Listen closely and you may just hear the sighs of some of the best walleye pros in the country feeling a bit dejected over the less-than-stellar walleye production during the final day of fishing at the 2004 ESPN Great Outdoor Games.

You may say "boo hoo" to them, but yesterday they were producing walleyes and walking with their collective chests stuck out. Today, they were darn happy they were fishing with some of the finest BASS pros in the world.

"Man, we had a hard time today catching walleyes," said Freshwater Doubles gold-medal winner and Professional Walleye Trail pro Mike Gofron of Antioch, Ill.

"I mean it was brutal, horrible walleye fishing conditions. I mean super hot with sunny skies and not a breeze to be felt. Heck, the only breeze I felt all day was when a mosquito buzzed by my ear."

Gofron felt the walleyes either went deep or left town.

"When the sky is sunny, like today, walleyes tend to go deep," said Gofron. "I think they crawled out of the lake today!"

Bronze medal winner Dan Plautz of Muskego, Wis., echoed a similar view when it came to finding walleyes today.

"Yesterday we really looked good, the weather was right for walleye fishing," said Plautz. "Today, nothing much, just some little fish, we could not come up with a keeper."

Plautz had a little faux pas today while trying to whack and stack a bass.

"I really have to admire how my partner Gerald Swindle fishes, he is incredible," said Plautz.

"When he sets the hook on bass you know it will usually be a solid connection. When I set the hook on what could have been another keeper bass for us my thumb slipped onto the thumb bar and released the spool. Can you believe that, a pro angler like me making that kind of mistake? It just shows I do not fish for bass very much."

Many walleye-fishing pundits claim that walleye anglers have more talent than their bass fishing counterparts. Many claim it takes more skill to fish for walleyes. These same pundits also claim walleye anglers can't benefit from a week on the water with bass anglers.

To a man, the top three finishers from the walleye world at the Great Outdoor Games could not disagree more.

"I learned so much fishing with Denny Brauer," said Gofron. "While we were pitching jigs into the heavy cover I picked up one of my jigging rods, what a difference!

"After I fished with Denny's heavy gear it felt like I was holding a crappie pole. I really think I am going to beef up some of my gear and not nurse so many fish. I have lost fish before taking too much time. I will definitely consider adding some new reels, line and other terminal gear."

Silver medalist, Bill Ortiz of Dodgeville, Wis., feels the need to focus on precision after fishing with reigning CITGO Bassmaster Classic champion Mike Iaconelli.

"I fished for bass a lot before becoming a walleye pro," said Ortiz. "We used a lot of the techniques I used when I regularly fished for bass. The one thing I really noticed was how accurate and precise he was with his casting. I will certainly try to use that in my fishing."

Plautz wants to keep his enthusiasm at high levels from now on regardless of fishing conditions.

"Gerald kept his attitude so positive the entire time we fished, it was amazing," said Plautz. "If I can keep my attitude that positive and keep the amateurs I fish with as focused as Gerald is I will certainly take away a lot from these games."