Local news profiles Ryan Buddie, Northeast Ohio native and top walleye fisherman

By Daniel Kelly on October 27, 2014

One of the nation’s top walleye fishermen hails from northeast Ohio, according to Cleveland’s Newsnet 5, which put together a video profiling the angler. His name is Ryan Buddie, and he grew up in Rocky River, Ohio, a graduate of the nearby St. Ignatius High School.

Fishing is something Ryan was always into, according to his website, where he writes, “I was always the kid looking to wet a fishing line. Whether it was walleye fishing out of my Grandpa’s boat, casting flies for steelhead in the Rocky River, sneaking onto the golf course at night catching top water bass…I loved to fish.”

His love for the sport appears to have paid off, as it has netted him spots to compete in some of the country’s most famous walleye tourneys. He’s also got some coveted sponsorships: Lowrance, Mercury and Starcraft Marine.

“I’m a full-blown tournament fisherman. I travel all over the country, fishing in the Masters Walleye Circuit and the National Wildlife Tour,” Buddie told Newsnet 5. “They’re the two biggest walleye tournaments in the country.”

Along the way, he’s netted trophies in some big-name tournaments, including a third place spot in the 2012 World Walleye Championship. And he has qualified for that same tournament the last four years in a row.

“It’s intense. It’s fun,” Buddie said to Newsnet 5. “And it’s just a way to compete at something you love, so it works out good for me.”

Image: Tournament angler Ryan Buddie holds up a walleye caught on Lake Erie near Lorain, Ohio (Credit: Ryan Buddie)