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NPAA Member Spotlight #499 Chad Maloy

 Mar 6th, 2011 by OutdoorsFIRST 

Modified Mar 6th, 2011 at 12:00 AM

1-Briefly describe yourself: hometown, age, family, career?

I’m a 42 year old banker who grew up in Lake City, MN along the banks of Lake Pepin on the Mississippi River. My wife and I moved to Fargo, ND in 1997 where we continue to live with our kids, Hunter 11 and Halle 6. Shortly after moving to Fargo I read a notice in the paper about a meeting of the FM Walleye club and the guest speaker was newly crowned PWT Champion – Jim Randash. I attended the meeting and was greeted at the door by the President, Ron Sahr. Ron made sure I had a membership form completed before I left and the two of us have been great friends ever since. Ron is the one who got me started in tournament fishing. He and I fished the Team Walleye Circuit and later the Casino Cup Circuit.  I would have to say most of my close friendships have started thru the walleye club including current MWC partner Don Denning.

As for my day job, I am presently employed as a Sr. Mortgage Loan Officer at Gate City Bank and will be starting my 15th year with them in March. Gate City has provided a very flexible schedule which without I am not sure I would be able to fish the MWC.

2-What was your reason for joining the NPAA?

I view the NPAA more as an “Anglers Association” than as a ‘Professional Anglers” association.  I think the Association has a lot of potential to grow the sport of fishing. I also believe membership provides new professionals contacts to mentors.

3-Has the NPAA helped you in your career as a professional angler?

I have met many fellow professional anglers who have been very willing to help with career guidance. I have landed a few new sponsors and believe that being part of the association helped to bring credibility. Attending the NPAA annual meeting provides a great opportunity to see a lot of sponsors in one place. One item I learned about and have already taken advantage of is networking on facebook. I recently used it to promote a seminar I did for Scheels, one of my sponsors. We had great response to the “linking” feature and fellow friends helped by “linking” the storey onto their pages. We had hoped for 25 people to pre register and ended up for 40. The night of the seminar 54 showed up.

4-How long have you been fishing? Do you fish tournaments or guide?

I have been fishing as long as I can recall. Growing up it seemed like about every weekend I was fishing with my dad, brother and grandpa out on Lake Pepin. When they couldn’t go I would ask my mom to  drop me off at the local fishing barge where I would stay from sun up to sun down.
I really became addicted to walleye fishing thanks to Ralph Diercks. His nephew, Tom Diercks and I were best friends growing up in Lake City, MN. Ralph signed Tom and I up to fish the Pro/Am day during a MWC World Walleye Championship in Red Wing in the mid 90’s. I got to fish with John Kolinski and he introduced me to pulling bottom bouncers and spinners behind Off Shore planer boards. That day I ended up catching my largest walleye to date. We ended up having the second best catch of the day. Needless to say, within a week I had a bag full of bouncers, a pair of off shore planer boards and I was permanently hooked on walleye fishing.

I have been fishing local tourneys for around 14 years or so and competing on a professional level in the MWC for the past two seasons. I love fishing the Masters Walleye Circuit! I really enjoy the competition, learning to fish new waters and making all kinds of new friends from all over the Midwest.

5-Do you have any fishing idols or mentors?

Like most everyone else I would have to say Al Lindner and KVD. I grew up watching and reading In-Fisherman and always wanted to be a professional fisherman from a young age. KVD amazes me-How is it that one man is always able to solve the riddles and end up on top? The determination and hard work he must have to put in to be in the position he is in is unbelievable.
I would also have to add Grandpa Maloy. When I was little, he, my dad and I fished most weekends in the summer out on Lake Pepin. Every once in a while he would give me one of his lures for my tackle box. 

6-Who do you enjoy fishing with the most?

Besides my kids it would be my fishing partner Don Denning. We are usually on the same page and have similar ideas. We like to have fun and don’t take things too serious, but we do work hard.   It’s funny that one of us will say ready to go and the other says yup…I was thinking the same thing. Should we hit spot X, yup, I was thinking the same thing.

7-If you could fish with anyone who would it be?

Growing up I fished a lot with my grandfather. He did not have a fancy boat or nice rod and reels but believe it or not, we still caught fish. He’s been gone a while now but if he was still alive it would be neat to take him out in a new 620 Ranger with a big 250 Merc on the back screaming across the lake at 60 mph. Then, to show him what todays electronics can do. I think he would be amazed by the quality of fish we have. Today is definitely the good old days of walleye fishing.

8-What is your most memorable moment in fishing?

It has to be watching my kids catch that first fish. Their eyes lit up and they had a great big smile on their face.  In a tournament situation it has to be on Devils Lake during the first Casino Cup Championship. We had rough water on day one and only managed one little fish. One day two we were not doing very good until we pulled into a community trolling location. My partner and I caught over 24lbs of fish in under 1 hour. In three short passes we had two 28″ and a 24″. We ended up in 5th place overall and had the 2nd and 3rd largest fish of the tournament. 

