Staff
The third time was the charm for Dan and Josh Pollard over the weekend.
After back-to-back years of finishing second to Baudette’s Les Morrison and Morson’s Oliver Gibbins, the Emo natives captured the 18th-annual Emo Walleye Classic with a two-day haul of 15.69 pounds and dethroned the reigning champs.
The Pollards claimed the $7,500 winners’ cheque and added $1,500 in other earnings during the tourney.
Despite losing their title, it still was an impressive finish for Morrison and Gibbins as they left the docks on Saturday all the way down in 22nd spot after hauling in just 3.57 pounds on the first day.
A much better Day 2 haul of 11.24 pounds temporarily vaulted them into the lead with a two-day total of 14.99 before the top-10 boat parade started, where they occupied the hot seats until the Pollards weighed in.
Day 1 leaders Bill Godin of Devlin and Nolan Mann of Fort Frances wound up third with 14.53 pounds after reeling in 7.80 on the first day.
Ted Heyens of Stratton and Kelvin Caul of Devlin grabbed fourth place (13.20) followed by the father-son duo of Mike and Javyn Maxton in fifth (12.26).
Jim Steele and Ed Bullied slipped from second after Day 1 down to sixth spot (11.90) while Riley Caul and Jon Barker moved up three spots to seventh (10.81).
Todd and Kalin Grennier took ninth spot (10.41) while Dennis Smith and Terry Allan rounded out the top 10 (9.96).
Aaron Bisson and Chad Jack finished just shy of cracking the top 10 with a two-day haul of 9.74 pounds.
