Welch, Minn. – Pro Toby Kvalevog of Brainerd, Minn., and co-angler Cal Van Cleve of Wilmot, S.D., brought in five fish weighing 27 pounds, 7 ounces Thursday to lead day one of the FLW Walleye Tour Western Division tournament on the Mississippi River, where they are fishing pool no. 3. The pair now holds a 2-pound, 2-ounce lead over their closest rivals in the first Tour stop on the Western Division featuring 56 pros and 56 co-anglers from across the country fishing for top awards of $30,455 in the Pro Division and $5,398 in the Co-angler Division.
“It was a beautiful day on the water and I had a stick today in Cal [Van Cleve],” said Kvalevog. “[Cal] told me he couldn’t catch any fish with a jig and the first thing this morning he caught one jigging. I then asked him what else he couldn’t do and we would do it.
“I got [to my spot] this morning and there was already a boat there and I just adjusted and moved a ways away and luckily it ended up being the right spot. There were three boats, including myself, that stayed there all day. I just hope it stays that way and I can get to where I was.
“The fish bit off-and-on all day so hopefully I can get [to the same spot] tomorrow. Hopefully if I can’t get there, I can get somewhere where I can get a decent bag tomorrow. I don’t expect to get 27 pounds again, but I would certainly be happy with it.”
Kvalevog said he had limited preparations for this tournament. “I got on the water at 7 o’clock [Wednesday] morning and of course we had to be done at noon. I did come down a couple weeks ago and fish, and the water came up and was so much faster that all the stuff I was fishing, except for one spot, was no good.”
Rounding out the remainder of the top-10 pros and co-anglers after day one the Mississippi River are:
2nd: Steve Lotz, Lena, Ill.; Lance Bainville, Mounds View, Minn.; five fish, 25-5
3rd: Bill Shimota, Lonsdale, Minn.; Todd Dankert, Anoka, Minn.; five fish, 23-11
4th: Robert Bruegger, Wabasha, Minn.; Robert Dube, Williston, N.D.; five fish, 23-1
5th: Dusty Minke, Forest Lake, Minn.; Michael Dubois, Elk River, Minn.; five fish, 21-9
6th: Chevy pro Jason Przekurat, Stevens Point, Wis.; National Guard co-angler Daniel Halan, Rochester, Minn.; four fish, 21-2
7th: Chad Nissen, White Bear Township, Minn.; Jason Anderson, West Fargo, N.D.; five fish, 20-13
8th: Paul Meleen, Isle, Minn.; Larry Behsman, Elysian, Minn.; five fish, 18-10
9th: Richard Lowe, Soldiers Grove, Wis.; Bryan Bayerkohler, Eagan, Minn.; five fish, 17-0
10th: Brian Bjorkman, Fargo, N.D.; Boyd Strissel, Billings, Mont.; five fish, 15-11
Overall there were 214 fish weighing 589 pounds, 9 ounces caught by 54 boats Thursday. The catch included 30 five-fish limits.
In FLW Walleye Tour competition, pros and cos are also competing for valuable points in the hope of qualifying for a shot at the 2010 FLW Walleye Tour Championship held on Leech Lake in Walker, Minn., Sept. 23-25.
Anglers will take off from Treasure Island Resort Marina located at 5636 Sturgeon Lake Rd. in Welch at 7 each morning. Friday’s weigh-in will also be held at the marina beginning at 3 p.m. Saturday’s final weigh-in will be held at the Treasure Island Casino parking lot located at 5734 Sturgeon Lake Rd. in Welch beginning at 4 p.m. Prior to the final weigh-in, fans are encouraged to attend the free Family Fishing Clinic which will start at 2:30 p.m. in the Treasure Island parking lot. Children can get free rod and reels while supplies last, plus other great giveaways.
About FLW Outdoors
FLW Outdoors, named after Forrest L. Wood, the legendary founder of Ranger Boats, is the largest fishing tournament organization in the world offering anglers worldwide the opportunity to compete for millions over the course of 189 tournaments in 2010. FLW Outdoors has also taken fishing mainstream with FLW Fantasy Fishing awarding the largest prizes in the history of fantasy sports. FLW Outdoors memberships are available featuring numerous benefits including Player’s Advantage. For more information about FLW Outdoors and its tournaments, browsw FLWOutdoors.com or call (270) 252-1000. For more information about FLW Fantasy Fishing, visitFantasyFishing.com.