceremony and dinner. Barnes surprised no one by winning High School Male Athlete of the Year. He has been ranked by numerous media outlets as the No. 1 high school player in the country. The senior will play collegiately next winter at the University of North Carolina.

Scheels had the opportunity to talk with Barnes about his basketball future, and also heard from Iowa State hoops standout Craig Brackins, and Drake soccer All-American Garrett Webb, among others. Watch the Scheels YouTube channel and scheels.com in coming days for more from these standout athletes!

Here’s a rundown of the night’s winners:

High schools:
Female athlete of the year: Katie Flood, cross country, Dowling
Male athlete of the year: Harrison Barnes, boys’ basketball, Ames
Player of the year: Morgan Hoeg, softball, walk-off homer against Valley in state playoffs
Game of the year: Marshalltown football, playoff win against Dowling
Team of the year: Dowling, cross country

Colleges:
Female athlete of the year: Alison Lacey, women’s basketball, Iowa State
Male athlete of the year: Craig Brackins, men’s basketball, Iowa State
Play of the year: Jesse Smith, football, Iowa State — interception against Nebraska
Game of the year: Iowa State’s football win at Nebraska
Team of the year: Drake men’s soccer

Professional/motorsports:
Athlete of the year: Justin Hartwig, West Des Moines, Pittsburgh Steelers’ Super Bowl victory
Event of the year: Iowa Speedway’s NASCAR Nationwide race

Lifetime achievement:

Jim Williams, Dowling football

Pre-Registration & Packet Pickup Begins

When: Saturday, April 10, 2010

Location: Scheels, 4301 W Wisconsin Ave, Appleton WI

Times: 10:00am - NOON Pre-Registration & Packet Pickup

Race Day Events

When: Sunday, April 11, 2010

Location: Fox Cities Stadium, 2400 N Casaloma Drive, Appleton WI MAP

Start Times:

7:00 am - On-site 5K Registration & Packet Pickup

8:30 am - 5K Run/Walk Begins

8:45 am - On-site Kid's Runs Registration & Shirt Pickup

9:30 am - 1/4 Mile Youth Run - (ages 5 and under), parents allowed to accompany. 1 lap around warning track

9:45 am - 1/2 Mile Youth Run - (ages 6 to 9)2 laps around warning track

10:00 am - NEW! 1 Mile Youth Run - (ages 10 to 12)4 laps around warning track

10:30 am - Awards Presentation

A PaceSetters “Experience the Sport of Life” Premiere Event 5K Run/Walk and Youth Runs for Fitness (Family Event) Fox Cities Stadium, Appleton WI.

For each paid participant:

• An official Run for Home 5k technical shirt or Youth Runs short sleeved cotton t-shirt

• 5K finishing medal or Youth Runs finishing medal

• Ticket to a Wisconsin Timber Rattler game

• Refreshments for all runners, walkers & volunteers

• Age group awards (5K only) & 1st-3rd Awards for youth runs at finish line.

Cost to register:

5K Run/Walk: $20 by March 31, 2010 or $25 from April 1, 2010 through race day.

5K No Shirt Option: $15 by March 31, 2010 or $25 from April 1, 2010 through race day.

Youth Runs: $10 by March 31, 2010 or $10 from April 1, 2010 through race day.

Register Online!

or Click on the Event Listing to download a registration form.

Start

The 5K Run/Walk/Wheelchair and 10K Run/Wheelchair will begin simultaneously at 9:00am. The race start is on the corner of Iowa Ave. and Madison St. Visit the Hawkeye Hustle page for information on the children's race.

5K Team Competition

This event allows a team of 5 runners/walkers to enjoy the race together. The team's average will be used to determine the winner in three categories: men’s, women’s, and coed. All winning team members will receive awards. Team check-in will be at the registration table on race day. Team members must staple and mail entries together.

Team Theme Competition

There will also be prizes awarded to the top three teams who dress in a costume best related to their team name. Visit our website for more details!

Age Divisions

13 & Under, 14-17, 18-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60+ Ages

Packet Pick-up

Fri., April 23, 4 pm-7 pm

Sat., April 24, 10 am-5 pm

Race Day, 6:30-8:15 am in IMU Main Lounge

Parking

We encourage all participants to park free of charge in the Hancher commuter lot. The IMU parking ramp and the North Campus ramp will be open, for a fee, on race day. Plan on leaving a bit early to negotiate traffic as some city streets will be blocked for race-course set-up after 6:00am. Click here for map.

