HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN FISHING?
I have been fishing for as long as I can remember. My first rod/reel was given to me on my 5th birthday. Since that time I have been hooked on fishing and the outdoors! It is a passion that has burned in me my whole life.
WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO BECOME A LUND PRO-STAFF?
Lund Boats are the epitome of quality and excellence in the boating world. I can remember growing up and renting a resort boat when on vacation with my family. We would always get the red Lund and fish out of it the entire week. The first boat that I ever owned was a 16’ Lund Angler. I couldn’t have been more proud to trailer that boat anywhere I thought the fish were biting. Later, upgrading to a Lund Impact and more recently the 186 Tyee GL, I have always appreciated the quality that Lund puts into their boats. Having the opportunity to partner with Lund Boats, the leader in the industry, as part of their professional staff was the easiest move that I’ve ever made. They are a business built on quality and innovation, and that is clear to see in every boat that they build as well as in how they focus on their customers!
CAN YOU TELL US THE LARGEST FISH YOU HAVE EVER CAUGHT?
I’ve caught a number of large flathead and channel catfish growing up fishing the Minnesota River in South Central Minnesota and more recently with the Red River right in my back yard. But the largest fish that I’ve ever had the opportunity to land would have to be a 48” sturgeon on the Rainy River. The sheer might of these prehistoric fish is amazing. When someone hooks into a big sturgeon with walleye tackle, everyone else in the boat might as well pull up their lines, pour a cup of coffee and watch the show! Being on the rod and reel end of that fight is a thrill that everyone should experience!
WHERE ARE YOU FROM?
I was born in Granite Falls, MN and grew up a short distance away in Montevideo, MN. After high school, I moved to Fargo, ND to attend college. Upon graduating, I married my wife Rachael and am still here in Fargo. I work for a behavioral healthcare company providing Employee Assistance Program and corporate wellness services to businesses throughout the Dakotas, Minnesota, Montana and Colorado. My wife is a life long educator, currently serving the Fargo Public Schools as Assistant Superintendent. Our two children, Amelia and Tony are attending college in the Fargo/Moorhead area.
WHERE DO YOU MOSTLY FISH?
Most of my fishing takes place in North Central Minnesota. I compete in the FM Walleyes Unlimited, Inc. Classic Cup Tournaments as well as Walleyes-R-Us Fishing League, which take place in and around the Detroit Lakes, MN area. My family has a place on 6th Crow Wing Lake near Nevis, MN, nestled right between Park Rapids and Walker. I’m 25 minutes from Leech Lake, an hour from the Bemidji or Brainerd lakes areas. Throw in a hand full of trips to Devils Lake, ND and Lake Winnipeg/Winnipeg River and my schedule is full! Fishing a variety of waters has definitely made me a better angler. The diverse conditions and broad spectrum of opportunities to try different techniques has given me many opportunities to learn.
WHAT IS THE BEST FISHING TIP THAT YOU EVER RECEIVED?
“Pay attention to details, but don’t dwell on them.” I have found this to be very true in my experiences. Details can make a big difference in your success on the water. By paying attention to the little things, it can easily mean more fish in the boat over the course of a day on the water or during an entire trip. Just a couple more bites can tip the scales from mediocre to awesome. And the little things can be the difference in enticing those few extra bites. I have found that being observant in the details is just as important as carrying them out myself. Watching the success that other anglers have and trying to determine what they might be doing differently is part of the puzzle that needs to be solved. At the same time, it is easy to get caught up in the details and forget that we are fishing most often for fun. There is a time to be intense and focused and a time to enjoy the experience of being in the boat with a good friend or family member. Keep that balance in a healthy place and you’ll always find success in your outings!
IN WHAT WAYS ARE YOU INVOLVED IN THE ANGLING COMMUNITY?
I was blessed to have mentors in my life who shared their passion for fishing and the outdoors with me. It has always been a priority to pass that tradition on to others. In addition to spending a great deal of time in the boat and at hunting camp with my own family, I have taken advantage of opportunities to become involved in promoting the sport to others in the Fargo/Moorhead and surrounding area. I am currently the Vice-President of FM Walleyes Unlimited, Inc., having held positions in the club including youth education coordinator, sponsorship coordinator, Angler Young Angler Devils Lake Regional Tournament Director, and Lake Winnipeg Ice Fishing Excursion Coordinator. I have also served on the board of directors for Walleyes-R-Us Fishing League and been heavily involved in Men In Boats Christian men’s fishing event at Devils Lake, ND. All of these experiences have given me the opportunity to build lasting friendships with great people. I have never experienced any regret for the time that I have given to the sport of fishing and the outdoors! I would encourage everyone, from a newcomer to the sport to the seasoned professional, to get involved in your local and/or regional fishing club or organization and see what it has to offer. I know that you won’t regret that decision either!
