FLW Walleye Tour-Cass Lake, MN
June 11th-14th, 2008 / Day 1PM
Story and Photos by: Julia “Juls” Davis

Ranger/Evinrude Pro Tony Renner, of Hutchinson, MN and his Co Angler, Josh Johnson, of Fargo, ND lead the field with 16.14 pounds after day one!

Juls: Tony, What’s it feel like to be in first place after day 1?

Tony: “It feels great! You know, with these weather conditions, we were really hoping to just get a 12-15 pound limit, and picking them up the way we did…uh, we’re real happy.”

“Mr. Tiller”, Pete Harsh, and his Co Angler, Larry Behsman, of Elysian, MN are only eight ounces behind with a 5 fish limit weight of 14 pounds 6 ounces.

Juls: Pete, how does it feel to come in the first day with an enviable weight of over 16 pounds?

Pete Harsh Pete: Actually it feels a little surprising. You know we got a nice “kicker fish” of 28 inches. That bite… I hadn’t had all week and all of the sudden, there it was! So we were real happy and a little bit surprised. I thought I could do maybe 12-13 on the kind of fish I was catching…he (referring to Larry, his Co Angler) caught over a 28 incher and now we got over 16. (He smiles and adds) And, it helps to have a tiller …when everybody else leaves the spot, because they can’t move anymore, and the fish are biting.”

Today’s weather was foul to say the least.

Many anglers commented on stage, that they thought they were fishing a tournament in June, “not April”.

Laughing, one un-named Pro said, “I’m so cold my butt cheeks are shivering”!

Rick LaCourse was overheard telling another Pro, “I started shaking from the cold about an hour after I started this morning and I never stopped. I wasn’t prepared for these extreme conditions in the middle of June…I didn’t pack any long underwear! I don’t know how many fish I missed due to not being able to feel the light bite”.

About an hour after take off this morning the rain started falling and it continued to fall all day long.

Weather Map While the forecasters claimed it would be breezy and 63 degrees, it was, in reality, a chilly 49 degrees, and blowing 25-35mph out of the East with gusts to 50mph.

Luckily the weigh in ended shortly before a heavy down pour, and predicted severe weather. Needless to say, everyone cleared out as quickly as possible.

Rounding out the top 5 places:

3rd Place: Ranger/Evinrude Pro, Scott Stiel, of Richmond, MN and Co Angler, Bob Schultz, of Marietta, GA with a 5 fish limit weighing in at 15.6 pounds.

4th Place: Carl Adams Jr., of Blackduck, MN and Co Angler, Chuck Jones of Michigan City, IN with a 5 fish limit of 15 pounds even.

5th Place: Reggie Thiel, of LaPorte, MN and Co Angler, Boyd Strissel, of Billings, Mt with 5 fish weighing in at 14.14 pounds.

For the full results, please see the Live Leader Board / Cass Lake event.

Join us here again tomorrow afternoon for the second day of the FLW Walleye Tour!