Bissett, Scholle win Wal-Mart RCL Walleye League Super Tournament on Leech Lake

Boater Steve Bissett of Garrison, Minn., caught a two-day total of eight walleyes weighing 41 pounds, 10 ounces to claim victory at the RCL Walleye League Super Tournament presented by Evinrude held July 24-25 on Leech Lake near Walker, Minn.

July 25, 2004 • MLF • Archives

WALKER, Minn. – Boater Steve Bissett of Garrison caught a two-day total of eight walleyes weighing 41 pounds, 10 ounces to claim victory at the Wal-Mart RCL Walleye League Super Tournament presented by Evinrude held Saturday and Sunday on Leech Lake near Walker. Bissett earned $2,745 plus a $750 bonus for the win in the final Minnesota Division event of the season.

Bissett caught his walleyes in Walker Bay on rock humps in 24 to 34 feet of water.

Rounding out the top five boaters were Alan Sholts of Alexandria (10 walleyes, 36 pounds, 11 ounces, $1,525 plus $500 bonus); Harold Johnson of Fridley (nine walleyes, 33 pounds, 9 ounces, $1,372); Dan Lavrenz of St. Michael (nine walleyes, 29 pounds, 14 ounces, $1,220 plus $300 bonus); and Harv Lueck of Akeley (10 walleyes, 28 pounds, 14 ounces, $976).

Geoff Bradt of Osceola, Wis., who finished the event in 23rd place, won the 2004 points title in the Minnesota Division.

Mark Scholle of Chanhassen won the Co-angler Division with 10 walleyes weighing 39 pounds, 1 ounce. Scholle, who finished third in the 2004 Minnesota Division co-angler points standings, earned $1,373 plus a $250 bonus for the victory.

Rounding out the top five places in the Co-Angler Division were Wayne Ebnet of Holdingford (seven walleyes, 34 pounds, 10 ounces, $763); Kim Bain of Brisbane, Australia (10 walleyes, 32 pounds, 9 ounces, $686); Brett Roy of Chisago City (nine walleyes, 26 pounds, 9 ounces, $610 plus $125 bonus); Tom Berscheid of Avon (nine walleyes, 26 pounds, $397 plus $115 bonus); and Leonard Jamison of Hager City, Wis. (eight walleyes, 26 pounds, $397).

Todd Abel of Spring Park – who finished the tournament in eighth place – won the Minnesota Division’s co-angler points title.

Boaters and co-anglers who finish in the top 25 in final points standings in each RCL Walleye League division will advance to the $100,000 RCL League Finals Sept. 2-4 on Bays de Noc in Escanaba, Mich. 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.

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.

The Wal-Mart RCL Walleye League is administered by FLW Outdoors, the world’s leading marketer of competitive fishing. Other FLW Outdoors-sanctioned tournament trails include the Wal-Mart RCL Walleye Tour, the world’s most lucrative walleye-fishing series; the Wal-Mart FLW Tour, the world’s most lucrative bass-fishing series; the EverStart Series, designed as a pathway to the FLW Tour; the Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League for weekend anglers; and the Wal-Mart Texas Tournament Trail.

Wal-Mart and many of America’s most respected companies support FLW Outdoors and its six tournament trails. Wal-Mart has been the title sponsor of FLW Outdoors since 1997. For a complete list of FLW Outdoors sponsors and for more information about the premier products and services they offer, please visit FLWOutdoors.com’s sponsor page.

For more information about the Wal-Mart RCL Walleye League or to enter a tournament, call (270) 252-1000 or browse this Web site.