Hettenhaus reels in top co-angler prize in Wal-Mart RCL Walleye Championship

Co-angler Gary Hettenhaus (right) tries in vain to tell Operation Walleye official Charlie Evans that he is not nervous during the final weigh-in. Hettenhaus ultimately won the competition and a check for $120,000. Photo by Gary Mortenson. Angler: Gary Hettenhaus.

October 5, 2000 • Gary Mortenson • Archives

Illinois native leads Pro Division after day three

GREEN BAY, Wis. – Gary Hettenhaus of Fond Du Lac, Wis., weathered frigid winds, rough waters and an intense final-day weigh-in to capture the first-ever Wal-Mart RCL Walleye Co-Angler Championship and a check for $120,000.

And it appeared that Hettenhaus earned every penny.

With a recorded final-day weight of 17 pounds, 5 ounces, Hettenhaus braved gusting winds and temperatures that plunged to nearly 35 degrees – only to find himself in the midst of a gut-wrenching championship-day weigh-in.

Because Hettenhaus was one of the very first anglers to weigh in his fish in the all-important final, he was forced to stand by and watch in nervous anticipation as a parade of challengers strode to the podium with one goal in mind – to unseat the Wisconsin native from his tenuous first-place perch.

But it never happened.

One by one the challengers fizzled – leaving Hettenhaus all alone to claim the top co-angler prize of $120,000.

“It’s pretty exciting. In fact, it’s overwhelming,” said Hettenhaus, who feigned a heart attack in jest at one point during the weigh-in. “I never expected to finish in first place. My partner and I had a good start this morning and it held up. I owe a lot to these pros. Some of this money should be theirs.”

Due to the unique pro-am format, each co-angler was paired with at least two different pros throughout the tournament. All anglers were allowed to keep a maximum of three fish and each boating partnership was permitted to keep a total of five fish. Both the co-angler and the pro were allowed to each record the total weight of the catch as their own.

Co-angler Gary Reimer of Steinbach, Manitoba, who won $50,000 for his second-place finish, said he was thrilled not only with the outcome, but the with professionalism of his pro pairings.

“It’s amazing. I never expected this,” said Steinbach, who recorded a final-day catch of 15 pounds, 11 ounces. “I had the greatest week of fishing in my whole life. And the pros were fantastic. If they have another RCL tournament, I’m coming back for sure. This is great.”

Pat Kotowski of De Pere, Wis., took home a third-place prize totaling $13,600 for his 13-pound, 10-ounce catch.

Rounding out the top-12 co-angler field were: Darrell Charles of Sterling, Colo., (fourth); Jim Milewsky of Des Moines, Iowa, (fifth); Gary Darling of Fort Collins, Colo., (sixth); Gary Morris of Blaine, Minn., (seventh); John Zirzo of Fort Collins, Colo., (eighth); Val Labau of Miller, S.D., (ninth); Fritz Peterson of Sturgeon Bay, Wis., (tenth); Mike Buenting of Minneapolis, Minn., (eleventh); and Margaret Watson of Twin Falls, Idaho, (twelfth).

Hettenhaus’s partner, John Campbell of West Dundee, Ill., led the Pro Division after day three with a catch of 17 pounds, 5 ounces.

“Everything went right for us today,” said Campbell. “Going out with the cold front had me worried, but everything worked out great. I just hope this (first-place finish) happens again tomorrow. So far, the fish have been there for me. I just hope they stick around for one more day.”

However, if the weather continues to worsen, Campbell said that all bets are off.

“I’m going to see how the weather is tomorrow and then I’ve got to make a huge decision,” he said. “I have three really good spots, but picking between them is going to keep me up all night. With tomorrow’s three-fish limit, it’s going to be tough. You have to be more selective. We’ll just have to see what the wind is like and what the weather is going to bring.”

Pro Scott Glorvigen of Grand Rapids, Minn., was in second place after day three with a catch of 15 pounds, 11 ounces. Mike Gofron of Antioch, Ill., held onto third place with a catch of 13 pounds, 10 ounces.

The other three anglers who survived Friday’s cut were: Patrick Byle of Colgate, Wis., (fourth) with a catch of 13 pounds, 5 ounces; John Nelson of Wahkon, Minn., (fifth) with a catch of 12 pounds, 6 ounces; and day-two leader Jason Prezekurat of Stevens Point, Wis. All six anglers will fish in Saturday’s final round for the largest purse in the history of walleye fishing.

The championship weigh-in is scheduled for 3 p.m. in the Wal-Mart parking lot on Mason Street and can be seen on ESPN2 on Dec. 31.

The four-day Wal-Mart RCL tournament, named after Ranger, Lund and Crestliner boats, invited competition from anglers representing 21 states and Canada.

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