Adams dominates Co-angler Division, wins $10,000 - Major League Fishing

Adams dominates Co-angler Division, wins $10,000

Bucyrus, Ohio, native takes co-angler crown by nearly 10 pounds
Image for Adams dominates Co-angler Division, wins $10,000
Jack Adams shows off his trophy and his check for $10,000. Photo by Brett Carlson. Angler: Jack Adams.
April 8, 2006 • Brett Carlson • Archives

TRENTON, Mich. – While the Pro Division conclusion was a nail-biter, there was little doubt as to who was king amongst the co-anglers at the season-opening Wal-Mart FLW Walleye Tour event on the Detroit River. After giant catches on both day two and day three, Jack Adams owned a commanding lead of nearly 20 pounds heading into the final day.

Jack Adams held on to his lead in the co-angler division, catching a four-day total weight of 77 pounds, 4 ounces.Adams of Bucyrus, Ohio, was paired with Dean Arnoldussen on day four and once again finished the day with favorable results. Even though the two only boated a pair of walleyes on Saturday, Adams finished with a four-day total of 77 pounds, 4 ounces which crushed his closest competitor by nearly 10 pounds.

Adams is no stranger to the tournament scene, having fished competitively with the Professional Walleye Trail many years ago. He jumped back in the game when he found out that FLW Outdoors pays co-anglers in cash, not prizes.

“I knew I had a pretty big lead coming into today,” said Adams. “I’d like to thank all my pros and the FLW, I just love his.”

Adams earned $10,000 for his win.

Jack Adams embraces his fiance after learning he took first place in the Co-angler Division.“This is something I’ve always wanted,” Adams said. “I grew up fishing and watching fishing shows on TV when I was a kid.”

Strissel stretches to second

Boyd Strissel placed second among the co-anglers with a total weight of 67 pounds, 14 ounces.Coming in second for the co-anglers was Boyd Strissel of Billings, Mont. Strissel started the day in third place and moved up one stop via a 21-pound, 2-ounce catch. He finished the tournament with 67 pounds, 14 ounces earning a purse of $7,000.

“I can’t believe it,” said Strissel. “I’ve had some good anglers and we’ve caught a lot of fish.”

Towle third

Tommy Skarlis and partner Julie Towle caught five walleyes on day four that weighed 17 pounds, 5 ounces. Each finished third in their respective divisions.Partnering with Tommy Skarlis on day four, co-angler Julie Towle of Glencoe, Minn., caught five walleyes that weighed 17 pounds, 5 ounces. Her five-fish limit moved her up five places to the third spot in her division. In total, Towle caught 13 walleyes that weighed 61 pounds, 13 ounces good for $3,500.

“This has been great,” Towle exclaimed. “I’ve been so nervous I was shaking when I woke up each morning. You should have seen me, I was a wreck.”

Adler rises to fourth

Adam Adler of Oconto Falls, Wis., was able to catch five walleyes on Saturday and rose to the fourth spot among the co-anglers with a total weight of 57 pounds, 13 ounces. Adler earned $2,500 for his fourth-place finish.

Steinke finishes fifth

Fifth place went to Justin Steinke of Birnamwood, Wis., who boated two walleyes that weighed 9 pounds, 1 ounce. His four-day total weight was 55 pounds, 8 ounces, which earned him a check for $2,200.

Rounding out the top 10 co-angler finalists at the FLW Walleye Tour event on the Detroit River:

6th: Darrell Diskey of Mount Zion, Ill., 49-7

7th: Mike Bentz of Brookville, Ind., 49-4

8th: Pat Chafe of Sarnia, Ontario, 48-10

9th: Tim Cigany of Cleveland, Ohio, 48-3

10th: Maurice Hall of Auburn Hills, Mich., 44-4

FLW Walleye Tour competition resumes May 3-6 on the Mississippi River in Red Wing, Minn.