Reitan leads pros into Saturday’s final round
Competition heats up at RCL walleye tournament on Lake Winnebago
OSHKOSH, Wis. – A blazing sun and bluebird skies heated up the RCL contestants and the fishing today on Lake Winnebago. Leading the pro field into tomorrow’s final round is Lund pro Tim Reitan of Sabin, Minn., with a weight of 20 pounds, 15 ounces. Reitan and his co-angler partner, Ike Rhodes of Harrogate, Tenn., gambled today, but it paid off with a big bag of walleye.
“I wanted to get into the top 10 so badly,” said Reitan. “I really wanted it, so I gambled. What I was doing worked today. I hope it lasts tomorrow.”
Taking the second spot on the pro side was Ranger pro Jamie Friebel of Roberts, Wis. Friebel brushed up on his netting skills today.
“I am a guide, and I know how to get people on fish,” said Friebel. “That is what I did today. I had to concentrate on boat control in the wind and my partner hooked the fish, and I netted all of them. This system worked so well, we were done and sleeping in the boat by 10 a.m.”
Friebel’s weight today was 17 pounds, 15 ounces.
Area favorite Ranger pro Tim Minnema of Markesan, Wis., finished in the third spot today with 17 pounds and 12 ounces. Minnema credits time on the water with his family for getting him into the final round.
“I am very happy making it to the final cut,” said Minnema. “It is great to be fishing here so close to home against so many great sticks. With all of the families fishing here today, this is a tremendous example of how fishing gets passed down from generation to generation. My father taught me how to fish here. You can learn how to fish at any level, from pro to co-angler to whatever you want to pursue. It is a terrific family activity.”
In fourth place after today is Ranger pro Pete Harsh from Sauk Centre, Minn. Harsh stuck to a conservative game plan today and weighed in a respectable limit of 16 pounds, 6 ounces.
“I thought it would take about 14 pounds to make the cut,” said Harsh. “I played it conservative today. I had 5 fish in the boat, and at 12:30 p.m. I caught number six. I put it in the livewell and finished the day. I wanted to make sure I weighed in a limit.”
Ranger pro Jim Minnema of Randolph, Wis., landed in fifth position today with 16 pounds, 2 ounces. The senior Minnema didn’t care who he fished with today; he was confident in his abilities to make it to the final round.
“I know many of the guys worry about the abilities of the anglers they draw,” said Minnema. “I fortunately have drawn some good anglers, but it doesn’t really matter who I draw. I am going to be the same angler no matter what, so I have to rely on my ability to catch fish and get to the final round.”
Most of the pros are finding out that Winnebago walleyes put up a good scrap.
“These fish are very powerful in this system,” said Yamaha pro and finalist Marty Glorvigen of Grand Rapids, Minn. “When you are fishing them in the shallow water in the cane, they are very tenacious fighters. I have been fishing tournaments on the system for many years now, and it keeps getting better and better. There seem to more and bigger fish available.”
According to Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Senior Fisheries Biologist Kendall Kamke in his Water, Walleyes and Winnebago 2002 report, he claims the the walleye population at this time is in great shape. WDNR management suggests a minimum of five-year classes spawning to maintain a healthy walleye population. The Winnebago system has 10-year classes spawning at this time.
The love of fishing drives today’s co-angler leader Ike Rhodes of Harrogate, Tenn.
“I am so thrilled to have made it to the final round,” said Rhodes. “I simply love to fish. I can fish all of the time. It is absolutely super, I can just eat it up.”
In second place after today’s weigh-in was Jim Lovitz of Kaukauna, Wis. Lovitz caught all of the fish he and his pro angler partner weighed in today.
“I got to catch all of the fish instead of my pro partner,” said Lovitz. “My partner, Jamie Friebel, would tell me where to fish and said to make sure I hooked them good. I got to call for the net a lot today.”
Rounding out the top five co-angler finalists are: in third, Keith Strauss of Syracuse, Ind.; in fourth, Ed Parks Jr. of Webberville, Mich.; and in the fifth spot is Michael Dutton of Kaukauna, Wis.
Final-round action begins tomorrow morning at 7 a.m. at the Pioneer Resort and Marina located at 1000 Pioneer Drive in Oshkosh, Wis.
Tomorrow’s weigh-in starts at 4 p.m. at the Wal-Mart located at 2035 S. Koeller St. in Oshkosh, Wis. There are refreshments available for purchase at the weigh-in site.
Quick stats
Total number of boats: 20
Total fish weighed in: 102
Total weight: 248 pounds, 1 ounce
Limits caught: 11
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