Five Lakes, Five Pros

If you are passionate about sports, you most likely have an athlete you look up to. Growing up in Chicago, I dreamed about taking the mound at Wrigley Field or hooping it up with Michael Jordan (hey, I may be short but I love basketball). As we get older, some sports fans might have the opportunity to play against their sports heroes in a charity event or a pickup game. As you know, I love to fish. Twenty years ago I’d never heard of Kevin VanDam or Rick Clunn, but now they’re part of my daily conversations. I also hear about all the spectacular lakes and rivers across the US but haven't yet been able to fish many of them yet. At some point I would love to fish some of those famous fisheries, and as long as I’m going there why not get in the boat with the best of the best?

Here are my five famous lakes and the five icons I'd like to fish with,

Clear Lake – Steve Kennedy

I live on the east coast and despite the fact that I’ve fished in a bunch of different states (including Alaska) I have yet to fish on the west coast. I love Julia Kennedy--she is smart, witty and has smart back-and-forth conversations with my husband. I hear that Clear Lake is an awesome fishery and Steve Kennedy set what was then a weight record with BASS when he won an Elite event there. Hopefully he has some of the swimbaits he spent $3,000 on so I don’t have to bring my own.

Pete, Julia and the kids can explore until Steve and I are done wrecking fish for the day.

Steve, are you ready for a road trip?

Lake Okeechobee – Chad Morganthaler

When I first moved to Virginia 17 years ago the Potomac River was filled with thick grass and cover and after much trial and error I caught a 5-pounder flipping mats. I was convinced that was the biggest bass the river produced as all of my other fish were always sardine size. For a number of reasons, the mats aren’t as thick as they used to be. It was fun trying to get the bait in between the grass, feeling the bait fall and if you are lucky getting a bite and trying to get the fish up and through the mat. I wasn’t great at it, but it was exciting. Chad Morgenthaler, on the other hand, is the king of grass fishing. He does great on the Florida lakes, especially Lake Toho and Okeechobee. I have fished with him on his home lake, Table Rock, where he finds fish in the middle of nowhere with his Garmin LiveScope. To watch him do what he does best and be in the boat with him would be a real treat.

Chad, want to go punch mats with me?

Lake Sam Rayburn – Keith Combs

I have only fished in Texas once, for a few hours in the pouring rain. There were four of us in the boat and we all were throwing purple worms and we caught some decent fish. It so happens Pete and I were visiting with Keith and Jennifer Combs and instead of going to the rodeo we decided to fish. I caught more fish than Keith that day (Jennifer and I wrecked ‘em) but I wouldn’t mind having him to show me up, as long as I learn something. Maybe he’d take me to Lake Sam Rayburn where the fish know his name. I want to see him in action, with his favorite crankbait, the 6XD.

Keith, I’m ready for my rain check!

Lake Guntersville – Mike Iaconelli

Who wouldn’t want to fish with Ike? He’s a little off the wall. I’m a little off the wall. He’s a little loud. I’m a little loud. He’s a little excitable, perhaps a lot excitable, and so am I. It would make for an interesting day on the water. The lake I would want to fish with Ike on would be Guntersville. It’s a famous fishery that I’ve never visited and I’d love for him to relive his winning moments with me as we fish. Besides, it has to be better than the Delaware River.

Ike, are you willing to share your spots?

Lake Coeur d’Alene – Brandon Palaniuk

I understand that Lake Coeur d’Alene is beautiful and I have some friends in Idaho I would love to visit. Two-time AOY Brandon Palaniuk “probably” knows his way around the lake, so if he’d be willing to guide me I’d be up for a day in his Skeeter. After Steve Kennedy gives me a lesson on swimbaits, maybe Brandon will show me how to throw a glider that resembles kokanee for big smallmouths. When we are through for the day, he’ll blow the famous whistle and hopefully we have caught enough fish to earn “cut day” ice cream.

Brandon, what’s your favorite flavor ice cream?

Who would you like to fish with? Where would you want to go and why?