Filkins jumps to top spot at FLW Walleye Tour Championship on Leech Lake
Hiller wins co-angler title becoming first two-time co-angler champion
WALKER, Minn. – Pro Terrence Filkins of Lake City, Minn., and co-angler Jason Anderson of West Fargo, N.D., caught four walleyes weighing 6 pounds, 13 ounces Friday to put Filkins into the lead after day three of the FLW Walleye Tour Championship on Leech Lake. Filkins has a three-day catch of 11 walleyes weighing 35-5 and a slim 5-ounce lead over second place going into the final day of competition. Anglers from 12 states and Canada are fishing for top awards of up to $40,000 in the Pro Division and up to $12,000 in the Co-angler Division.
“I went to my A-spot and grinded it all day,” said Filkins, who could win the championship in his first year on tour. “The first two days I left the spot to chase unders [14-18 inches] and I told myself I was not going to do that today. I was just going to sit there. I figured today I just needed the one over [26 inches or larger], which is all we were allowed, and I figured I could get it. They are there and the marks are there. The first two days, the overs were a foot to a foot-and-a-half off bottom, but today they were tight to the bottom.”
Filkins said he is planning on the same attack the final day at the same spot rigging the same way. “Nothing will change. After three days and leading, I am going to grind it out there and what happens happens. I am a little nervous but it is pretty exciting to be in the lead with one day left.”
Rounding out the top-10 pros are:
2nd: Chris Gilman, Chisago City, Minn., 14 walleyes, 35-0
3rd: Paul Meleen, Isle, Minn., 10 walleyes, 31-6
4th: Pat Byle, Colgate, Wis., 10 walleyes, 30-9
5th: National Guard pro Mark Courts, Harris, Minn., 14 walleyes, 29-11
6th: Dean Arnoldussen, Appleton, Wis., 13 walleyes, 27-1
7th: Scott Steil, Richmond, Minn., 14 walleyes, 26-13
8th: Brian Brosdahl, Max, Minn., 12 walleyes, 22-5
9th: Don Loch, Iron Mountain, Mich., 10 walleyes, 20-0
10th: Kevin Merrill, Pierre, S.D., seven walleyes, 18-7
Matt Hiller of Grand Rapids, Mich., took home the Co-angler title earning $6,523 and making him the first two-time co-angler champion in FLW Walleye Tour history. Hiller weighed in 14 walleyes weighing 33-11 over the three days of competition. Hiller fished with pros Merrill on day one, Loch on day two and Gilman on day three.
“Two-time champion feels pretty good. I can win championships, but I can’t win anything else,” said Hiller. “Being eight pounds out of it this morning, I did not expect, knowing that Chris [Gilman] is a great angler, eight pounds is just a lot to overcome; especially only being able to weigh four fish today.”
Rounding out the top-10 co-anglers are:
2nd: Darrell Martin, Forest Lake, Minn., 12 walleyes, 31-13, $2,048
3rd: Jason Anderson, West Fargo, N.D., 14 walleyes, 31-11, $2,518
4th: Cal Van Cleve, Wilmot, S.D., 10 walleyes, 28-11, $2,107
5th: Peggy Severson, Fort Pierre, S.D., 13 walleyes, 28-11, $1,300
6th: Todd Dankert, Anoka, Minn., 11 walleyes, 27-1, $650
7th: Ted Kaminski, Saint Anthony, Minn., 11 walleyes, 26-0, $896
8th: Larry Oleson, Wisconsin Rapids, Wis., 10 walleyes, 22-6, $685
9th: Kyle Schuchard, Essex, Ont., 12 walleyes, 21-6, $605
10th: Bryan Bayerkohler, Eagan, Minn., nine walleyes, 18-15, $250
Overall there were 26 walleyes weighing 49 pounds, 12 ounces caught by eight boats Friday. The catch included four four-walleye limits.
In FLW Walleye Tour competition, pros and co-anglers are randomly paired each day and fish for a combined boat weight.
Anglers will take off from Walker City Park located on Minnesota Ave. in Walker at 7:30 Saturday morning. Saturday’s championship weigh-in will be held at the Northern Lights Casino, host of the championship, located at 6800 Y Frontage Rd. N.W. in Walker beginning at 4 p.m. Fans can enjoy a free Family Fun Zone beginning at 1 p.m. and the first 100 kids 14 and under will receive a voucher for a free rod and reel that will be given away following the weigh-in.
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, browse FLWOutdoors.com or call (270) 252-1000. For more information about FLW Fantasy Fishing, visit FantasyFishing.com.