All Speakers
Brandon Palaniuk
2022 BASS Angler of the Year, Brandon Palaniuk, aka “The Prodigy”, is one of the most popular anglers on the professional bass fishing tournament trail today. At the age of 35, he has accomplished more than most professional anglers have in a lifetime.
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Truly a grass roots success story – From successfully competing in club competition, to earning a spot on the Idaho State Team, to making it to the federation championship, securing a tour card by winning the whole thing and twice now, B.A.S.S. Angler of the Year (2017 & 2022). After winning the Federation Nation National Championship he’s accumulated 31 top 10 finishes including six wins on the Bassmaster Elite Trails. He’s advanced to the Classic 11 times including a second place finish on Grand Lake in 2013.
Brandon is an approachable “star” and an outstanding ambassador to the sport.
Matt Robertson
Matt ‘Onem’ Robertson, that’s On ‘Em, enters his 3rd year fishing professionally for BASS although will fish his 4th Classic this March. He has made the classic through the Bassmaster Team Championship, the Opens, and the Elite Series standings.
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He is already one of the most popular anglers on the circuit and has moved to number 15 in Bassfan’s world rankings. Matt favors off shore fishing and his favorite lake is Kentucky Lake.
You don’t want to miss Matt’s seminars Saturday and Sunday. Outside of Gerald Swindle he’s likely the most entertaining Bass Pro fishing today.
Jim is the host of “The Musky Hunter” television series. In 2012, Jim was inducted as a Legendary Angler into the National Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame. For 21 years Jim was the Editor/Publisher of Musky Hunter magazine.
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Jim has produced 17 musky fishing DVDs, including 12 seasons of “The Musky Hunter.” Jim wrote Muskies My Way and co-wrote The Complete Guide to Musky Hunting and Musky Metrics. He has a monthly column in Midwest Outdoors magazine, and is a contributor to many other publications. He frequently guest hosts many radio programs nationwide.
A seven-time musky tournament winner, Jim conducts seminars and teaches classes on musky fishing throughout the country. Jim has over 40 years experience on lakes, reservoirs and rivers from Minnesota to New York and all across Canada, and has boated more than 225 muskies larger than 50 inches.
Jim’s sponsors include Ranger, RangerTrail, Mercury Outboards, Bass Pro Shops, Cabela’s, Ontario Tourism, MotorGuide, Shimano, G.Loomis, Musky Frenzy Lures, Chaos Tackle, Llungen Lures, Power Pro and Stowmaster nets.
Follow Jim and the Musky Hunter Television Show on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube. Visit muskyhuntertv.com.
Oliver Ngy
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Since then, Oliver has become a familiar face in the bass scene and is renowned for catching monster fish of many species with a specialty in double digit largemouth and 5+lb smallmouth bass. To learn more about Oliver and his fishing adventures visit www.YouTube.com/OliverNgy or his website, www.bigbassdreams.com.
Pat Renwick
Host of Stray Casts Podcast , ProperBassin’ Man , Bassin Freak and (NON) professional bass angler with a fondness for all things Bassin’
As a fishing guide, licensed charter captain, and tournament angler, Joe Henry has made fishing a part of his everyday life. He has experienced many successes throughout the years with some tough days sprinkled in as well.
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It is learning from both, Joe believes, helps make an angler more effective and versatile.
Joe has shared fishing techniques, strategies and philosophies with thousands through seminars across the U.S. He has a way of communicating and connecting with audiences, not speaking over their heads, but sharing information in a way that is both understandable and beneficial, yet entertaining.
Professionally, Joe has enjoyed many leadership positions and serves on a variety of boards. His
professional background combined with his many fishing credentials lead him to his current role,
Executive Director of Lake of the Woods Tourism, where in 2022 he earned the Tourism Professional of
the Year award for the state of MN.
Joe works closely with 60 lodging facilities, area guides, and a variety of stakeholders. He is an active
outdoor writer with articles published in dozens of publications. He appears in outdoor TV shows,
produces videos, digital media, social media, and speaks about fishing and the outdoors across the
Midwest.
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Mark O’Neill
Mark is an accomplished angler, guide, and marine electronics educator with years of on-the-water knowledge and fishing experience.
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His approach to fishing is more technical than most, but he also has the ability to translate that technology in a manner easy for one to understand. He presents numerous seminars and classes both on and off the water in the Midwest and Canada, with the concentration being how to use today’s technology to catch more fish.
With working relationships with Lowrance, Ranger Boats, Mercury Marine, St. Croix Rods, Motorguide, Dakota Lithium and Optima Batteries to name a few, he is continually exposed to the latest technologies as they become available and he demonstrates and shares those technologies at the seminars, classes, On the Water Training sessions and guide trips that he does throughout the year. Learn more about Mark at www.structure-fishing.com
Steve Heiting is one of musky fishing’s best-known anglers and an inducted member of the Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame. He is a fishing guide, freelance writer, and video & radio producer after working as managing editor at Musky Hunter magazine for more than 27 years.
