Big Time Podcast Summary: "Dead Fish Tell No Tales: Part 1 | 2"

Release Date: March 31, 2025

Introduction to Rossford and Walleye Fishing

In the meticulously crafted narrative of "Dead Fish Tell No Tales: Part 1 | 2," hosted by Steve Buscemi, listeners are introduced to Rossford, Ohio—a modest town with a population of 6,300 situated on the Maumee River, just eight miles upstream from Lake Erie. The town's claim to fame revolves around walleye fishing, a cultural cornerstone akin to lobster in Maine or saltwater taffy at the Jersey Shore.

Sean Flynn and Louise Jarvis Flynn, a journalist duo and passionate anglers, set the stage by highlighting the significance of walleye to Rossford:

Sean Flynn [04:00]: "Walleye are to Lake Erie what lobster is to Maine or saltwater taffy is to the Jersey Shore."

Mayor Neil McKinnon III’s Ambitious Vision

Mayor Neil McKinnon III, portrayed with both ambition and a touch of naivety, envisions transforming Rossford into a premier walleye fishing destination. His passion for the city is palpable:

Mayor Neil McKinnon III [02:19]: "I've been here my entire life. And when you love a city like I love this city, it's not enough to just be here. I want to be able to give back."

Under his leadership, the first Rossford Walleye Roundup was launched in 2017, aiming to attract fishing enthusiasts from far and wide. The initial event, sponsored by Bass Pro Shops, saw 13 teams competing for prizes totaling $3,500. Encouraged by the success, the tournament grew exponentially over the years, despite a hiatus in 2020 due to COVID-19.

The Rise of Chase Kaminski and Jake Runyon

By 2022, the tournament had garnered significant attention, attracting top-tier anglers like Chase Kaminski and Jake Runyon. Their unprecedented success—winning multiple tournaments and amassing substantial prize money—made them legends in the walleye fishing community:

Jason Fisher [08:13]: "Chase Kaminski, Jacob Runyon... they've been fishing the same waters, had their fish inspected by the same officials and weighed them on the same scale as everybody else's."

Their dominance was so pronounced that whispers of cheating began to circulate among fellow competitors. Mike Miller, a seasoned angler, voiced growing suspicions:

Mike Miller [23:35]: "Nobody's even seeing where this guy's fishing, okay? Other teams would talk about it... How is he doing this?"

Suspicion and Allegations of Cheating

The crux of the controversy centers around Chase and Jake's uncanny ability to consistently outfish their competitors. The tournament rules stipulated that anglers must fish in designated areas and present live walleye for inspection and weighing. However, discrepancies in the size and number of fish caught by Chase and Jake raised red flags.

Tensions escalated during the 2022 Walleye Trail Championship in Cleveland, a pivotal event doubling as a fundraiser for a young boy battling cancer. As the tournament progressed, observers noted that Chase and Jake's catches were implausibly large and frequent compared to other competitors.

The Climactic 2022 Walleye Trail Championship

The tension reached its peak during the final weigh-in of the championship. Mike Miller, observing the mounting success of Chase and Jake, couldn’t shake his doubts:

Mike Miller [26:08]: "When they put the first fish on the scale, the big fish, in my gut, there's something. No way. There is no way that's an eight-pound fish."

As Chase and Jake triumphantly placed their catches on the scale, the reality of their inflated weights became undeniable. The crowd's skepticism turned into outright confrontation when Mike questioned the legitimacy of their catches:

Unnamed Fisherman [27:53]: "I want to take a look at them."

Jake's defensive reaction only heightened suspicions:

Jake Runyon [27:58]: "F you, Mike."

The situation spiraled as Chase attempted to flee, leaving Jake holding a suspicious bag of walleye, containing fish that were significantly smaller than reported.

The Confrontation and Revelation of Cheating

Amidst the chaos, Police Chief Todd Kitzler intervened, initiating an investigation into the integrity of the tournament. The discovery of smaller-than-recorded fish and the mysterious bag undermined the credibility of Chase and Jake's victories. Evidence suggested that the duo had been manipulating the competition, either by misreporting fish sizes or introducing previously caught fish to inflate their scores.

Sean Flynn [29:28]: "Lake Erie Walleye will never ever get more hits."

The fallout was swift. The revelation tarnished Rossford's reputation and cast a shadow over its ambitions to host the world's premier walleye tournament. The episode concluded on a suspenseful note, teasing the repercussions faced by Chase and Jake in the subsequent installment.

Conclusion and Significance

"Dead Fish Tell No Tales: Part 1 | 2" masterfully intertwines the allure of competitive fishing with the dark undercurrents of ambition and deceit. Through engaging storytelling and poignant quotes, the episode delves into the complexities of small-town aspirations, the pressures of maintaining integrity in competitive arenas, and the fine line between passion and obsession. For listeners unfamiliar with the episode, this summary encapsulates the essence of Rossford's journey from a quaint fishing town to the epicenter of a high-stakes walleye tournament rife with controversy.

Notable Quotes:

• Steve Buscemi [00:00]: "If you aren't cheating, you aren't trying."

• Sean Flynn [05:09]: "Mayor Neal means great city in the sense that Rossford is awesome because it's not great like, say, the great Pyramids."

• Mike Miller [10:01]: "If you look out at that lake right there, you can't see any walleyes. So you know, you gotta find them and then you have to catch them."

• Neil McKinnon III [07:20]: "We were growing, and this is arrogance or ego. We want this to become the biggest and most famous professional wildlife tournament on planet Earth."

• Jason Fisher [25:38]: "Team of the year, they have to beat that team by five places to win team of the year. And there were seven that were relatively in contention to win."

This episode not only recounts a riveting tale of ambition gone awry but also serves as a cautionary narrative about the consequences of unchecked ambition and the importance of integrity in competitive pursuits.