Directions

From I-80, take exit 244 South to Market St. Go west on Market St. to Madison St. and the IMU is on the NW corner of the intersection.

Awards

Awards will be presented to the winners of the 5K and 10K Men’s, Women’s, & Wheelchair Divisions in addition to the top male and female in the above age divisions. In addition, awards will be given for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd in each category. All participants are eligible to win prizes at the Fitness Expo, if present, after the race.

Register Today!

by Johnnie Candle

We all know the saying and none of us would deny it is true. Well it hit me hard this winter when I got a phone call from a friend to go do some ice fishing. I knew I needed to get my stuff in order all fall, but time got away from me. Ducks, Pheasants and deer were all more important and I was still fishing from my boat. Why would I ever stop those activities to get my ice fishing gear ready? As I was trying to do it all overnight, the answer became very clear.

Finding my gear was easy, it was right where I left it; in a 5 gallon bucket in the corner of the garage. Once I got the rods and reels untangled, the fun began. I tried tying some new lures on, but the line was shot. So, new line on all the reels.

Then it was the Humminbird flasher. Turned it on. Nothing. Dead battery. Now where is that charger?

Next was the auger. Found it. Right under the hunting blind. Good spot, I thought.

"Will it start?" Not so good. New gas, oil, spark plug and blades. Try finding all that at 9:00 at night.

I then decided to pack my Fish Trap. Oh no, no propane in the tank for the heater. I can get that at the bait shop in the morning.

The final straw was opening the fish trap on the lake to find it full of holes from the family of mice that had called it home all winter. UUGGHH!!!

Never again, unless the ducks and pheasants are flying, the deer are moving or there is still time to catch another walleye from the boat.

Johnnie Candle is a Scheels-sponsored fisherman on the Professional Walleye Trail. He also guides on his home waters of Devils Lake, N.D. Candle also puts on educational semiars across the country and hosts Pro's Pointers on NBC North Dakota News. He can be followed online at johnniecandle.com.

Date: Saturday, July 17, 2010 @ 8:00am

Address: Scheels, Crossroads Center, 40 North Waite Avenue

Fees: 20.00

Pre-Registration Closing Date: Monday, July 12, 2010 at 11:59pm

Race Day Registration: Saturday, July 17, 2010 beginning at 6:30am and closes at 7:15am. Race Day Registration Fees are $25.00 per participant.

Grab your family! Bring your friends! Join in the fun for the Third Annual SCHEELS 5K scheduled for Saturday, July 17, 2010 at 8:00am. The certified course race will start and end in the SCHEELS parking lot with the course going through the Waite Park residential area! All ages are welcome and awards will be given to the top three places in each age division as well as door prizes. Intersections will be controlled by local law enforcement.

Put together a Big Brother Big Sister Team and run/walk together!

Packet-Pickup: Saturday, July 17, 2010 from 6:30am-7:45am at Scheels, 40 North Waite Avenue, Waite Park, MN

Course: The certified race will start and finish in the SCHEELS parking lot. The majority of the race will run through Waite Park residential areas. Course maps will be available at the race.

Timing: Chip timing will be conducted by Brad Pickle of Pickle Events.

Age Categories: Awards will be given to the top 3 female and male finishers in the following age groups: • 14 and under • 15 – 19 • 20 – 29 • 30 – 39 • 40 – 49 • 50 - 59 • 60 – 69 • 70 and up Awards will also be given for the following: • Top Three Fastest Female Overall • Top Three Fastest Male Overall

Refreshments: Water, Gatorade, fruit and cookies will be provided at the finish line.

Benefiting the Big Brothers, Big Sisters Program of Central Minnesota whose mission “is to help children reach their potential through professionally supported, one-to-one relationships with measurable impact.”

Click on the event listing to download a registration form or register on-line by CLICKING HERE.

Friday, July 16, 2010 at 6:30PM

Address:

Sunset Park

1000 W Sunset Dr

On-line Registration Closing Date: Wednesday, July 14, 2010 at 10:59 PM

SEE BELOW FOR REGISTRATION OPTIONS AFTER JULY 14.

