Merry Christmas, Gerud

Father of four finds fishing fortune on Leech Lake

WALKER, MInn. – Back in December, Gerud Hetland got an unexpected Christmas present from his wife and her parents: entry into the Co-angler Division of the Walmart FLW Walleye Tour tournament on Leech Lake.

When he finally took possession of his gift this week, the 38-year-old from Maple Grove, Minn., made the most of it, winning the Co-angler Division with 52 pounds, 6 ounces. That and the check for $6,200 far surpassed what Hetland expected to get here.

“My main goal coming into this was to learn how to catch fish better,” Hetland said. “I consider myself an average fisherman.”

Hetland couldn’t have had four better draws. He spent day one with Chris Gilman and pulled 14 pounds, 6 ounces, good for sixth place. On day two he went out with Tommy Skarlis, came back with 10 pounds, 5 ounces and moved up to fourth. Day three was spent with Tom Keenan, which landed him 11 pounds, 14 ounces and a berth in Saturday’s final round as the fourth-place co-angler with 36 pounds, 9 ounces.

And to prove that his good luck wasn’t over, today Hetland went out with pro winner Dan Stier. Now he’s on his way home to Maple Grove with his wife and four children and that big check.

“When I saw I was in the top 10,” Hetland said, “I knew I’d win something. But quite honestly I didn’t know there was money involved until the second day. I never looked how much. If I would have looked, I would have jinxed myself.”

Hetland had never fished Leech Lake before. He spends most of his fishing time on Little Pelican Lake near Detroit Lakes, Minn., where his family has a cabin.

Following this tournament success, it might be expected that Hetland will be back on the Walleye Tour again soon. But he has his priorities straight.

“Maybe when the kids are a little older, I’ll be back,” he said, pointing to a crib where two 14-month-old twins lay sleeping. Standing next to the crib were his 12-year-old son and 3-year-old daughter.

“He’s my fishing partner most of the time,” Hetland said, “and she’s probably next. Yeah, she’s dying to get out there.”

And when she does, she’ll learn a truth about fishing that her father learned at this tournament.

“Fishing is really very simple,” Hetland says. “It’s just a hook, a weight and a minnow. You have to find the fish and work them, but other than that, it’s simple.”

The advice is a simple but valuable gift to pass on to his children.

Best of the rest

2. Paul Doute Jr., Southgate, Mich., 46-9

3. Scott Perz, Crystal Lake, Ill., 46-9

4. Tim Renner, Spicer, Minn., 45-0

5. Justin Steinke, Birnamwood, Wis., 44-5

6. Larry Oleson, Wisconsin Rapids, Wis., 44-2

7. Brian Dembouski, Isle, Minn., 43-10

8. Darrell Martin, Forest Lake, Minn., 43-3

9. Jerome Meyer, Hutchinson, Minn., 41-1

10. Terry Reishus, Buffalo, Minn., 38-6