Fallaw fills in at crucial time, wins $13,800
Illinois resident crushes FLW Walleye Tour co-angler field by 11 pounds, 10 ounces
PORT CLINTON, Ohio – Co-angler Joseph Fallaw retained his lead on the final day of the Wal-Mart FLW Walleye Tour event on Lake Erie by catching five walleyes that weighed 29 pounds, 10 ounces. None were more important than his 9-pound, 5-ounce kicker fish that was caught while his partner was, shall we say, minding his business.
Fallaw described the comical incident in detail: “During our first or second run, his rod moved just slightly to the left. I look over and he’s going to the bathroom. The fish hit, so I set the hook but the fish came off. Then we dropped the board back in the water and he hit it again. We brought him in by just one barb of the treble hook.”
Fallaw’s four-day combined weight was 92 pounds, 15 ounces, which was the highest total weight regardless of division.
Fallaw said he has ambitions of one day fishing on the pro side. “I’m working on being a pro in a year or two. I’ll be fishing against these guys rather than with them.”
The McHenry, Ill., native now has an extra $13,800 to use for his new angling venture.
Todd happy in second place
Coming in second for the co-anglers was Dale Todd of Janesville, Wis. Todd and his partner, Russ McDonald, caught fish all day and finished with 27 pounds even. His four-day total weight was 81 pounds, 5 ounces. His efforts earned him total winnings of $4,850.
“Russ really had it going today,” said Todd. “I learned a lot of different techniques with a lot of different pros.”
Maix takes third
Co-angler Daniel Maix of Oregon, Ohio, caught five walleyes that weighed 22 pounds even, as he moved up two places to third. His four-day total weight was 70 pounds, 15 ounces, which qualified him for a $3,350 check.
Coyer fourth
D
an Coyer of Plymouth, Ind., was also able to move up two places among the co-anglers with a 23-pound, 4-ounce catch Saturday. Coyer earned $2,400 for his fourth-place finish.
“I can’t thank (my partner) Pat enough,” said Coyer. “I had a ball today. I need to go home and write down everything I learned before I forget it.”
Rost finishes fifth
Fifth place went to Corey Rost of Madison, S.D., who boated five walleyes that weighed 22 pounds, 11 ounces. Rost was yet another co-angler to move up two places. His four-day total weight was 66 pounds, 11 ounces, which earned him a check for $2,100.
Rounding out the top 10 co-angler finalists at the FLW Walleye Tour event on Lake Erie:
6th: Michael Watson of Spirit Lake, Iowa, 65-2
7th: Bruce Brasser of Rockford, Mich., 63-2
8th: Jeff Sather of Montevideo, Minn., 61-14
9th: Dean Holden of Red Wing, Minn., 58-15
10th: Justin Steinke of Birnamwood, Wis., 42-5
FLW Walleye Tour competition resumes May 18-21 on Green Bay in Green Bay, Wis.