9- What is a must have in your boat; don’t leave the dock without?

Berkley Flicker Shads in Scheels exclusive color Pearl Ghost. We almost always find a way to cast them shallow or pull them deep on leadcore. The other item we always have along are Mimic Minnows from Northland Fishing Tackle!  They are also a deadly shallow bite lure with their lifelike swim bait action and hyper active paddle tail. Besides that, all my buddies would say that I don’t leave the dock without much of anything. I’m kind of a gear hog. If I think I may need it, it comes along.

10- What is your strength as an angler?

Fishing reservoirs and rivers. In the past few years we have really figured out how to put fish in the boat using leadcore line. I think pulling lead is a much more precise way to present a bait. We are pretty addicted to pulling lead using the new 12′ and 6’6″ Scheels trolling rods. They allow us to run 4 rods out the back without boards and without any tangles while contour trolling. It is a phenomenal system!

11-What is your weakness as an angler?

Great lakes open water trolling for suspended fish. I just have not had much experience chasing those roaming open water walleyes
.
12-Who are your sponsors?

I am very fortunate and proud to have the sponsors I do. Scheels, Northland Fishing Tackle, Koppers LiveTarget Lures, Berkley, Fenwick, & Pflueger.

13-What tournaments do you fish or what lakes do you guide on the most?

I compete on the Masters Walleye Circuit and have also competed in some local tournaments.

14-Someday you would like to??

Hold a big check over my head after I have just won a big tournament. I have been close a few times. I can’t wait for the opportunity.

15-What would your fellow anglers/competitors, say stands out the most about you?
I think I am always willing to talk fishing. The guys I fish with sometimes say I talk fishing too much if you know what I mean. I always like to share information with others and help them out. Besides that I hope someone asked that question would say that Chad always wants keep it fun no matter the situation. If it ain’t fun, I don’t want to be there.

16-In what ways do you promote angling?

I am an active member of a local fishing club, FM Walleyes Unlimited Inc. I served 5 years as the club President (2003 to 2008) and 11 years on the Board of Directors (1998-2009). The club was recently honored by being inducted into the Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame. Honors like that are not just handed out but need to be earned. Our club, unlike a lot of clubs that just meet to go fish, is more focused on fishing education (focusing on youth) and sponsoring walleye rearing ponds. I think all my close friendships have been made thru the club.

I currently serve on the Angler Advisory Panel for the MWC’s West Division. It has been fun although challenging trying to grow the division the past two years. I enjoy recruiting new anglers to fish the circuit. I love sharing fishing stories with others and speaking to local service clubs or doing seminars.

I just enjoy talking fishing. This has also helped in my real job where I am a Mortgage Loan Officer for Gate City Bank in Fargo, ND.  New customers notice my fishing photos and start asking questions. Before they leave most have a club newsletter and membership in their hands. I have provided many loans for club members and others that have called me because they saw me in a fishing article in the local newspaper. People like to do business with those who have similar interests.

17-What is the biggest fish you have ever caught?

The largest fish I have ever caught was a catfish caught while pre fishing on the Wisconsin side of Lake Pepin. It took a good 20 minutes to land it. I basically just held on until it was too tuckered out to fight anymore. That fish had to weigh over 30lbs. I lifted it up to my chest and the tail touched the floor of the boat. My largest walleyes are a 12lber caught during the PWT in Port Clinton, OH where I fished as a co angler in 2003. I also pulled a true 10lb walleye thru the ice on Lake Winnipeg, MB in March, 2010. Now, that was exciting!

18-Where can people find out more about you? Such as Facebook and websites etc…….

People can check out my NPAA Profile or my facebook page at www.facebook.com/chad.maloy1

19-Outside of fishing what other hobbies do you enjoy?

I enjoy pheasant and deer hunting in November. During the winter months I spend a lot of time on the ice. No, not ice fishing but watching my son play hockey and my daughter figure skating. I also enjoy taking action photos of the kids. I approach my photography just like hunting, looking for the opportunity to capture that perfect photo.

20-What advice do you have for those considering fishing in tournaments or guiding?

If you are not sure if you want to jump in try fishing as a co angler in the FLW or AIM. It is a great way to get a feel for how the tournament circuits work. Better yet, get a friend to sign up with you.
To be successful on the tournament circuit you need to realize that everyone you compete against is a good angler. The only way to cash a check is to out work them and pay attention to the little things. You need to be on the water per fishing even when the weather is uncomfortable and everyone else is inside playing cards. You need to make sure your equipment is in top condition and that you are prepared for any situation.