Come out to Paperfest and enjoy live music, food, drinks and games. Free Concert following the race. All proceeds benefit nonprofit organizations in the Fox Valley.

Course: 5K two-lap course through Sunset Park & nearby neighborhood. See map on back of registration form attached below.

Chip Timing: Chip pick-up/T-shirt pick-up for all entrants night of race. ARRIVE EARLY.

SCHEELS 5K Sunset Run & Walk

Entry Fee $15.00 received by July 9, 2010 & $20.00 after July 9th. Entries are “non-refundable”. Short sleeve t-shirt included. Shirt sizes/availability not guaranteed for entries after 7/9/10.

SCHEELS 1K Youth Run & Walk

For children age 12 & under of all ability levels. Fun Run/Walk starts at approx. 7:30 p.m. No entry fee collected & no shirt distributed. Goodie bags and awards are distributed at the finish line.

AWARDS: AWARDS Ceremony starts at approximately 7:45 p.m. Plaques awarded to top three female and male finishers overall. Overall winners do not place in age groups. Age group awards (medals) to top three female and male participants in the 5K run as follows: 10 & under, 11-12, 13-14, 15-16, 17-18, 19-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-69, 70 & over.

REGISTRATION: NIGHT BEFORE REGISTRATION: Optional Thurs 7/15/10 - 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM Shelter #2 Registration Area - Sunset Park. Please note: No Thurs night packet pick-up due to chip timing.

RACE DAY PACKET PICK-UP & RACE DAY REGISTRATION: 4:30 PM to 6:10 PM Shelter #2, Sunset Park, West entry

DIRECTIONS: 441 to CE East. Railroad St. North to Kimberly Ave., then west to Sunset Park (West entry) - Kimberly.

To download a registration form, click on the event listing and a pdf will appear at the bottom of the event description.

REGISTER ONLINE NOW!

Scheels fitness expert Heather Corcoran says fitness

results are easier to achieve with proper nutrition.

Nutrition plays a vital role in staying healthy. Scheels fitness expert Heather Corcoran is passionate about maintaining a good diet, which is critical to maximizing any fitness routine.

Looking to lose a few extra pounds? The best places to start ar breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Says Heather: “Scientifically, for every ten pounds of body fat a person wants to lose, up to eight or nine of those pounds will be lost through proper nutrition. I often see people who are willing to work out for hours each day but show little to no restraint in their eating habits. Eventually they burn out from being at the gym so much without seeing results. If they scaled back their exercise efforts and dumped more intention into being intentional about every bite or drink that goes into their mouth, they'd see results much more quickly.”

Even once you’ve reached your desired weight, the bigger challenge can often be maintaining that weight. Heather notes that staying on top of your nutritional habits goes a long way toward living a healthy lifestyle.

“For myself, even though I'm at my target weight, if I want to stay here, I know that I must focus attention on my nutrition constantly. I'm not a robot and I love pizza and ice cream as much as the next hot-blooded American,” notes Heather. “Living in moderation is the best way to let myself be human and occasionally enjoy a treat. I look for ways to enjoy things that I love without adding a lot of sugar and fat and unnatural substances into my diet. If I'm going to eat out, I check the web site's nutrition information before I arrive so that I can make an informed choice about what I will eat. I get to keep my current weight and enjoy my healthy choices, rather than resenting them and feeling constantly as though I'm deprived.”

Check out our recipes page to find one of Heather’s current favorites.

Do you have a 2010 fitness resolution? How are you doing so far? Share with the scheels.com community!

Scheels knows the importance of proper athletic apparel and being outfitted all the way down to your socks and shoes. Actually, the socks and shoes can be one of the most important aspects needed for your workout.

We talked with fitness expert Adrienne Manydeeds, who works at Reno-Sparks (Nevada) Scheels. She offered insight into what she’s learned about finding the right shoes.

SCHEELS: If someone were coming into the store, what workout clothing would you recommend?
Adrienne: For me, the most important thing is your shoes. When I first started running, I was wearing the completely wrong shoes. I just picked what the cutest ones were. That was when I was running the most. I was running about 60 miles a week. I ended up injuring my knee because of it. For me, the main thing is your shoes.

