Mississippi machine

Ryan continues unprecedented tear on third day of Wal-Mart FLW Walleye Tour event

RED WING, Minn. – While Jeff Ryan is unquestionably a gifted walleye angler, he shouldn’t pursue an acting career as he isn’t much for drama. For the third consecutive day, the Lake View, Iowa, pro caught the heaviest limit among a field of 150 of the best walleye anglers in the world. His weight was so impressive, several fans attending the day-three weigh-in questioned whether the live leaderboard was broken.

Ryan boated a five-walleye limit weighing 28 pounds, 2 ounces, Friday bringing his three-day total to 81, pounds, 4 ounces. While 80 pounds for three days is a solid performance on Lake Erie, it is an absolutely unheard of feat on the Mississippi River. In fact, it already shattered the previous four-day weight record for an FLW Outdoors walleye event on the Mississippi River. The previous record weighed 55 pounds, 5 ounces, and was caught by Bruce Samson of Minnetrista, Minn., during the 2002 Wal-Mart FLW Walleye Tour Championship, which also launched out of Red Wing.

“I made a switch to a different bait yesterday, and it really paid off today,” Ryan said. “Our smallest walleye today was 23 inches long. I am stunned. It just feels unreal to put three days like this together.”

Regarding his Pool 4 area, Ryan said tons of fish gather just upstream to spawn and he’s found a deep depression where they rest as they filter downstream. Ryan caught three of his walleyes on day three, while his co-angler partner, John Herrmann of Birnamwood, Wis., caught the other two.

“We had five fish at 11 a.m. and we got two kickers a little later in the day.”

At the 2005 FLW Walleye Tour Championship, Ryan led after the opening day with a big sack of Mississippi River walleyes. Unfortunately, he was unable to boat another keeper after that. With only one day of competition remaining at this event, he may have already accumulated an insurmountable lead.

“This time around it’s been good to me all three days. I would take another 25 or 30 pounds tomorrow.”

If his current pace continues, Ryan might want to invest in a bigger net.

Allar executing in second

Scott Allar had yet another successful day and moved from fourth place to second place with a five-walleye limit weighing 21 pounds, 8 ounces.

Before his weight was officially punched in, Allar said, “I just hope I have the same lead for second that he (Ryan) has for first.”

The local pro from Welch, Minn., has had a nearly flawless tournament, yet it would take a miracle tomorrow to catch Ryan.

“We caught just five fish again today, one at the last minute,” said Allar, who has been trolling bright-colored Shad Raps in Pool 3. “He’s been too consistent. Even if I caught 25 pounds, he really doesn’t have to catch much.”

Allar instead will focus his efforts on retaining the second spot. “I’m worried; we’ve taken a lot of fish out of our spot. If it’s sunny tomorrow, that should really help the bite. The walleyes can see that much better when it’s sunny.”

McQuoid slips to third

Sharing water in Pool 3 with second-place pro Allar, Kevin McQuoid had his worst day of the tournament, boating four walleyes on day three that weighed 10 pounds even, bringing his opening-round total to 49 pounds, 1 ounce.

Dube fourth

Rising to fourth place was Brooklyn Park, Minn., native Chuck Dube. After bringing in 7 pounds, 14 ounces on day two, Dube was able to boat five walleyes that weighed 19 pounds, 12 ounces on day three.

“We got that big fish at 8:15 this morning,” said Dube, referring to his 9-pound, 10-ounce pig. “It felt great to get that kicker early.”

Dube is fishing the top of a current break with blue, No. 5 jointed Rapalas in an area in Pool 3 known as the Buffalo Slew. His opening-round total weight was 44 pounds, 3 ounces.

“I’ve been on some big fish all week. Previously in prefishing I got a 10 or 11-pounder up there. My bite really goes when it’s sunny out. I think first place is out of reach so I’m fishing for second.”

Kerr rallies for fifth

In fifth place was Jason Kerr of Holly, Mich., who caught five walleyes that weighed 25 pounds, 5 ounces. Kerr started the tournament by bringing in just 3 pounds, 4 ounces on day one. Demonstrating incredible resolve in a four-day tournament, Kerr fought back with a 15-pound, 1-ounce catch on day two to go along with his huge day-three bag.

“It has progressively gotten better,” said Kerr. “I could maybe get 30 tomorrow, but I’m looking to stay consistent. Guys are keying in and fine-tuning their presentations.”

He rose 48 places with his day-three performance and finished the opening round with 43 pounds, 10 ounces.

Rest of the best

Rounding out the top 10 pros who will be fishing on day four on the Mississippi River:

6th: Todd Riley of Amery, Wis., 42-14

7th: Steve Vande Mark of Linwood, Mich., 42-14

8th: James Adsem of Shorewood, Minn., 42-10

9th: Eric Olson of Red Wing, Minn., 40-1

10th: Nick Johnson of Elmwood, Wis., 40-0

Mazomanie mania

Gary Engberg of Mazomanie, Wis., leads the Co-angler Division with a three-day total of 15 walleyes weighing 59 pounds, 7 ounces. Engberg fished with fifth-place Kerr on day three, and together they brought in a limit of five walleyes weighing 25 pounds, 5 ounces.

Engberg and Kerr were handlining deep water in Pool 4 for their fish. “I’ve had great partners each day that put me on fish,” Engberg said. “They were nice to an old man.”

This is Engberg’s first season on the FLW Walleye Tour and he’s learned quite a bit in just two tournaments.

“I haven’t done the same thing on any day I’ve been out. I am really glad I came. I might have to fish a few more of these.”

Finishing the opening round in second place was Kristine Szczech of St. Paul, Minn. Szczech partnered with pro Eric Eichorn on day three and caught five walleyes that weighed 24 pounds, 4 ounces to push her total to 58 pounds, 14 ounces.

“Its amazing, for a co-angler to come here, you just never what to expect,” said Szczech.

Szczech said she and her partner used three-way rigs with leeches and willow cats to entice their fish.

“It was kind of slow to start, but then all of a sudden they started coming. I’m so excited. I just have to do the job and see what happens tomorrow.”

Co-angler Dave Dugall of Highland, Mich., caught five walleyes that weighed 18 pounds, 11 ounces, rising three places to third with a total weight of 51 pounds, 5 ounces.

Jerry Cassell of Lawton, Mich., claimed the fourth spot for the co-anglers with a combined weight of 47 pounds, 2 ounces.

Fifth place for the co-anglers went to Randy Mumm of Clear Lake, Iowa, for 44 pounds, 14 ounces.

Rounding out the top 10 co-anglers who will fish on day four on the Mississippi River:

6th: Jeff Sather of Montevideo, Minn., 43-1

7th: James Furutani of Winnipeg, Manitoba, 40-13

8th: Chris Pluntz of Maple, Wis., 39-6

9th: Cary Lodl of Scribner, Neb., 38-13

10th: David Woyak of Hartland, Wis., 38-10

The final day of FLW Walleye Tour competition on the Mississippi River begins as the top-10 pros and top-10 co-anglers take off from Colvill Park at 7 a.m. Central time Saturday. The final weigh-in will take place at 4 p.m. Central time from the Wal-Mart store located on Tyler Road in Red Wing.