The Real Deal: Rookie PWT Pro Aaron Deal Remains On Top

Yesterday’s top weight was 19.22 pounds, brought in by Herman, MN’s Aaron Deal.

Today’s catch was a little smaller, but it was still enough to keep the humble but confident angler in the lead.

Aaron:  “The fish came slow and steady. That last fish we just couldn’t get, so we went 10 miles north, to a different spot…a spot where I had been catching just small fish, like 16-17 inchers, and at that point in the day, that sounded just fine to me”, Aaron said with a shrug and a smile. “So we went up there and got our one 16 ½ incher…fished some more… and, nothing. But, we had our 5th fish.

Four of the fish were perfect. We had a 24”, 22, 19 ½, 19, and then that one 16, or 16 ½ that cost me a good pound or more. Earlier in the day we did have two average 17 – 17 ½ inchers that we threw back. Kind of hurts, but that’s the way it goes, you know? All the “other” guys make mistakes like that too”.

WC: What does it feel like to be the “Rookie in the lead”?

Aaron:  “I don’t know…I’m kind of nervous…I’ve been losing a lot of tackle and sleep. I’ve been pulling crankbaits, and I’m down to only two left that work good, so I’m going to have to see if my friends have any I can borrow…that might get a little expensive though”, Aaron said laughing. “He’ll probably be able to name his price”.

WC: You said you didn’t get much sleep last night. Do you think it will be any better for you tonight?

Aaron: “I don’t know…I didn’t get much sleep last night…went to bed about 9 and I don’t know…I didn’t get much sleep. I hope it’s better tonight.

WC: What are you feeling emotionally? Are you excited?

Aaron: It’s an emotional roller coaster. I’ve never been through anything like this before. My other tournaments are only one day tournaments. You don’t prefish much… you go and have a good time, which I am, I’m having a good time here…but, that first day…I mean I prefished…I had some stuff going…and I didn’t have a fish in the boat until…it was 12:30!  And I still didn’t have a fish in the boat and I was feeling really bad. You know…come out HERE…put a lot of time into it, and I was just thinking… Man, if I blow today, the tournament’s done. You know, it’s over!

And then we got that 30 incher… and I couldn’t believe it! It was just unreal.

I feel I was lucky. I feel I was in the right spot doing the right thing, and that one fish put me in the lead.”

While Aaron works towards his first PWT win, there are some other PWT anglers ready and willing, and within striking distance, to take the win away from him.

Sitting in second place is veteran PWT Pro, Mark Martin, who brought in another consistent catch, with a 5 fish limit weighing in at 16.97 pounds, bringing his total weight to 33.22. He’s only .28 pounds behind the leader.

In third place is another Rookie Pro, but seasoned local tournament angler, Brent Beitelspacher, of Gettysburg, SD.

Brent brought in a nice basket weighing in at 16.94 pounds today, bringing his total to 31.95.

4th: Dave Anderson of Inver Grove Hts

5th: Joe Johnson of Casper, WY

6th: Rick Olson of Mina Lake, SD

7th: Jess Schilling of Akaska, SD

8th: Alan Sholts of Fort Pierre, SD

9th: Mike McClelland of Fort Pierre, SD

10th: Dave Atkinson of Sault St. Marie

(See the Live Leader Board for complete results)

*Payouts will go down 30 places

Mike McClelland had a very good first day, so I caught up to him after the weigh in to see how today compared to yesterday.

WC: Hi Mike, How was your day today?

Mike: “It was one of those days where nothing went quite right…we broke fish off, we lost fish, we threw the wrong fish back…just the opposite from the first day, when I couldn’t do anything wrong.

Overcome rods, going into the water, broken dip nets…no problem. Today was just backwards.”

WC: How do you think that will effect tomorrow?

Mike: “Tomorrow’s just a whole ‘nuther day. I don’t have a clue, um…I might go out and get lucky and catch a big fish at the right time, or maybe not…you never know.”

Dan Stier told a story on stage, prior to Mike McClelland weighing in…I believe this was the highlight of his day, so I wanted to share it with all of you on WC too.

WC: Dan, what’s the story behind your “big fish” today?

Dan: “We were going along and the am said he had a fish on, so I got ready with the net. He brought it up and it didn’t look like a walleye, the way it was fighting, so we got it up…netted it, and it looked like his line was in the mouth, because it had the same hook on it, and uh…I said he swallowed it so I’m going to cut the hook off, and my am said, “that ain’t my hook”…So, I said, “don’t let the line go…just pull up the rest of it”, and when he did, it had a rod and reel on the other end… and it was Mike McClellands, Dan said laughing. Mike lost it on day 1, and it still had a 19 inch fish on it.”

The weather today was typical of the Dakotas… sunny, warm, hot, cold, cloudy, rainy, and windy and not windy. The weather changes all day long out here. So, if you’re coming out to Mobridge, SD anytime soon, just remember to dress in layers, so you will be prepared for anything that Mother Nature will throw at you.

Tomorrow is the final day of the PWT Regional on Lake Oahe. The weigh in will start at 3PM Central Time.

Please join us here to watch your favorite anglers compete for the top prize tomorrow afternoon!