April
2009 Speaker - IL

Bass
Fishing in South East
Wisconsin
April
29th - Illinois
Eric Haatja
Eric
is the owner of Big
Fish Guide Service
located in West Allis
WI. Eric is a full
time inland fishing
guide and Great Lakes
Charter Capitan. Eric
guides for just about
every fresh water
fish species
available here in
Wisconsin, with an
emphasis on catching
“Big Fish”. He is
considered by many to
be one of the best
multi-specie guides
in the Midwest. Eric’s
knowledge and ability
to consistently put
his clients on big
fish separates Eric
from much of his
competition. He is
one of the highest
skilled guides in
just about every
application modern
fishing has to offer.
More
importantly Eric is
an educator; he takes
the time to explain
certain small details
that have significant
impacts to landing
more and bigger
fish.
Eric
also owns one of the
largest fishing
websites in the
state, www.wibigfish.com
which gives free
daily fishing reports
to anglers.
Eric also runs
one of the states
largest ice guiding
services.
He has appeared
numerous times on the
nationally televised
show In-Fisherman T.V.
and Magazine, John
Gillespie’s
Wisconsin’s Waters
and Woods, Babe
Winkleman Outdoors,
Midwest Outdoors, and
Outdoor
Wisconsin.
Eric has a world
record angling
achievement for
catching a rainbow
trout (Steelhead)
from the National
Fresh Water Hall of
fame in 1996. Eric
has also won numerous
professional fishing
tournaments.
Some of the species
Eric fishes for
during his normal
guiding season are:
Walleye, Muskie,
Pike, Largemouth
Bass, Smallmouth
Bass, Pan fish,
Salmon, Steelhead,
Catfish, Brown Trout
and inland Lake
Trout.
Eric credits much of
his passion to
fishing to his father
Wayne Haataja and
Grandfather Joseph
Kolfler. He also
credits his wife
Natasha for allowing
him to pursue his
dream job.Most
importantly Eric is
married and father to
Cal (7) and Hanna(4)
Cammille (1).
Some of Eric sponsor’s
are: Lund Boats,
Mercury Motors, Motor
guide, Lowrance,
Frabill, Jiffy
Augers, St Croix
Rods, Vexilar,
Pure-Fishing, H30
Sunglasses, Custom
Spin and Jigs, M-W
Marine.