Row Trolling Classic; Good People Remembering a Good Man
The Bob Ellis Row Trolling Classic held recently from a starting off place in Presque Isle was a huge success due to the efforts of many “fine people”, as Uncle Bobby might have said. Geoff Crandall and Steve Reinstra, both of Middleton, and Jeff Koser from Rhineland all partnered in organizing all the arrangements with Kevin Wallenfang to ensure about 50 rowers come back again.
“Freshwater Hall of Fame member Bob Ellis nephew Mark Ellis rows the Classic with Mike Smith, nephew of Hall of Fame legendary guide Russ Smith, manufacturer of the famous Smity Bait. Now those are some shoes to fill.”
Wallenfang gave all the credit to his partners for doing such a great job with everything from maintaining the website (www.row-troller.com) and coordinating the Classic raffle to printing and selling shirts and designing the winner’s certificates for big fish and cool boats to singing and playing guitar at the post-row trolling celebration. When I asked Wallenfang why he too spends so much time with those partners after taking over for event founder Patricia Strutz making sure the Classic remains a Classic, he offered this:
“Kevin Wallenfang MC’s the Classic award’s dinner and harasses the winners and everyone else including 2nd place musky man Mike Gerlach.” (Mike Gerlach Photo)
“If I don’t do this and if we don’t, who is going to? I am absolutely addicted to the method of row trolling. Putting aside the fact that I catch more and bigger muskies doing it than I ever caught casting, it’s the nostalgia of the old boats and the old methods that I like most. The 1940s and 50s is an era of Americana that I also have an interest in, especially as it relates to the old resorts and outdoor recreation of the times. Buckshot Anderson has done us all a favor by putting some of that history in writing.”
Excellent Wisconsin outdoor writers Buckshot Anderson (Lakeland Times at least), Paul Smith (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel), and Pat Durkin (Syndicated) were each on hand and did their usual outstanding jobs of showcasing the Classic for the entire state. If I’m missing any media I am sincerely sorry. Smith rowed with Wallenfang over several days in the North Country and I know they experienced at least one strike in very tough conditions. Durkin and Anderson also rowed but I am unsure of their results.
The Classic doesn’t take entrée fees, has no cash awards, focuses on catch and release only, and generally defines the way Bob Ellis was. Simple, honest, modest, tough. It’s gratifying for all of his nephews and nieces who attend the Classic and who remember Bob fondly to know that so many people remember him too so long after he left us.
“Bob Ellis nephew Dave Dlobik was given Bob’s skiff by the rower’s brothers because of his dedication to the sport. He finds consistent success trolling southern and northern Wisconsin lakes and was presented the ‘Time Capsule’ award at the 2013 Classic. Dave is shown with the skiff on Bob Ellis property on Island Lake.”
Regarding the actual Classic fishing, Dave Osborn won the tourney with a 45-inch fish. Mike Gerlach took second with a 41 inch fish, and Bill claimed the bronze medal (or would have if there was one) with a 36 inch fish. A bonus 25-inch walleye was caught and released by David Morton. Bob Ellis’s nephew, Dave Dlobik, was awarded the Time Capsule certificate for continuing to row the actual Bob Ellis skiff that brought the legend so much pleasure and continues to do the same for Cousin Dave. Last but not least, Wallenfang’s rowtrolling rig was voted...I don’t remember the actual title...but it means the boat everyone wants. Kevin has a cool rowtroller.
 |
 |
| “Dave Osborn took top honors at the 2013 Classic with a 45 inch musky caught and released.” | |
“Row trolling is also about the gratification of doing something that few people do because it’s work, and doing something the hard way,” Wallenfang said. “When I’m the only guy out on a Northwoods lake in November when the wind is blowing and it’s snowing, even on days when you don’t catch anything, which is most days, I still feel like I accomplished something. Days like that when I actually catch a nice fish, I can’t even compare it to anything else in my hunting and fishing. The hunt for that one giant fish of a lifetime is the driving force. I think Bob was maybe driven by it, and he had her hooked! It is the driving force for me and I’ll keep trying to find her until my time is up or my arms give out.”
“I never met your uncle Bob, but I honestly think of him every time I go rowing. Maybe it’s some sort of subconscious prayer of thanks to him for what he did to put the method on the map. I love that he wasn’t a guide or a writer or someone trying to make a name for himself. Just a guy out doing his thing. I’m sure he would chuckle at the thought of a bunch of us doing what we think is special, but to him was just a practical and effective method of choice. I doubt if he thought the technique was as special as we all do. You’d know the answer to that better than me.”
“David Morton proves that not just muskies fall to the row trolling technique with this 25 inch walleye caught during the Classic.”
Well, I think you’re wrong Kevin. Uncle Bob thought the technique was special and something popped into my head when I was thinking a bit about what you said. In the old days when we were boys and young men, Bob would launch his skiff and let out a couple three to five inch rapalas. Then he’d row troll the weeds that no longer exist in front of his resort on Island Lake of the Manitowish Chain and hammer very large crappies. It was not always musky…just 98 percent muskies.
I remember Bob telling me about one special day targeting walleyes row trolling. I honestly don’t know if he told me he started out targeting walleyes or if that was the fish hitting his homemade musky baits. But, the point is he caught three walleyes over 26 inches (or close…it was a long time ago). Then he lost a fourth as big.
"I was almost glad that fish got away,” he said. “If I would have caught it I would have been rowing all night looking for a five-fish limit of monster walleyes.”
As usual we have posted a lot of material all over this website. Check out “Outdoor News”, “Inland Fishing”, “Firearms” “Deer Hunting” and “Fishing Reports” to find the most postings. We also today posted the July-August 2013 issue of “On Wisconsin Outdoors” on the “Homepage”. Read away. It’s a very good, fish-heavy issue with articles on the Great Lakes, bluegill, perch, walleyes, musky and a lot more. All of it is very good I think, including big-water columns on targeting Green Bay and Wisconsin River walleye, seven techniques for summer perch. Connect with “Dick’s Trips” to read about a 2007 journey to Lake Mendota, where he found big, hungry perch under the tutelage of Gene Dellinger of D&S Bait and a report on the biggest bluegills in northwest Wisconsin in a decade. Don’t forget our two firearms columnists.
Thanks for connecting with On Wisconsin Outdoors. Shoot straight. Shoot often. And remember that the only way under the Constitution to take away your second amendment right is through a legal amendment process.
How appropriate to remember our freedoms as the 4th of July looms before us. Remember it properly, and those that bought it for us.
Dick Ellis