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Steve is co-owner of the University of Esox Musky Schools, conducts numerous musky fishing seminars, and serves as master of ceremonies for the National Championship Musky Open, the largest musky tournament in the world. Each spring, Steve is lead presenter at the first-ever college musky fishing course, at Nicolet College in Rhinelander, Wisconsin.
He is host of Steve Heiting’s Northwoods Musky Report, a weekly radio segment broadcast throughout Wisconsin’s northwoods during the summer on WJJQ Radio, and archived on all podcast formats. He also produces Steve Heiting’s Musky Tips on YouTube and social media.
Steve has written, edited or contributed to 27 books about musky fishing and has produced five musky fishing DVDs.
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Violet Talley
Violet is an up-and-coming bass tournament angler excelling in both the sport and the business of fishing. She has had a passion for fishing since she was 3 years old and is currently a tournament bass angler and outdoor enthusiast currently competing in the Midwest bass tournament circuits.
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She is also a professional photographer, graphic designer, structural designer, and owner/operator of a successful business that caters to several markets, including the fishing industry. Through her YouTube channel (and other social media channels), sponsorships, and involvement in the fishing community, Violet has been an influential ambassador for the sport of fishing, especially inspiring other women, youth, and amateur anglers in building their confidence, techniques, knowledge, and skills in the sport.
Steve Welch
Steve has he’s been guiding on Lake Shelbyville since 1994 fishing it over forty years. He has 27 tournament wins and won several Crappie U.S.A. and Crappie Masters tourneys, both locally and regionally, finishing in the top ten against the top pros in the country.
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He was the Region Three thirteen-state champion in 2006 and placed in the top 15 in 3 of the 9 National Championships. He was picked by In-Fisherman magazine as one of the top guides in the entire Midwest.
Steve’s writing has been featured in several national magazines including In-Fisherman, Walleye In-Sider & Field & Stream, as well as local publications such as Illinois Fish & Game, Heartland Outdoors and Adventure Sports Outdoors to name a few. He’s written hundreds of articles over the years and currently writes a monthly column in Adventure Sports Outdoors. He’s done seminar speaking at just about every in-state fishing show during the winter months, drawing huge crowds.
Since retiring from tourney fishing to concentrate on guiding, he’s purchased the 1st ever Yar-Craft 2095 BTX boat that Bass Cat Built. A comfy 20ft. tiller to accommodate you and 2 other anglers. Steve is a multi-species guide that fishes for crappie year round along with walleye and white bass seasonally.
Bio Coming Soon
Louis Monetti, fishing for UNC Charlotte, is the College Bassmaster Bracket Champion, qualifying him to fish the 2023 Bassmaster Classic.
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Although he first started fishing with his dad at age 3 it wasn’t until later in middle school that he started bass fishing when a friend told him to try it; he was hooked instantly. At age 14 he started to compete in NJ Bass Nation youth tournaments increasing his passion and his ability. Wanting to fish in college 12 months of the year he opted to go south. At UNC Charlotte as a freshman, he joined the bass fishing team and represented his school for four years, graduating in 2022 with a degree in business administration, marketing. Although he did graduate he was able to continue to compete as the college season runs April to October. While in school he started working at the Bizz Baits warehouse and still does until this day.
Louis’ appearance is sponsored by Bizz Baits.
Jim O’Neil (Oak Forest, IL) – 15 years and counting in the outdoor industry. Jim’s passion started at Marist High School as an I.H.S.A. bass fisherman.
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He is now a Television and Podcast host for MidWest Outdoors. Spending more than 100 days a year on the water, Jim is always on the hottest bites in the MidWest. Join us to learn how to catch more fish, bigger fish, and make some memories along the way!
Ryan Whitacre is a licensed fishing guide and tournament angler from Chicago, Illinois. He is a two-time Wisconsin B.A.S.S Nation state champion and Bassmaster Opens competitor.
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Whitacre is a co- founder and designer at TightRope Fishing tackle company, and is a Co-host on the StrayCasts Podcast.
For more info on Ryan visit the links below.
tightropefishing.com
facebook.com/ryan.whitacre.75
Instagram @ryanwhitacre75
Straycasts.net
Richard Holm is the owner of Sea Quest Lures,Inc. and has been fishing on Lake Michigan for over 40 years for Trout Salmon and Lake perch. He is the maker of Trolling Spoons for Trout & Salmon and for the original Perch Flies for lake perch fishing on Lake Michigan.