Oye and Rime win Soldier Tournament on Leech Lake
WALKER, Minn. – Sgt. 1st Class Eric Oye, Round Lake, Minn., and Staff Sgt. Steven Rime, Willmar, Minn., won the National Guard FLW Soldier Appreciation Tournament held on Leech Lake Saturday. The team, fishing with Eggo pro Brian Brosdahl of Max, Minn., caught three walleyes for a total of 16 pounds, 12 ounces to take the title and bragging rights amongst their peers.
“What a fantastic day,” said Staff Sgt. Rime. “Bro was a great guide. He said he would put us on 
some fish and he did. It was just a great experience and we had a lot of fun.”
“Fishing is a lot better here than in Jackson, Minn.,” said Sgt.1st Class Oye. “We were catching fish all day long and had a ball.”
Each of the participants in the National Guard FLW Soldier Appreciation Tournament are members of the Minnesota National Guard and most have had at least one tour of duty in Iraq or Afghanistan. In this tournament, National Guard FLW Tour pro anglers took teams of two, which consist of members of the National Guard, fishing to compete amongst their peers. Each team was allowed to bring in three walleyes. FLW Outdoors is operating the tournaments in conjunction with the National Guard to show appreciation to our service members of the National Guard.
“I was mad at `em today,” said Brosdahl about the three overs they brought to the scales. “These guys were real hookers, I think they should both get on the tournament trail. What a blast we had and what an honor it was for me to take them out fishing.”
A total of 19 service men, 10 teams, participated in the tournament. Rounding out the teams was:
2nd: Spc. Jim Gilsrud, White Bear Lake, Minn., and Staff Sgt. Michael Stanek, Brainerd, Minn., with pro Toby Kavelevog, Brainerd, Minn., 9-8
3rd: Staff Sgt. Ted Berg, Hanska, Minn., and Staff Sgt. Josh Truman, New Market, Minn., with pro Terrence Filkens, Lake City, Minn., 8-0
4th: Col. Scott St. Sauver, Little Falls, Minn., and Maj. Troy Fink, Minneota, Minn., fishing with pro Scott Steil, Richmond, Minn., 6-3
5th: Sgt. 1st Class Erik Beitel, Glyndon, Minn., and Sgt. Zach Lee, Zimmerman, Minn., with pro David Kolb, 4-12
6th: Sgt. 1st Class Phil Kelly, Maplewood, Minn., and Staff Sgt. Joseph Hill, Woodbury, Minn., with Walmart pro Dean Arnoldussen, 2-4
6th: Master Sgt. Leroy McCoy, Fridley, Minn., with Chevy pro Jason Przekurat, Stevens Point, Wis., 2-4
8th: Sgt. 1st Class Jason Brekke, Duluth, Minn., and Staff Sgt. George Foote, Duluth, Minn., with EverStart pro Dan Stier, Mina, S.D.,1-8
9th: Sgt. 1st Class Anthony Mastin, Detroit Lakes, Minn., and Sgt. 1st Class Raymond Priem, Detroit Lakes, Minn., with AMP/Diet Mountain Dew pro John Balla, 1-4
10th: Sgt. 1st Class Bryon Robin, Elk River, Minn., and Sgt. Thomas Stoffel, Isanti, Minn., with pro Glenn Vinton, Winona, Minn., 0-14
The Soldier Appreciation Tournament was held in conjunction with the National Guard FLW Walleye Tour on Leech Lake presented by Mercury and hosted by Northern Lights Casino.
For complete details and updated information visit FLWOutdoors.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow us on Facebook at Facebook.com/NationalGuardFLWFishing and on Twitter at Twitter.com/FLWOutdoors.
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