Adelmann wins RCL Walleye League Super Tournament on Leech Lake

Boater Steve Adelmann of Blaine, Minn., won the two-day RCL Walleye League Super Tournament held July 26-27 on Leech Lake. Adelmann caught 10 walleyes over two days that weighed 24 pounds, 12 ounces to claim his first RCL League victory at the Minnesota Division event.

July 27, 2003 • MLF • Archives

WALKER, Minn. – Boater Steve Adelmann of Blaine claimed $3,313 plus a $750 bonus as winner of the two-day Wal-Mart RCL Walleye League Super Tournament held this weekend on Leech Lake. Adelmann caught 10 walleyes over two days that weighed 24 pounds, 12 ounces to claim his first RCL League victory at the Minnesota Division event.

Adelmann caught his tournament-winning walleyes on a 1/16-ounce Northland jig in weedbeds in 3 to 7 feet of water. He caught five walleyes that weighed 13 pounds, 7 ounces Saturday to finish sixth and followed that up Sunday with another five walleyes that weighed 11 pounds, 5 ounces to win the tournament by a 1-pound, 15-ounce margin.

Rounding out the top five boaters were Bob Brunz of Madison Lake (10 walleyes, 22 pounds, 13 ounces, $1,893 plus $500 bonus); Ted Gwynn of Walker (10 walleyes, 22 pounds, 11 ounces, $1,420); David Nystrom of St. Paul (10 walleyes, 22 pounds, 4 ounces, $1,183 plus $300 bonus); and Hans Halvorson of Grafton, N.D. (six walleyes, 21 pounds, $947 plus $250 bonus).

Dan Severson of Amery, Wis., won the Co-angler Division and $1,420 thanks to a two-day catch of 10 walleyes weighing 27 pounds, 4 ounces. Severson led the Co-angler Division both days, catching five walleyes Saturday that weighed 15 pounds, 15 ounces and following that up Sunday with another five walleyes that weighed 11 pounds, 5 ounces. He caught his walleyes on jigs and Lindy rigs in the shallow weeds in 6 to 10 feet of water.

Rounding out the top five co-anglers are David Hanson of Baxter (10 walleyes, 23 pounds, 9 ounces, $947 plus $250 bonus); Nicole Bassing of Braham (10 walleyes, 22 pounds, 13 ounces, $710); Conrad Johnson of Fargo, N.D. (nine walleyes, 21 pounds, 15 ounces, $592 plus $150 bonus); and David Dalluge of Mason City, Iowa (eight walleyes, 18 pounds, 8 ounces, $473 plus $125 bonus).

Bonuses are awarded to boaters who are the registered owner of a Ranger, Crestliner or Lund boat and fish out of that boat during the tournament. Co-anglers earn bonuses if they are a registered owner of a Ranger, Crestliner or Lund.

Boaters and co-anglers who finish in the top 25 in final points standings in each RCL Walleye League division will advance to the $88,000 RCL League Finals Sept. 6-7 on Lake Okoboji in Spirit Lake, Iowa. The winning boater at the finals will receive an Evinrude-or Yamaha-powered Ranger, Crestliner or Lund boat. Every angler who receives weight credit in a tournament earns points, with 200 points awarded to the winner, 199 points for second, and so on, except for Super Tournaments, which award 300 points to the winner, 298 to second, and so on.

Rodney York of Centerville ranks first in 2003 Minnesota Division points standings with 674 for the season, and Jeff Bakken of Claremont earned No. 1 co-angler status with 659 points for the year.

Wal-Mart RCL Walleye League boaters and co-anglers fish together for a combined boat weight, with boaters competing against other boaters and co-anglers fishing against other co-anglers. The Wal-Mart RCL Walleye League meets the needs of America’s fishing masses by providing professionally administered, close-to-home, affordable events with lucrative cash purses.