Lots of fish were caught, but it was the eight totalling 20.92 pounds reeled up by Mark Chapman and Kent Christianson of Baudette that earned them the $15,000 first prize Sunday in the fifth-annual Rainy River Walleye Tournament.
The duo had finished third last year after vaulting from 38th place with an amazing second day. Well, this year they had yet another amazing second day, bagging 12.98 pounds to add to the 7.94 they had after the first day of fishing Saturday.
Going into Sunday, Chapman and Christianson sat in third place behind what seemed to be an insurmountable lead by two local teams.
Ken Vogan and Robert Matthew, of Dawson Township, came in early Saturday and weighed a tournament-record fish that tipped the scales at 8.18 pounds.
With three other nice fish, they held top spot—with a 13.24-pound total—for most of the weigh-in on Day One. Then late in the game, Troy Dalseg and Brent Westover of Rainy River came in with four really nice fish and a total weight of 13.42 pounds to grab the lead.
But it was not to be for either team.
Chapman and Christianson headed west Sunday to the mouth of the river, hoping some big walleyes were moving into the river.
“The current overnight got big fish into the river,” noted Christianson.
Chapman jigged with a pink jig while his partner had a white and orange glow-in-the-dark jig, using shiners for bait. Chapman said they both caught fish and in the morning figured they had about 12 pounds.
“But we did not know what the Day One leaders were doing and we hoped they were not doing well,” he added.
In the end, their hopes came true and their two-day total saw them capture the RRWT crown for the first time (Chapman just missed it in the inaugural year of the tournament, when he finished second with a different partner).
The pair plans to spend the money having some fun and to refurbish their boat.
Coming from 14th position after Day One to take second place were the inaugural RRWT champs—Brian Ney of Baudette and Dan Stier of South Dakota.
With just 5.7 pounds on the first day, they needed a lot of weight Sunday to take top spot and they almost did—weighing in 11.42 pounds for a 17.12-pound total and the $6,500 prize.
They said they had decent fish pretty early and then culled up two more times. They said the fish were biting best around noon.
Ney used a pink and white glow-in-the-dark jig while Stier used a chartreuse/white and pink jig. Both used shiners, and they also fished the mouth of the river.
Dalseg and Westover wound up third with 16.64 pounds to win $3,000 while Vogan and Matthew finished fourth with 16.14 pounds to take home $2,500.
These teams weighed in just 3.22 and 3.04 pounds, respectively, on Sunday, allowing the top finishers to slip by them.
Rounding out the top five was Lorne Jonassen and Roy Sigurdson, who quit fishing early Sunday with a big basket of 11.96 pounds. Their two-day total of 16.14 pounds was worth $1,900.
Finishing sixth through 10th were John/Jeff Kreger ($1,200), Troy Kreger/Len Clarke ($1,100), Wayne/Steve Carlson ($1,000), Nibs/Cheryl Kreger ($900), and Doug Jorgenson/Al Wolanicki ($800).
Rounding out the top 15 were Bill Stay/Mark Chivialkowski ($700), Tom Briggs/Rob Dorry ($600), defending champs Mike Vacura/Marnie Korpi ($500), Vaughn Murray/Barry Marmus ($300), and Oliver/Jason Gibbons ($200).
Before the prizes were handed out, two former tournament anglers were honoured. Blaine Ivall and Tom Kreger passed away in the past year, and the $500 hidden weight awards for each day of the tournament were renamed for them.
Day One is now the Tom Kreger Memorial Award, which was won this year by Julie Tiboni/Tiffany Burbeck (3.62 pounds) while Day Two is now the Blaine Ivall Memorial award, which was won by Peter Burbeck/Trevor Thurier (6.92 pounds).
A moment of silence was observed by the entire crowd and wreaths were presented to their tournament partners, Jeremy Johnson and David Ivall.
The big fish awards—worth $500 each—went to Vogan/Matthew for their 8.18-pound lunker on Day One and Nibs/Cheryl Kreger on Day Two (a 6.92-pounder).
The most improved team was Oliver/Jason Gibbons, who saw a 9.16-pound improvement from Saturday to Sunday. The each won $100 gift certificates from Pinewood Sports.
The top Lund team was the champs, Chapman and Christianson, who received Lund jackets. This was their second time in as many years to win that award.
Winning the Rainy River Charitable Association’s boat raffle was Linda Gibbons of Morson. Winning the big-screen TV was Richard Ganup of Eagan, Mn. while Archie Wiersema on the jewellery.
Winning the 16-ft. skiff donated by Lund for the anglers to buy tickets on was Barry Marmus of Kenora.
Winning the door prizes each day were Dave Singleton of Rainy River (gourmet meat package) and Bev Noga of Fort Frances (a Labatt’s Blue sign).
Doug Hartnell of Rainy River won an “Out of the Blue” sign raffle.
Winning the kids’ tournament was Josh Halverson of Rainy River, who caught two northern pikes, followed by Dan Usiski Jr., Bryce Godin, and Delbert Kirkrude.
Nolan Short had the longest cast, with Aaron Short being named most promising, Kenzie Godin most sportsmanlike, and Kylee Fileccia most beautiful.
“I have fished the NAMN and the PWT,” Chapman told the crowd. “They do not put on a great show like here. I wouldn’t miss it for nothing!”
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
