RED WING, Minn. – Co-angler Kristine Szczech proved to be a good-luck charm all week. Her good fortune continued Saturday as the St. Paul, Minn., resident won the Co-angler Division of the Wal-Mart FLW Walleye Tour event on the Mississippi River with a four-day total of 18 walleyes, weighing 74 pounds, 12 ounces.
Szczech’s victory marked the first time in history that a woman has won an FLW Walleye Tour event. She trolled crankbaits in Pool 3 on the final day with second-place pro Scott Allar.
“It’s been a roller coaster, very exciting,” Szczech said after her win. “I was so down when I lost first place on day three, but Scott just said, `Don’t worry about it.’ My dad also told me not to worry about it, and my good friend, Karin Savik, who fishes the FLW Tour, was getting on me for wanting to give up yesterday.”
Szczech led the Co-angler Division on days one and two, but slipped to second at the end of day three. Luckily, she and Allar were able to put together a quality limit weighing 15 pounds, 14 ounces for Szczech to win by a 6-pound margin.
“I honestly didn’t think it was going to be enough to win. I got great guys to fish with all four days. I’m just thrilled.”
Szczech received $15,000 for her victory on Old Man River.
“My check will probably go to my fishing funds for the next tournament,” she said.
Dugall rises to second
Coming in second for the co-anglers was David Dugall of Highland, Mich. Dugall started the day in third place and moved up to second thanks to a 17-pound, 1-ounce catch. He finished the tournament with 68 pounds, 6 ounces, earning a purse of $9,500.
Engberg falls to third
Co-angler Gary Engberg of Mazomanie, Wis., fell two places with a 6-pound catch and finished in third. His four-day total weight was 65 pounds, 7 ounces, good for $3,500.
“It’s been a long road, but it’s well worth it,” said Engberg. “Every day we’ve done something different. I’ve been south, I’ve been north, I’ve handlined, and I’ve casted cranks.”
Sather takes fourth
Jeff Sather of Montevideo, Minn., was able to catch five walleyes Saturday, finishing in the fourth spot among the co-anglers with a total weight of 62 pounds, 7 ounces.
Sather’s fourth-place finish earned him $2,500.
Woyak finishes fifth
Fifth place went to David Woyak of Hartland, Wis., who boated five walleyes that weighed 20 pounds, 9 ounces. Woyak’s four-day total weight was 59 pounds, 3 ounces, which earned him a check for $4,000.
Rounding out the top 10 co-angler finalists at the FLW Walleye Tour event on the Mississippi River:
6th: Randy Mumm of Clear Lake, Iowa, 58-2
7th: Cary Lodl of Scribner, Neb., 58-1
8th: Jerry Cassell of Lawton, Mich., 50-1
9th: James Furutani of Winnipeg, Manitoba, 48-6
10th: Chris Pluntz of Maple, Wis., 43-2
With two of the four qualifying events completed, FLW Walleye Tour competition resumes June 7-10 on Devils Lake in Devils Lake, N.D.