By Tom Buyers

Daniel Byars, 14, a Mark’s customer for many years and an eighth grader at Pizitz Middle School in Vestavia travelled to Basswood Lake in Ontario, Canada July 26, 2004 with Vestavia Scout Troop 4.

Byars and his guide, Chuck Mackey of Williams Hall Outfitters in Ely, Minn., caught the 31-inch, 9.5 lbs. walleye fishing 30 ft. deep using a Mann’s Chartreuse Thunderstick. Byars used a Abv Garcia Conolon rod and reel, medium weight spinning set with 12 lb. test cajun line.
Byars also caught 28-inch, 8 lb. and 29-inch, 8.5 lb. walleye that day. They were fishing out of a Kevlar canoe, with Mackey sculling for the trolling action.

The fish were captured on camera by Vestavia Hills United Methodist Troop 4 senior patrol leader Andrew Chase.
Byars’ fish was the largest of the 52-member trip and was one of Chuck Mackey’s largest-guided walleye ever. His “words” at the time of the catch are unprintable.