Glidden, Wis. — When the Madison, Wisc., area was announced as the venue for the 2004 ESPN Great Outdoor Games, Tracker Boats pro Gary Parsons of Glidden, Wis., was less than impressed.

He figured this would be another show featuring only Bassmaster anglers and passing up a golden opportunity to shine the publicity light on the top walleye fishing pros in the country. Was he ever wrong!

	Gary Parsons

Instead, this season's Great Outdoor Games will feature teams of bass and walleye fishing pros together battling it out for the gold medal. Look for Parsons and the other walleye pros to be a deciding factor in the winning team's strategy.

"I heard about the Great Outdoor Games coming to Madison earlier this year," said Parsons. "Truthfully, I was not very enthusiastic. I knew what a solid walleye fishery this was and that this is walleye country. I really thought that there was a missed opportunity here for the walleye pros.

"Then, in February, Jim Kalkofen from the PWT (Professional Walleye Trail) told me that the producers of the Games wanted to include walleye pros with the bass pros, I really felt that this was and is a very big deal to include us. This will show a larger audience just how good professional walleye anglers are."

Parsons feels that catching walleyes will be the toughest obstacle on the Madison Chain, but that mapping out a winning strategy that includes a limit of fish will be necessary to take home the gold.

"At this time, I do not know if we are going to be able to practice with our bass fishing partners," said Parsons. "However it works out, mapping out a winning strategy is going to be a deciding factor for a victory.

"We will have to find areas that have both bass and walleyes and from my experience on this system the walleyes can be tougher to catch than the bass, at least the quality walleyes. If you find the right walleyes, you can get three fish that can easily weigh over 20 pounds."

Tournament fans across the walleye belt finally get to see their favorites in the spotlight.

"The two-species format should generate plenty of interest in walleye country," said Parsons. "You have to remember that just as many, if not more, people fish for walleyes in this area. So by bringing the best walleye pros in and teaming them with the best bass pros, you will certainly create more interest. I know that is the case in the part of Wisconsin I live in.

"Once the people I knew found out walleye pros were going to be involved, they became very excited about this year's Games. I think this format of a two-species tournament may make tournament fishing as a whole more exciting."