PICK 5 WORDS TO DESCRIBE YOURSELF
Enthusiastic, Thoughtful, Generous, Organized and Determined
WHAT WAS THE BEST YEAR OF YOUR LIFE?
I have been blessed with MANY outstanding and memorable events. I could look to the year that I married my wife Rachael and we started our life together, or the thirteen month period that included the birth of my daughter Amelia and son Tony. I could also look to times in my fishing career and include the year that my children and I won the Devils Lake Regional Angler Young Angler tournament and had the opportunity to fish in the AYA International Championship. Or perhaps the year that I joined the Lund Boats pro-staff. There have been so many good things that I have had the opportunity to experience that choosing the BEST year is extremely difficult! Each year seems to be better than the last. With that in mind, I would say that the current year has been the most rewarding and the best so far. And I anticipate that next year will be better still!
WHAT IS THE MOST RIDICULOUS THING YOU’VE EVER BOUGHT?
Of course, in my mind nothing is ridiculous at the time that it is purchased. It’s only afterward, when I’ve had the opportunity to see just how useless or off base I was that I realize it was not a wise purchase! I could give a long list of ridiculous purchases. I love new ideas, technology and gadgets and I’m not afraid to give them a try! But likely the MOST ridiculous thing(s) that I’ve bought isn’t a single item, but the quantity of items. Like many anglers I am never satisfied with just one and want to be prepared for any and all situations. I think that I own nearly 50 pairs of gloves and likely a dozen or more pair of boots.
WHAT’S THE BEST ADVICE YOU’VE EVER RECEIVED?
A former co-worker once told me that in every situation we can always ask ourselves, “what is good about…”. What that meant to me was that there is always something to be thankful for and something that should be appreciated for all that we have in our lives. When the fish aren’t biting, when a tournament strategy falls flat, when the weather or even other people won’t cooperate there is always a silver lining. We just need to take the time to quit dwelling on the negative and ask ourselves, “what is good about my family, friends, job, etc.”. Most of us have a great deal to be thankful for. There will always be another opportunity to wet a line, fish in a tournament or head out into the woods. This advice has always helped me to keep my head up in the worst of times and look toward the opportunity of the future!
WHAT TRAIT DO YOU ADMIRE IN PEOPLE?
Honesty and humility rank right up there on my list with honesty taking the top spot. I value honesty as the foundation for trust and lasting relationships. In a world that seems to put a spin on everything, being able to trust someone is a huge asset.
WHAT’S YOUR WORST HABIT?
Those that know me will agree that I will bring everything but the kitchen sink when I pack for an excursion! It’s one of the curses that goes with being organized and prepared. Much of the time, I will never use half of what I bring along and it’s always a challenge to pack the truck to fit it all in. Although I’m always trying to streamline my gear, it never seems to be enough to easily fit what I will need into the space available!
WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE MODEL OF LUND TO FISH OUT OF AND WHY?
This is like asking a kid what their favorite candy is! They’re all delicious! And so it is with Lund Boats, they’re all great fishing machines, each with their own set of qualities that make them the perfect boat for someone. I enjoy the space and storage that my fishing partner Scott Brewer’s 2075 Pro Guide offers. There is no doubt that it is an incredible fishing machine. I also loved the 2025 Impact that I owned a couple of years ago! The Impact is an amazing boat with a ton of storage for all of my gear, and a huge cockpit and windshield for rough conditions. But my current boat, the 186 Tyee GL seems to be a fantastic fit for me and my family. It offers all of the features that make Lund Boats great fishing vessels; plenty of storage, a dry comfortable ride and easy boat control. It also allows my family to enjoy the fun of water skiing and tubing on the lake when we are not fishing!
ANYTHING ELSE YOU WOULD LIKE TO SAY TO OUR ENTIRE STAFF AT LUND BOATS?
A huge THANK YOU to all of the Lund Boats staff for making the best boats in the industry, hands down! It is easy to see that the staff of Lund Boats are personally invested in each boat that they build. Administration, production and customer service are all focused on serving the customer and creating ‘the ultimate fishing experience’! It is a pleasure and an honor to partner with and represent a company with these values! I look forward to what the future will bring to Lund Boats and its customers! It is sure to be exciting!