10-Year-Old Grand Rapids Boy Catches Dream Walleye For His 1st

A 10-year-old Grand Rapids boy has been trying to catch a walleye for the past couple of years with no luck, then it all changed when he caught his first and it was a doozy.

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Young Fisherman Sets Sights on a Big Walleye

His name is Evan, and he is my son. He's loved fishing ever since his grandfather took him bluegill fishing for the very first time when he was 4 years old.

Since that time Evan has caught some really nice gills, bass, and pike.

When Evan was six we were trolling for walleye in the Fall on Croton Pond when he pulled in this 20-inch smallmouth bass. Boy did he and I celebrate when he got this one in the boat, but shortly after he said, "That was a nice fish Dad but I sure wish it was a walleye."

During the quest for his first walleye, there was another fish that had been on Evan's list to haul in and that was a northern pike. He lost a pretty good one on Emerald Lake and it broke his heart when it came off next to the boat. Evan lost another one right by the hole while ice fishing on Diamond Lake. Then, once again while trolling for walleye on Portage Lake in Onekema he finally got that northern he was looking for, but once again Evan says, "Dad that sure is a nice pike and I'm grateful, but sure would have been cool if that was a walleye."

Evan Finally Catches His First Walleye

The picture says it all. This year we returned to Portage Lake on our family vacation trolling for walleye and it finally happened. Evan landed a pretty nice walleye for his first one ever that was a little over 29 inches long and weighed 10 lbs. Evan and I were so excited that I know the whole lake knew something big had happened in our boat.

Evan was so proud of this walleye and I am so lucky to have been there with him for a moment that he and I will never forget. That hog and a small one I caught wound up feeding the whole family.