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The Tournament Tactician |
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DAIWA pro Tom Huynh capitalizes on his unmatched technical skills to win competitive walleye fishing’s largest event. |
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FOOTHILL RANCH, CA (September 13, 2024) – Typically, a trade release about a tournament victory ends with fleeting mention about the rod, reel, and fishing line that was in play – a scant footnote. There’s a lot of talk about the weather conditions, size of the trophy, and how many digits were on that oversized, corrugated plastic check, but few if any honest takeaways that might influence your future purchases. For those only interested in merely the headline: Walleye ace Tom Huynh won last weekend’s Bass Pro Shops & Cabela’s National Walleye Tour (NWT) presented by Progressive Championship after three days of fishing on Lake Huron in Oscoda, Michigan. The victory netted him $132,069 in cash and prizes, which included a 2024 Ranger 620FS with a Mercury 250 Pro XS and the $500 Garmin Contingency Bonus for having exclusive Garmin electronics and trolling motor. These are the fundamentals. Curious minds, however, are likely more interested in how he did it, and how Huynh’s success can make you a better angler. That’s what we aim to do. |
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THE STAGE (Not the one with the microphone) “The stage” in this reference implies the body of water. More specifically, where Minnesota’s Huynh found his fish on the Great Lakes gem, Huron. After extensive prefishing and sonar reconnaissance, Huynh found himself on the south end of Huron, which he described as, “basically, a giant flat with a gradually tapering basin.” He scoped his fish – quite literally with Garmin LiveScope – in 25 to 32 feet of water, most walleyes pinned to or near the bottom. Said conditions called for a jigging… |
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THE ROD(S) Huynh said over 90% of the marked and caught fish were revealed via forward-facing sonar (FFS). Casting to them called for a longer rod, too, 7’ to be precise, with medium power and an extra-fast action. Not surprisingly, he grabbed a DAIWA TD Eye spinning rod (TDEYE701MXS). “Not only did I need to reach those fish with authority, but I was also dealing with a lot of wind,” said Huynh. His 7-footer was able to launch the 3/8th ounce Northland Tungsten Jig and full-body nightcrawler to those fish. (BTW, Huynh had a hand in designing both the TD Eye rod series and Northland Tungsten Jig.) “The medium-light power was just enough to drive the hook home on suspended fish,” he said of the light and sensitive rod. Huynh also mentioned the impressively light weight of the rod. “Between prefishing and the tournament, that’s a lot of hours with a rod in your hand. The TD Eye series in remarkably light, which reduces fatigue.” When Huynh marked fish on the bottom he switched weapons, opting for the 7’ TDEYE702MLXS-MT. “The Mega Top feature is what makes this rod ideal for feeling and pulling fish off the bottom,” he said. Mega Top adds another layer of sensitivity for detecting the subtlest of bites. Moreover, Hyunh noted the rod’s ability to fight a big walleye in deep water. “Its parabolic action is impressive. The rod loads up throughout the blank and maintains constant pressure on the fish, even when they swim up and change directions. The rod fights the fish for you.” The length of the guide-train is another upside of the TD Eye series. “Those extra guides really improve sensitivity,” said Huyng. “You can literally feel a fish grab the bait on a slack line. The bite transmits from the jig, along the line, and right through the rod.” But what surprises Huynh most about the TD Eye rod series? “They’re super affordable at only $129.99. You get some of DAIWA’s top rod technologies at an everyman’s price.” |
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THE REEL(S) Huynh paired his TD Eye rods with KAGE MQ LT reels, as well as early versions of the new KAGE LT, which will retail for around $250. The feature-packed reels are sold exclusively through independent dealers, demonstrating DAIWA’s commitment to retailers of every size. Here’s the shocking part… Huynh fishes the smallish 1000-size reel for all his spinning needs. “When you hold a reel for 12 hours a day, it better be light and manageable. I experience no fatigue with a 1000-size KAGE in my hand.” Whatmore, the smaller size brings fish in slower, which is cornerstone to Huynh. “It forces you to fish slower. In a tournament, there’s no reason to horse a fish in. It’s better to get the fight out of them.” To Huynh, the inherently slower retrieve of a 1000-size reel is better for jigging, too. “I’m a finesse fisherman, and the reduced retrieval speed of a smaller reel matches that.” Huynh seldom fishes reaction baits like crankbaits, preferring to fish slow and natural and “make the fish eat it.” |
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THE LINE AND LEADER Huynh maintains the finesse theme with his fishing line and leader material. The tournament tactician spools up with 10-lb. DAIWA J-BRAID x8 Grand and finishes with a span of 8-lb. J-FLUORO Leader. He sometimes drops down to a 6-lb. fluorocarbon leader in exceptionally clear water or if he’s on pressured fish. “I really like the sensitivity of J-BRAID x8 Grand, as well as how it casts,” he said. “It’s not waxy and passes through the guides extremely well.” He opts for chartreuse as well, which he says is key for FFS. “I need to see the line in reference to where fish appear on my Garmin. You can’t do that with camo or green line.” His leaders are long, too, about the length of the rod, and tied with a neatly clipped double uni-knot, which easily passes through the guides. |
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LAST WORD This is but a smidgen of what rolls around in the head of Huynh. He’s a cerebral guy. And soon, beginner to expert anglers will have access to a Huyng brain dump specific to FFS. On September 19th he’s launching Tom Huynh University (THU). You can visit the site now to learn more – www.fishthu.com |
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For Daiwa’s latest color catalog and/or information on Daiwa dealers in your area, call Daiwa’s Customer Service Department at 562-375-6800 or e-mail inquiries to: [email protected]. The URL for Daiwa’s web site is daiwa.us |
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About Daiwa Corporation Daiwa’s first spinning reel rolled off the assembly line in 1955. Since then, the company has grown into one of the largest and most influential tackle companies in the world today. To handle sales and distribution in the United States, Daiwa Corporation first opened its doors on September 26, 1966, operating from a small facility in Culver City, California. Today, based in Foothill Ranch, California, Daiwa Corporation sells tackle throughout the United States, Canada, Central and South America. From the very beginning, Daiwa’s emphasis has been upon innovation and quality. The result is a long list of product features, design and materials that have become standards for the fishing tackle industry. Daiwa’s long-standing record of innovation has left a visible mark on the majority of tackle manufactured today and continues to advance the sport of fishing. Learn more at daiwa.us |