Tommy Skarlis

Most notable fishing experts are stereotyped by species like Bass, Walleye, Muskie, and even Pan fish. Tommy Skarlis breaks the mold - he's a touring walleye professional who enjoys hooking crappies through the ice as much as walleyes on a raging river. The acute ability to share this multi-species knowledge with others makes Skarlis even more significant to the fishing world.

An Iowa native, Skarlis' first fishing memory was hooking a Bluegill while fishing with his Mom. He continued honing his fishing skills on Clear Lake (In Iowa) and the Mississippi River and its backwaters, along with the small lakes, farm ponds, and expansive reservoirs throughout the Midwest. Skarlis' knack for stalking Walleyes turned into a tournament-fishing career, which took roots in 1991. From 1993 to 1998 he fished the Masters Walleye Circuit (MWC), and along the way earned Team of the Year and Team of the Year Runner-up honors. In additional to qualifying for the MWC Championship six straight times, Skarlis also reeled in a Big Stone Lake Champion title in 1996 with partner Chad Kinkade.

In 1996, Skarlis joined In-Fisherman's Professional Walleye Trail (PWT). He has since thundered through the circuit, winning the prestigious "PWT Angler of the Year" title in 2004, snatching 21 top-ten finishes, capturing several "Big Fish" Awards, and qualifying for the PWT Championship thirteen straight times. Skarlis earned the nicknames "Mr. Erie" and "Mr. April" by winning the first PWT event of both 2001 at the Detroit River, and in 2002 at Lake Erie. In fact, his total weight of 138.28 pounds for 15 fish at the 2002 Lake Erie Event set an all-time world-record for total tournament weight in a professional event. In July of 2003 he became part of an elite group by winning his 3rd PWT event, held on Lake Erie in Dunkirk, NY and in April of 2004, he advanced that status a notch or two by winning his Fourth PWT event in as many years – setting numerous records in the PWT. And in 2008, he won the most prestigious title in walleye fishing – the FLW Walleye Tour Championship. All totaled, Skarlis has qualified for 27 straight national championships and is one of the hottest tourney sticks in the history of walleye fishing.