 |  |  | Ralph Muccilli Photo Carol and Glenn Chenier win the 2004 Cabela's NTC on Bay de Noc, MI |
This past June Cabelas held the 2004 National Team Championship in Escanaba Michigan and on the Bays De Noc. With qualifying teams from all across the land battling it out on one of our Nations top walleye waters it was an exciting event to be sure.
This years Championship was really an event to remember for the community with several local teams in the top 20, including the team that rose to the top, Glenn and Carol Chenier. No strangers to professional walleye angling or the bay area, Glenn and Carol bested a field of over 200 boats.
A few days after the event I was able to sit down via phone with Glenn and Carol and chat a bit. As always, both were open and easy to talk to about the recent event. What follows will hopefully provide some background and insight into one of walleye fishings most accomplished and respected teams.
WF: Well guys, you did it again! Another win on the Bay, congratulations!
G&C: Thank you.
WF: Id also like to thank you for taking some time to sit and chat with me to do this article.
G&C: Our Pleasure.
WF: Id like to take a slightly different line of approach in this interview, certainly different than what you must have been doing since last weekend.
G&C: Fire away!
WF: Fortunately, I can say we have been friends for several years, but lets acquaint you with those who have not met you. How long have you two been Married?
WF: Weve been Married 13 years now.
WF: And how long have you and Carol been fishing as a team?
Glenn: About 12 or 13 years as well.
WF: How many titles have you and Carol won, as the MWC Husband and Wife, Team of the Year?
Glenn: We have held that title 5 times now.
WF: Thats quite a feat! But Id further like to ask if you have ever held both the Husband and Wife team of the year and the overall honor of MWC Team of the year?
Carol: We have been Overall Team of the Year and Husband and Wife team of the year together one time.
WF: Have you been the only Husband and Wife to do this?
Glenn: No, the Tippings have also done it. In fact they did it first.
Carol: Yes, we finished 3rd that year in the Team of the Year standings. Actually we have had 4 top 5 finishes in the MWC, Team of the Year Standings.
WF: That was going to be my next question Guys! You have been not only in the top of the Husband and Wife stats, but several times in the Team of the Year stats as well.
WF: That actually brings me to my next question, how many tournaments wins have you had as a team?
Glenn: We have won 2 MWC events as well as a few local and WWA wins.
WF: Was this your first Cabelas National Championship?
Glenn: Yes, this was the first time we qualified for the national Team Championship.
WF: Did you set out to go to the NTC, was it part of a game plan to make the Cabelas Championship as it is with the MWC?
Glenn: No, we really didnt set out to qualify, but we qualified through or standings in the MWC.
WF: Lets talk a little bit about this years Cabelas Championship and your top honors there.
Glenn: Fire Away!
WF: Where did you two end up fishing in the event?
Glenn: It is no real big secret where we were. Down south, on the West side, was predominately where we fished. When we could run, we went far to the south, beyond the Ford River.
WF: Did you, or should I say, were you able to stick to an original game plan, or did you modify it? Or more simply, did you fish where you found fish during pre-fishing?
Carol: Friday we couldnt fish where we wanted due to the boundary change, but we caught a lot of fish.
WF: As you mentioned, Friday, you were faced with having to stay within the Foul Weather Boundaries due to the conditions. How did this affect your plans?
Glenn: Well, like many teams, we couldnt get to our better fish and we had to go to some old reliable and backup locations. There were more boats in the area we fished and the boat traffic tends to slow the fishing.
WF: How did you react to this to bring in Fridays catch?
Glenn: We stayed to the outside of the pack and caught our fish there. The fish that were pushed out away from the boats were generally better fish than we caught in and among other boats.
WF: Well, it was certainly good enough to secure 4th place by the End of the day Friday. Saturday the boundaries were opened back up to the fair weather lines. How did you face that move?
Glenn: On Saturday there were a lot of choices and our time was spent where pre fishing was most productive. In short we targeted our bigger fish. We pretty much stuck to our plan. And the fish were somewhat cooperative.
WF: So you went back to your primary spots then. You say they were somewhat cooperative?
Glenn: Yes, we definitely did not get as many bites, or catch as many fish. Add to that the smaller fish seemed to be where our bigger fish were in practice. Bigger fish can take more time to find and catch. The better fish were real finicky and the clearing weather slowed the action down.
WF: What was your presentation of choice, or should I say, what was the Walleyes presentation of choice?
Glenn: We were using Spinners and crawlers both days, and we were fishing in shallower waters.
WF: What colors worked the best for you?
Glenn: We changed up colors a lot. Nom one color really worked all the time. Whites and Chartreuses, bright colors worked early and we went more natural as the event went on. We ran silver, and copper blades and down toned the bead colors as well.
WF: What speeds did you run the spinners?
Carol: Slow and bouncing the bottom, down to a crawl. Just enough boat speed to get the spinners to work.
WF: Well the rest of the 2004 event is now history, are you planning to qualify for the 2005 Cabelas Championship?
Glenn: We are fishing the MWC again next year and will try and qualify, but we have not added any tournaments to attempt to go.
WF: Id like to switch gears a little. On stage there was some talk about how teams deal with the changing conditions and the strain it puts both partners under sometimes. A few times there was some joking around about Husbands and Wives fishing together in this event. Id like to know if you think there are any advantages to fishing with your spouse?
Glenn: I think there is a lot more open communication with us, no dwelling on decisions and if you did the right thing. With your wife, you just know. I think it is much easier to communicate feelings and work together.
Carol: It is a lot easier to communicate because you know each other so well. Id bet it is similar with Brothers.
WF: One last topic before we wind up. Glenn I know you also have fished in the past with Glenn (Wags) Wangerin, and done well. How is it different from fishing with your spouse?
Glenn: Well, Wags and I get along very well, but it is still different than fishing with Carol. Again, partly to that Carol and I know each other so well. Wags and I still have a great relationship and know each other well, but it is still different, you know?
WF: Well guys, Id like to thank you for taking time out of you schedule to chat with us. And I know I can also offer congratulations from all of us here at Walleye First.
G&C: Thank you too!
(NOTE: Since this interview Glenn and Glenn went on to win the 2004 WWA event on Little Bay De Noc)
Related Links:
2004 Cabelas NTC Discussion
2004 Cabelas NTC Images
2004 Cabelas NTC Discussion
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