Riley racks up nearly 30 pounds, leads after frantic day on Devils Lake

Tight leaderboard materializes as 100 limits are registered on opening day

SPIRIT LAKE, N.D. – The first day of FLW Walleye Tour competition on Devils Lake was typical reservoir fishing as anglers were catching walleyes any way they wanted. While the 17-inch fish were eager to bite, the big ones proved difficult to come by. In total, 645 fish weighing 1828 pounds were brought to the scale Wednesday.

Pro angler Todd Riley was one of only a handful to locate the big females. The Amery, Wis. native caught five walleyes that weighed 29 pounds, 15 ounces. While many anglers caught dozens of fish, Riley claims that he and his partner Ken Kovack only had six bites all day.

“It was a nerve-wracking day,” said Riley. “We had very few bites, but the bites we had we got in the boat.”

Riley caught his fish with slip-bobbers and leeches as well as casting jigs. Like many others, he targeted underwater trees and noted the difficulty of immediately bringing the fish out of the treacherous structure. The seasoned veteran likened the angling on Devils Lake to bass fishing.

Riley is confident that his big fish were no accident, although he worries the weather conditions may alter his pattern.

“We were fishing a spot I located two days ago during prefishing,” he said. “It had the signs that they were actually living there. But we’ve got changing weather and that concerns me. My fish could disappear.”

Harsh sits in second

Pete Harsh caught five walleyes on day one that weighed 29 pounds, 13 ounces. Harsh said he is on a steady bite.

“We did a little better than we anticipated,” he said. “We’re working hard for every fish we get. I’m fishing a small area, but if anyone else tries to come in there won’t be enough fish.”

Harsh went on to predict that the weights are going to drop slightly in the days ahead.

“I still think 65-70 pounds will be good enough to make the top 10,” said Harsh.

Meravy third

Coming in third place was Mark Meravy. The Shorewood , Ill., native caught five stout walleyes that weighed in at 27 pounds, 7 ounces.

Larson fourth

In fourth place was Scott Larson, who also brought five walleyes to the scale. Larson’s fish weighed 27 pounds, 3 ounces.

“This is my biggest sack ever on Devils Lake and I fish this lake religiously,” said Larson. “We lost four fish in the wood today. It was crazy how aggressive the fish were. I just hope I can do it again tomorrow.”

Larson was running slip-bobbers along the tree line, utilizing the wind to cover a lot of area. He too believes that he has located resident fish.

Courts fifth

In fifth place was Mark Courts with five walleyes that weighed 27 pounds, 2 ounces. Courts said his day got off to a booming start.

“My first cast was a 4-pounder and then my partner caught a 7-pounder shortly after,” said Courts. “Patience is key here for the big fish.”

Rest of the best

Rounding out the top 10 pros on day one at Devils Lake:

6th: Don Denning of Fargo, N.D., five walleyes, 25-3

7th: Aaron McQuoid of Isle, Minn., five walleye, 24-9

8th: Travis Sanger of Pukwana, S.D., five walleyes, 24-2

9th: Carl Grunwaldt of Green Bay, Wis., five walleyes, 23-1

10th: Kevin McQuoid of Isle, Minn., five walleyes, 22-8

Kovack plays defense for Riley

On the co-angler side Ken Kovack enjoyed his experience fishing with Riley.

“Mr. Riley is a fishing machine,” said Kovack. “I caught a lot of northerns today. I guess I kept them out of the way for his walleyes.”

Kovack is participating in only the second tournament of his career. The Omaha, Neb. native is off to a good start with five walleyes that weighed 29 pounds, 15 ounces.

Second place on the co-angler side went to Brian Drake of Merrimac, Wis., for five walleyes weighing 29 pounds, 13 ounces.

Jason Treptau of Becker, Minn., placed third for the co-anglers with five walleyes weighing 27 pounds, 7 ounces.

Gary Chase of Fort Pierre, S.D., took fourth with five walleyes that weighed 27 pounds, 3 ounces.

Steven Maksymyk of Komarno, Manitoba grabbed the fifth spot with five walleyes weighing 27 pounds, 2 ounces.

Maksymyk also said the walleye angling on Devils Lake is similar to bass fishing.

“As soon as you get bit you’ve got to get them out of there.”

Rounding out the top 10 co-anglers on day one on Devils Lake:

6th: Mark Magness of Fargo, N.D., five walleyes, 25-3

7th: Mike Zawistowski of Wonder Lake, Ill., five walleyes, 24-9

8th: Lee Augustin of Crystal, N.D., five walleyes, 24-2

9th: Irene Jeffrey of Garrison, N.D., five walleyes, 23-1

10th: Terry Harland of Cando, N.D., five walleyes, 22-8

Day two of FLW Walleye Tour competition on Devils Lake begins as the field of 147 boats takes off from Spirit Lake Casino & Resort at 7 a.m. Central time Thursday for the second day of the opening round.