Pundits’ Picks Walleye: Mississippi River
Staff gets swept in opener, Harsh takes early lead
FLW Outdoors presents Pundits' Picks
The inaugural edition of Pundits’ Picks Walleye was an utter disaster. Not because of the inaccuracy of the picks, but because the Pro Division shockingly swept the Staff Division. The high-point winner was pro Pete Harsh, who sneakingly picked both of his fellow Pro Pundits. Lo and behold, those two actually caught some fish, enough in fact to cash nice checks and give Mr. Tiller the early Pundit lead.
But one tournament does not a season make. Just ask any veteran: It’s not where you start, it’s where you finish. With that in mind, I’m predicting a bounce-back performance for the Staff Division in this event. I’m extra confident because two of the staffers grew up in the walleye-rich state of Minnesota: Mark Dorn, Mr. Operations himself, and yours truly.
Last thing, the disclaimer: The picks in this column in no way represent any sort of favoritism on the part of FLW Outdoors staff or its pro anglers. These are merely guesses – only arguably educated – as to who we think might do well at any given tournament. With that in mind, here are the river rats, errr the picks. Enjoy.
– Brett Carlson
Tournament site
Stop No. 2 on the 2007 Wal-Mart FLW Walleye Tour takes us west to the friendly confines of the Mississippi River near Red Wing, Minn. Much like last year, this event promises to be a postspawn slugfest with hungry females on the attack. Last year, pro Jeff Ryan shocked the walleye world by catching nearly 90 pounds over four days of competition. In fact, Ryan had already logged 81 pounds, 4 ounces after day three. While 80 pounds for three days is a solid performance on Lake Erie, it is an absolutely unheard of feat on the Mississippi River. Never before in the history of the Walleye Tour has the outcome of an event already been decided after the opening round. Even with that dominating performance fresh in their minds, not a single pundit on either the staff or the pro side picked young Ryan. This is likely because all his fish came from the Vermillion River, a well-known, well-traveled Mississippi River honeyhole. While this tiny spot went largely ignored last year, most expect plenty of company this time around. The good news is that both sides of the river and Lake Pepin will be in play, meaning the 150-boat field will be able to comfortably spread itself out.
Wal-Mart FLW Walleye Tour stop No. 2
Mississippi River, Red Wing, Minn.
May 2-5
Rick LaCourse FLW Walleye Tour pro Port Clinton, Ohio
Record: 1-0 Points: 536 |
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Brett Carlson Editor FLWOutdoors.com
Record: 0-1 Points: 526 |
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1) JASON PRZEKURAT.I have to pick one of my Detroit guys again, and the Chevy Pro is as versatile as they come. Jason is a well rounded and consistent angler who knows the river well and has won major events there in the past. Look for Jason to be in the top 10 come Saturday. |
2) SCOTT ALLAR.I would be a fool not to pick the local favorite for this event. Scott has had success in past events held in Red Wing, including two championships. Whether it’s jigging or a crankbait bite, Scott knows the ever-changing mood of the walleye in Red Wing and can adapt to those changes in a timely fashion. |
3) ERIC OLSON.Look for the local Butter Boy to pull out all the stops at this event, as he goes for a second straight top-10 finish on his home waters. The Land O’Lakes angler is a wiz at everything from handlining and jigging to pulling leadcore. Along with Przekurat, the two of them won a major walleye championship on this pool a few short years ago. |
4) BILL ORTIZ.They don’t fish any better than Mr. Ortiz. Billy is strong competition when it comes to the mighty Mississippi River. To me, he’s probably the No. 1 all around fisherman on the circuit today. After a top-20 finish at the season opener on the Detroit River, he’s going to be tough to beat at Red Wing. Look for him to work his magic with both jigs and crankbaits. There isn’t a technique that the Ranger/Evinrude isn’t comfortable with, so he’s likely to pull some of that magic out of his hat next week. |
5) JERRY HEIN.Hein’s a Minnesota boy who is long overdue. Very few people know Pools 3 and 4 better than Jerry. Watch this guy closely, because he’s liable to bring in some impressive weights next week. Jerry can pull cranks with the best of them, and jigging is second nature, so he’s another angler who has what it takes to win. Jerry has won an FLW event in the past, so look for him to be hungry for another. And what could be better than doing it on your favorite water? |
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1) SCOTT ALLAR.No offense to last year’s pro winner Jeff Ryan, but Allar fished a flawless tournament a season ago and took second. What Ryan did was absolutely unheard of for the Mississippi River. I guarantee that if Allar pulls another 73 pounds like he did last year, he will earn $100,000 and his first Walleye Tour victory. I hate to even bring it up, but Allar has basically cornered the market on second place, finishing in that spot three times, two of which were at the championship. |
2) NICK JOHNSON.Other than Allar, perhaps no angler has had as many top finishes on the Mighty Miss than Johnson. The difference between the two is that Johnson has already sealed the deal. In 2004, he won the Walleye Tour Championship on this very same body of water – albeit downstream in the Quad Cities. Last year, the Castrol pro took fifth and was steadily improving each day. Look for another big payday from the Elmwood, Wis., native. |
3) TODD RILEY.Last year he did it mainly with saugers, but Riley can catch the walleyes too. A tournament veteran, Riley is the only angler of the five that isn’t a true local. He lives in Amery, Wis., about an hour away from Red Wing. Still, he’s had amazing success with river systems, including a fourth-place finish last year, and there’s no reason he shouldn’t continue that trend. |
4) JARRAD FLUEKIGER.Nobody spends more time on this stretch of the river than Fluekiger – whether it is for guiding, recreational fishing or tournament fishing. Fluekiger’s strength is wing dam fishing. If the water level is just right and the wing dams are hot, Fluekiger will be hoisting a winner’s check worth $100,000. Willow cats anyone? |
5) SCOTT FAIRBAIRN.With apologies to Tom Keenan, Rick Nascak and Eric Olson, Fairbairn rounds out my top five. A threat on any body of water, Fairbairn lives right on the river in Hager City, Wis. One of the best jig sticks around, Fairbairn took third at the Detroit River and will continue that success at stop No. 2 on the Walleye Tour. |
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Eric Olson FLW Walleye Tour pro Red Wing, Minn.