I try to persuade most customers to a better shoe than just that “cute” shoe. I will always ask what they are doing with them, have them explain what the shoes are for, and help match them with a shoe to fit their foot type.

SCHEELS: How else do you help shoe customers find the right fit for their feet?

Adrienne: I usually bring up my own experiences and explain to them the importance of getting a good shoe. I’m not trying to just sell something, but I’m trying to help them realize that it’s going to be worth it if they’re serious about working out. I feel bad when someone gets a shoe that I wouldn’t recommend. The best thing I can do is tell them my suggestions and hope they make the right choice.

SCHEELS: Did you notice a big difference when you switched shoes that were more appropriate for running?

Adrienne: I didn’t notice it at first. I was in the wrong shoe for a year. I thought it was fine, but I was running one time on my seventh mile, when my knee just gave out on me. I could barely walk. Before that, I didn’t have any knee pain. I had to stop running for about two months, and for somebody that runs, that’s awful! I was just mad that I had to stop. Running is hard, because if you stop running even for a week or two, the next time you run is awful! I had to go to the doctor and see if I had to get surgery, which I didn’t have to do. I still notice it now. I have gotten better shoes, but I notice that it feels better when I’m running. Because I was wearing bad shoes for an entire year, I feel that I will probably never get back to that point where I was. I do notice a huge difference because I couldn’t even run a lap, and now I’ve been able to get that back.

Looking for more insight on selecting the right running shoes? Check out this past Scheels blog entry.

Do you have any 2010 fitness resolutions? Share them here!

Watch the scheels.com blog next week as we dive deeper into fitness clothing options

Date: Thursday, February 18, 2010

Time: 6:15pm

Location: Meet at the Women's Running Shoe Shop

Cost: FREE

Age Group: All Ages

Registration: No pre-registration required.

Scheels Running Club is not just for runners, walkers are welcome too! Whether you train hard, prefer to push a stroller or walk your dog, all are welcome. Enjoy snacks & social time following your run provided by Nike. You'll have the opportunity to visit with other running enthusiasts and Scheels Running Experts about training and the newest running gear available. Maps for 3, 5 & 7 mile routes are provided. Register weekly for door prizes from Nike.

Date: Thursday, February 25, 2010

Time: 6:15pm

Location: Meet at the Women's Running Shoe Shop

Cost: FREE

Age Group: All Ages

Registration: No pre-registration required.

Scheels Running Club is not just for runners, walkers are welcome too! Whether you train hard, prefer to push a stroller or walk your dog, all are welcome. Enjoy snacks & social time following your run provided by Nike. You'll have the opportunity to visit with other running enthusiasts and Scheels Running Experts about training and the newest running gear available. Maps for 3, 5 & 7 mile routes are provided. Register weekly for door prizes from Nike.

Scheels fitness expert Adrienne Manydeeds

Pilates has proven to be a worthwhile asset to the workout routine of Scheels fitness expert Adrienne Manydeeds.

It's a concept that was founded in the early 20^thcentury by a German man named Joseph Pilates, his system has seen a real surge in the last decade. The seven principles to Pilates are breathing, centering, concentration, control, precision, flow or efficiency of movement, and flexibility.

Adrienne shared with Scheels how she got started in Pilates, and why she continues the practice:

“Some of the girls that I was roommates with (in college) did Pilates. I had never heard of Pilates before then. I started in Pilates because it works your core muscles. For running, that was really important because you work the same muscles over and over. If you don’t work your core muscles, nothing else is going to work properly. Especially your back will get weak. When I do Pilates, I notice that I have a better posture. You don’t get bulky from it, but rather lengthen your muscles. You do notice a big difference really quick.

“As I get older, I probably will not run as much as I do now. I will probably lift and do Pilates because that is something you can always work on.”

Watch Adrienne demonstrate some basic Pilates techniques on our [YouTube|http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fxQnwXUQOT4] channel.

Find a location near you!

Date: March 6, 2010

Time: 9:00am - 5:00pm

Location of the School: The Westmall 7 Theatres, 2101 West 41st Street, Sioux Falls, SD

Registration Location: Scheels, 2101 West 41st Street, Sioux Falls, SD

On Saturday, March 6th, 2010, professional angler Johnnie Candle will present an all new Walleye University.

