But he and Kramer have pulled out several big fish in the shallows, including a couple of eight pounders on Madison Lake in 2008.

“(Roger) follows my theory that the biting fish are the shallow fish,” McKee says. “Shallow fish are the hungry fish.”

Long before the Tuesday Nite Walleye Tourneys, McKee was learning the ropes from various pros. The Cleveland native says he learned a lot while working for Bill Linder at the Linders’ In-FisherKIDS Camp Fish.

But he credits a different Linder for much of his success.

“I’d have to say, Al showed me a lot up there at Camp Fish,” McKee said.

McKee also fished the Masters Walleye Circuit, finishing as high as ninth place for team of the year honors in a field of 1,477 teams.

“I figured that was quiet the accomplishment for a kid out of Cleveland,” McKee says.

The weigh in
Troy Bessman slips in ahead of the team of Kramer and McKee, and Hobbs quickly weighs three fish.

“4.67,” he tells Bessman, who takes his three fish and returns to teammate Steve Wolfe.

Then Kramer steps up with four fish. He and McKee watch as the total weight is read.

“13.03,” Hobbs says. This elicits a response from the crowd as those gathering around repeat the weight.

Then two of their fish are weighed individually for the big fish prize, a secondary pot anglers can enter into each night for $10.

The first fish weighs in at 4 pounds, 5.7 ounces; the second fish weighs 4 pounds 3.5 ounces.

More talk from the gallery.

McKee and Kramer head off to their boat.