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
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.
1988 – Manufacturer’s Walleye Council (MWC)
1993 – Professional Walleye Trail (PWT)
1994 – Professional Walleye Trail (PWT),
* Unprecedented Back-to-back titles
1995 – North American Walleye Anglers (NAWA)
2007 – Professional Walleye Trail (PWT)
* 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:
2023 NWT Championship Qualifier
2020 NWT Championship Qualifier
2019 NWT Championship Qualifier
2018 NWT Championship Qualifier
2017 NWT Championship Qualifier
2016 NWT Championship Qualifier
2015 NWT Championship Qualifier
2014 NWT Championship Qualifier
2012 FLW Championship Qualifier
2012 AIM 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:
1984 – World Championship Walleye Tournament Circuit (WTC), Sturgeon Bay, WI
1987 – Saginaw Bay Walleye Club, Saginaw Bay, MI
1988 – MWC, Saginaw Bay, MI
1990 – MWC, Bay City, MI
1991 – Montana Governor’s Cup, Fort Peck, MT
1994 – PWT, Mobridge, SD
1998 – NAWA, Green Bay, WI
1998 – PWT, Pierre, SD
2003 – PWT, Mobridge, SD
2004 – Berkley Walleye Cup, Chamberlain, SD
2007 – PWT, Winneconne, WI
2013 – AIM, Oconto Pro/Partner Challenge
And many more not documented
Second place Finishes:
1987 – Walleye Weekend, Fond du Lac, WI
1990 – MWC, Spring Valley, IL
1991 – MWC, Bay City, MI
1991 – NAWA, Pierre, SD
1993 – PWT, Bay City, MI
1995 – PWT, Au Gres, MI
2000 – PWT, Sault Ste. Marie, MI
2009 – AIM, Saginaw Bay, MI
2014 – NWT – Escanaba
Third place Finishes:
1987 – Otter Street, Osh Kosh, WI
1991 – MWC, Dubuque, IA
1991 – PWT, Put-in-Bay, OH
1993 – PWT, Mille Lacs, MN
1994 – PWT, Put-in-Bay, OH
1995 – NAWA, Lake Cumberland, KY
1996 – NAWA, Lake Cumberland, KY
1998 – NAWA, Lake Sakakawea, ND
2005 – PWT, Bull Shoals, AK
Fourth place Finishes:
1988 – MWC, Lake Oahe, SD
1994 – NWT, Fond du Lac, WI
1995 – NAWA, Lake County, OH
1995 – NAWA, Pierre, SD
1995 – PWT, Pierre, SD
2001 – PWT, Chamberlain, SD
2009 – AIM, Akaska, SD – Lake Oahe
Fifth place Finishes:
1986 – MWC, Pierre, SD
1996 – NWT, Fond du Lac, WI
2005 – PWT, Bay City, MI
Sixth place Finishes:
1988 – MWC, Lake Winnebago, WI
1989 – NWT, Fond du Lac, WI
2007 – PWT, Cass Lake, MN
Seventh place Finishes:
1989 – MWC, Dubuque, IA
1994 – NAWA, Isle, MN
2000 – PWT, Bay City, MI
2003 – PWT, Bay City, MI
2008 – PWT, Sault Ste Marie, MI
2008 – PWT, Hudson, WI
2010 – AIM, Winniconne, WI
2015 – NWT, Devil’s Lake, ND
Eighth place Finishes:
1992 – NWT, Fond du Lac, WI
1988 – PWT, Stockton, MO
2007 – PWT, Dryden, OT (Canada)
2009 – AIM, Winneconne, WI, Lake Winnebago
2010 – AIM, Brimley, MI
Ninth place Finishes:
1986 – MWC, Osh Kosh, WI
1987 – MWC, Spring Valley, IL
1997 – NAWA, Fairport, Harbor, OH
2002 – PWT, Chamberlain, SD
2007 – PWT, Escanaba, MI
2007 – PWT, Chamberlain, SD
Tenth place Finishes:
1985 – MWC, Pierre, SD
1990 – PWT, Saginaw Bay, MI
1992 – PWT, Devils Lake, ND
2005 – PWT, Russell Springs, KY
2008 – PWT, Bay City, MI
* With more than a dozen other Top Ten Finishes not listed
Other:
1983 – State of MI, D.N.R., “Master Angler” Award
1985 – MWC, 2nd place, “Most Consistent Team” w/ Brother-Doug
1986 – MWC, 2nd place, “Most Consistent Team” w/ Brother-Doug
1991 – Lowrance Electronics, “Best Educational Article”
1992 – Lowrance Electronics, “Best Educational Article”
1992 – Book of “Who’s who”
1993 – Lowrance Electronics, “Best Tournament Trail Performance”
1994 – PWT, “Heavy Weight” Lake Oahe, SD
1995 – PWT, “Big Walleye” Au Gres, MI
2000 – PWT, “Heavy Weight” Sault Ste. Marie, MI
2001 – “Legendary Angler” inductee into the National Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame
2003 – Storm Lures, “Angler of the Year”
2004 – ESPN, Great Outdoor Games, Qualifier
2005 – Midwest Outdoors Magazine, “Readers Choice” Award
2005 – TNB TV, received The Outdoor Channel’s “Golden Moose Award” for Best Freshwater Footage
2007 – PWT, “Cool Under Pressure” Dryden, OT (Canada)
2007 – PWT, Most Consecutive Top 10 Finishes: 1st, 6th, 8th, two-9th, and 10th * PWT Record
2008 – Optima “TOP GUN” Title
2011- Named as one of Outdoor Life’s 20 Best Anglers on the Planet
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
Master field trial gunner for 5-years.
Proudest Moment: Watching son Chase become a Professional Anger
Best Asset: Tremendous Support from wife Mary
Gary is sponsored by:
Mary Parsons (his wife), Tracker/Nitro Boats, Bass Pro Shops, Cabela’s, Mercury Outboards, MotorGuide Electric Motors, Berkley Soft Baits, Berkley Lines, Berkley Hard Baits, Lowrance Electronics, Berkley Fusion 19, Off Shore Tackle, Strike King, Power-Pole, Moonshine Lures Shiver Minnows, EGO Nets, Clam Ice Fishing, ION Ice Drills, JT Outdoors Hot Box, G2 Gemini, AIM Anglers Insight Marketing, PowrTran Kicker Steering System, Itroll Precision Kicker Remote Throttle, Blackfish Outdoor Clothing, Renegade Outdoor Innovations, TH Marine Products, Schaeffer Oil and The Next Bite Media.