Johnnie is coming off of a great season that highlights a 15 year career as a professional angler. Last season he placed 4th overall in the MWC Western Division and qualified for the World Walleye Championship as well as the National Team Championship. He is excited to share many of the techniques that helped him get there.

This 8-hour class deals with fine points of jig fishing, live bait rigging, spinners, and crank baits all before lunch. After a lunch break, marine electronics and targeting trophy walleye will be discussed. The day will end with talk of what’s new and exciting in walleye catching tackle. There will be plenty of time for specific questions as well.

“Sharing knowledge is a big part of professional angling,” says Candle, “and it's very rewarding. I have travelled nearly coast to coast to fish for walleye, and the techniques that I have learned during those travels are taught in this school.”

Walleye University was first introduced in Bismarck, ND during the spring of 2000. It was such a big hit that it was decided to take the show on the road. Since Bismarck, the seminar has been presented to hundreds of walleye anglers in eight different states. Stops this year include: Omaha, NE, St. Cloud, MN, Billings, MT, Rapid City, SD, Mankato, MN, and Fargo, ND.

This year, special guest Bruce “Doctor Sonar” Samson will be presenting his Understanding Sonar Seminar. Doc (as he is known in the professional ranks) is considered the best in the business at understanding what his fish finder is telling him. Bruce is a two time national champion, a four time PWT tournament winner and a past winner of the Norb Wallock Teaching Award.

“There is no other place to learn this much about walleye fishing in one day,” Candle says, “and the tips and tricks learned at the Walleye University will make you a better fisherman. You will learn the tactics to deal with those tough days on the water and make every fishing trip more successful.”

Walleye University will be held at The Westmall 7 Theatres, 2101 West 41st Street, Sioux Falls, SD on Saturday, March 6th, 2010. It begins at 8:30 am and runs until 5:00 pm. Every person in attendance will receive a package that includes a printed version of Walleye University and a $10 gift card from Scheels. Please pre-register as seating is limited. The cost of the school is $50. Register at Scheels Customer Service in Sioux Falls or by calling 605.334.7767.

Click on the event listing to download a registration form.

Date:April 10, 2010

Time: 9:00am - 5:00pm

Location: Scheels, 1225 Eglin street, Rapid City, SD

On Saturday, April 10th, 2010, professional angler Johnnie Candle will present an all new Walleye University.

Johnnie is coming off of a great season that highlights a 15 year career as a professional angler. Last season he placed 4th overall in the MWC Western Division and qualified for the World Walleye Championship as well as the National Team Championship. He is excited to share many of the techniques that helped him get there.

This 8-hour class deals with fine points of catching walleye in rivers, reservoirs and natural lakes all before lunch. After a lunch break, local fishing opportunities and targeting trophy walleye will be discussed. The day will end with talk of what’s new and exciting in walleye catching tackle. There will be plenty of time for specific questions as well.

“Sharing knowledge is a big part of professional angling,” says Candle, “and it's very rewarding. I have travelled nearly coast to coast to fish for walleye, and the techniques that I have learned during those travels are taught in this school.”

Walleye University was first introduced in Bismarck, ND during the spring of 2000. It was such a big hit that it was decided to take the show on the road. Since Bismarck, the seminar has been presented to hundreds of walleye anglers in eight different states. Stops this year include: Sioux Falls, SD, Omaha, NE, St. Cloud, MN, Billings, MT, Mankato, MN, and Fargo, ND.

This year, as part of Walleye University, special guest Brian Woodward will be sharing his knowledge of walleye fishing mountain reservoirs. In 2008, Brian won the Wyoming Walleye Circuit event at Glendo as well as their year and championship tournament. Woodward is currently the president of the North Platte Walleye Association.

“There is no other place to learn this much about walleye fishing in one day,” Candle says, “and the tips and tricks learned at the Walleye University will make you a better fisherman. You will learn the tactics to deal with those tough days on the water and make every fishing trip more successful.”

Walleye University will be held at Scheels in Rapid City, SD on Saturday, April 10th, 2010. It begins at 8:30 am and runs until 5:00 pm. Every person in attendance will receive a package that includes a printed version of Walleye University and a $10 gift card from Scheels. Please pre-register as seating is limited. The cost of the school is $50. Register at Scheels Customer Service in Rapid City or by calling 605.342.9033.

Click on the event listing to download a registration form.