Record: 1-0 Points: 555 |
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Sharon Reynolds Tournament administrator FLW Outdoors
Record: 0-1 Points: 502 |
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1) SCOTT ALLAR.Scott is kind of like the Superman of the Mississippi River. By day, he is a quiet, mild mannered business guy. By tourney, he becomes a mild mannered, fish-catching machine. This guy has to be the calmest, coolest, most versatile, unshakeable guy fishing the circuit today. This year, knowing key locations and how long to sit on them will be a major factor as fish will be on the move. Calm, cool, collected and knowing every technique in the book will win this tourney. Scott, nice guys have finished second for the last time. |
2) NICK JOHNSON.Nick is a fast thinking, out of the box slick stick. What else can you say about the Castrol pro? His river performances have been exceptional. Having grown up on the river his wealth of knowledge in transitional periods will give him a distinct edge on the field. Coming off a disappointing Detroit finish, he’ll be hungry for a top spot on the Big Muddy. |
3) RICHARD NASCAK.The Norsky Nascak is my pick for the wing dam man of the Mississippi. I know there are several others that are just as adept at the wing dam bite but I think Rick’s confidence from the championship win will really push him to excel in this area. Another river rat, Rick knows the river like the back of his hand, which will be key in locating the huns; I mean the walleyes as they move down from the spawning areas. Changing water levels and traffic will dictate success for Rick and the wing dam gang. |
4) JASON PRZEKURAT.Sometimes you’ve just got to pick what you know. Jason brings advantages to this tourney in the fact that he has an open mind. He also has the ability to switch to the right technique at the right time and be at the right place. None of the other picks in this group handline and that adds another tool to get a limit in a tough bite when everyone else may be doing the same thing. Not being a local favorite also allows him to not get caught up with the home water rut. |
5) TODD RILEY.A solid contender for years on this body of water, Todd knows the slight innuendos that make for a solid limit in even the toughest bites. Fishing away from the pack, Todd seems to find the right fish at the right time. Big saugers were the rule of the day last year; look for more of the same from Todd in this one. A former motorcycle drag racer, he’s got the nerve, the talent and experience – making him a solid pick for another Wal-Mart appearance on Saturday. |
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1) SCOTT ALLAR.What can I say about Scott that has not all ready been said? He is a great fisherman and a gentleman too. As I did some checking back on Scott he has had some great tournaments on the river and is due for a win. This one might just be it. As we say here at home, Scott is one of those river rats. |
2) TOM KEENAN.Over time, the Mississippi River has been very good to Tom including a championship win in 2003. I know that Tom will be a top-10 contender. Don’t count him out, I’m certainly not. |
3) RICHARD NASCAK.This pick for me is a no brainer. Richard is a FLW Walleye Tour champion and a hometown pick to win. Very consistent, he knows the river and is one not to be overlooked. |
4) DENNIS LANTZY.Just an all around great fisherman. Lantzy is very versatile and especially deadly in rivers. Denny will be in the top 10 at this tournament. He knows what he has to do on this body of water. |
5) RICK LACOURSE.This is my sleeper pick. Bigfoot is no doubt one of the greatest river fishermen that I know. He knows this system just as well as the locals. Rick has had some trouble lately but he is due and I think this year and this tournament could be it. Shoot, he taught me how to handline here, and yes, I did put more fish in the boat than he did. Just ask him about the song. Ha! |
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Pete Harsh FLW Walleye Tour pro Sauk Centre, Minn.
Record: 1-0 Points: 564 |
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Mark Dorn Director of Operations FLW Outdoors
Record: 0-1 Points: 512 |
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1) NICK JOHNSON.All five picks of my picks are veteran, experienced, local anglers familiar with the Mississippi river system and its changing conditions. Combined, these five have successfully fished and won a number of tournaments out of the Red Wing-Lake Pepin area. Any one of the five are very capable of winning on this water and will be hard to beat. Johnson fits this bill and has a proven record of winning on this system. |
2) SCOTT ALLAR.Mr. Consistent on the Mississippi. Scott will be tough. |
3) RICHARD NASCAK.As good as there is at Red Wing and a few other places too, I might add. |
4) SCOTT FAIRBAIRN.Home-water advantage and coming off a strong finish at Detroit. Don’t count Faibairn out on this one. |
5) TODD RILEY.Todd is due for another win, and this Red Wing FLW Walleye Tour could be the one. |
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1) SCOTT FAIRBAIRN.Scott is due on his home water. His solid third-place finish on the Detroit River indicates he’s back in the groove. |
2) PETE HARSH.Always a threat on a finesse and boat-control bite. It will take big fish each day to make the cut in this one and Pete is one of the best pros at sticking to a game plan. His patience will prevail. |
3) STEVE DELAIN.Steve is a “homer” who has improved his game every year. He is versatile and will be able to sort out the bite as the tournament progresses. Conditions change fast on the Mighty Miss and Delain is one of the few capable of changing with them. |
4) PATRICK NEU.Pat is a threat to win every time he gets in the boat. If the trolling bite surfaces as the main presentation, he should factor into the 10-boat cutoff. |
5) BILL ORTIZ.A Ranger/Evinrude pro whose versatility should zero him in on the winning pattern. If the jig bite emerges, he’ll be in the hunt. |
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