Over the years of fishing Walleye tournaments I have met and heard certain names from time to time come up. One such, is an Angler named Matt Brown.

Although, over the last couple of years, I have tried to get Matt to answer some questions for an article, Matt felt he wasn’t ready. This couldn’t have been any further than the truth. When you keep hearing about and seeing an angler participating in the Northern Ontario Walleye Trail and the fishing the Lund AYA Tournaments each year, you know that they have the passion and love for the sport of fishing that people would enjoy reading about.

I am happy to introduce, the elusive NOWT Pro Angler Matt Brown in this weeks angler profile.

Q) Where were you born?

A) I was born and raised in Timmins, Ontario. Great city, and great fishing. I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Q) Who played a role in getting you started in fishing?

A) My mother (Anita), father (Dave) and my brother (Andrew) all played a role in getting me to start and love fishing. My mom and dad both loved the cottage life and fishing. We had a cottage on Kenogamissi Lake growing up and we would be fishing whenever possible, trolling for pike and hoping to get the odd walleye. I went fishing every chance I had.

Q) As a youth, where did you fish and for what?

A) As a child, we were at our cottage on Kenogamissi Lake most of the summers and weekends. My brother and I were adventurous, and loved to explore. We were always looking for the ‘hidden gems’. We would fish on various lakes, but we mostly loved fishing on Hazard Lake, Flag Lake, Upper and Lower Michegama Lakes. We were always trying to figure out where the walleye were hiding.

Q) What age did you start fishing?

A) I couldn’t give you an exact age, but I’ve been fishing for as long as I can remember. I was quite young, so probably around 3 or 4.

Q) How did you get into Walleye Tournament Fishing and why?

A) My good friend, Jeff Vipond, got me into entering fishing tournaments. Jeff was visiting with us at my parents’ cottage one year, and he loves fishing as much as I do, so he asked if we would take him out. So we packed our gear onto the pontoon boat we had at the time. We were very successful and we caught our limits. From that day forward, I knew I needed and wanted a boat. That’s when I bought my first boat. That same year, Jeff suggested I enter a tournament. He told me, I would love the challenge and the fun. I thought why not? So I asked my fishing partner, Marc Poirier, if he would like to enter a fishing tournament with me, and so it started. We registered for our first tournament, the Mattagami Lake First Nations Walleye Tournament and needless to say we were hooked! Since then we do as many as possible.

Q) What was your most memorial fishing experience and why?

A) My most memorable fishing experience would have to be KRWT. We had a very slow weekend start, nothing was biting all day, looking very bleak and almost hopeless to catch a break. We were very frustrated to say the least, as we usually do very well in this tournament. We were almost ready to give up, and then it happened. In the last hour of the tournament, we landed a 9.02 lb walleye which boosted our confidence and our placement!

Q) List any Anglers that helped you learn more about fishing over the years?

A) Jeff is my biggest mentor, as we spend a lot of time fishing together. I always welcome his advice. For the most part, all anglers I know in the NOWT, Henry, Annie, Jean, Marc, Matt, Denis, John and John, to name a few, are all very knowledgeable and all have, at one time or another, given me a tip or two. I am very thankful to all anglers who helped me become the angler I am today.

Q) List sponsors and tournament finishes?

A) Well, I am not nearly as good as I would love to be at winning tournaments, but here are a few lucky one’s I’ve had over the years:

MFN SPRING 2010- 5th Place

KRWT 2011- 6th Place

KRWT 2013- 8th Place

KRWT 2016- 7th Place

SWC 2016- 3rd Place

AYA 2011- 1st Place ( I think it was 2011)

I would like to take this time to thank all of my sponsors:

Accurate Electric

Guiho Saw Sales and Marines

Computerized Lettering and Signs

Full Beard Brewing

Dixon Electric

Eaton-Cutler Hammer

Q) Biggest fishing supports over the years. example, wife, family and friend(s)?

A) Most definitely, my wife, Stephanie, my kids Riley and Jayden, are my biggest supporters and have played major role in all of this. Without all of their support, I would never have been able to do all of these tournaments. My wife has a very busy life, but always makes it possible for me to go out there and enjoy some fishing. I love my family and am very grateful for them.

Q)What are some of your favorite fish you like to fish for and why?

A) I love fishing for walleye, as they are such a challenge to find and catch, but I also love salmon and lake trout fishing, as they love to put up a fight! Overall I just love fishing. Second to my family, it’s my life.

Q) What is your favorite fishing technique (s) for Walleyes

A) My favourite is bottom bouncing. I’ve tried many techniques over the years, but for me, it’s the only technique that I can go out with and be confident I’ll catch some walleye.

Q) Why do you fish in tournament?

A) I enter tournaments for the fun! For me it’s not all about winning. There is nothing better than spending two to three days on the water doing what one enjoys. At the end of the day you get to meet new people, catch up with old friends and share tips and stories with great company. What more can you ask for.

Q) Why did you agree to have your bio done?

A) I would like to share my experiences and how I feel about tournaments with other anglers. You don’t have to be good or win to enjoy a good tournament. I have been doing this for a long time and the memories you make out there is so much better than a win!

Q) Any tips you would give to a new Walleye Angler looking at fishing the NOWT?

A) Tip #1 Have fun, there’s no need to get stressed and uptight, if you go out there to have fun, good things will happen!

Tip #2 Patience is a virtue as they say, never leave early, the big one could come at any time.

Tip #3 Try everything, it’s important to switch things up, what works today may not work tomorrow.

Q) What would be some of your greatest accomplishes over the years of fishing?

A) My greatest accomplishment in fishing would have to be the AYA win. Not because we won, but for the opportunity to fish the Nationals in Kenora, Lake of the Woods, as co-anglers to some of Lund’s top fisherman. What a great experience, something I will never forget!

I would like to Thank Matt for taking the time to share a little about himself with us.