FLW Walleye Tour Championship preview: Free from slot frustration
Top 50 walleye pros begin championship preparations
It’s been over three months since the final regular-season event of the Wal-Mart FLW Walleye Tour ended. When the fish-fest that was Devils Lake concluded in late June, the final standings were tallied and the top 50 walleye pros and top 50 co-anglers this season were established. While the season ended disappointingly for some, the fun has just begun for a select group of competitors. As the field begins to make its way to the Quad Cities, we check in for an early Mississippi River prefishing report.
The Mississippi River near Moline, Ill., offers vast walleye and sauger opportunities. While not quite as diverse as say, Devils Lake, the Mighty Mississippi still leaves plenty to ponder, even for the most prolific walleye anglers. FLW Walleye Tour anglers will be launching from Pool 16 and will have the option to lock downriver to Pool 17 or lock up to Pool 15 and Pool 14, the pool in which Nick Johnson claimed last year’s victory. As is always the case, locking is a gamble. But if last year’s championship taught us anything, it may be a gamble worth taking.
Prevailing patterns
According to several Old Man River veterans, heavy rainfalls in Minnesota led to uncharacteristically rising water last year, bringing with it large amounts of debris. The debris made it difficult for the bottom-feeding river walleyes to see many anglers’ presentations. This year the water levels are low, and maybe even too low. Problems arise when too little water results in a lack of current, which can scatter fish.
As a result, a prominent pattern may be jigging wing dams with willow cats. For those not as knowledgeable as a walleye pro, a willow cat is a rough minnow that resembles a small bullhead or catfish. Willow cats, also known as mud minnows or mad toms, are approximately 3 inches in length and stay on the hook and remain alive longer than a traditional minnow. Other patterns that are likely to emerge include trolling with leadcore line, using live-bait rigs such as bottom-bouncers and three-way rigs, as well as casting and trolling crankbaits.
Pro Tim Flynn says there are plenty of walleyes around, but the water is just too warm.
“Right now the surface temperature is 74 degrees,” said the Tea, S.D., native. “I think the fish are looking for more comfortable water, which will mean deep. It’s a real tough bite now. If the water cools off, the bite will get better. I think the next 10 days will be a real transition for this fishery.”
Chisago City pro Chris Gilman, who finished third in the points race, stated, “Certainly, trolling small Shad Raps will come into play for getting limits.”
Rule changes
Unlike last year’s championship, the slot limit requiring the immediate release of all walleyes between 20 inches and 27 inches has been lifted for this tournament. With anglers being able to keep any fish over 15 inches, the weights will undoubtedly be heavier than last year. In addition, with only 50 boats on the water, the lack of boat traffic will leave everyone with more room to operate.
Another new dynamic this year is that angling on the Iowa side of the Mississippi River is prohibited. On the surface it seems that having less water would be a major disadvantage, but with only 100 anglers, the Illinois waters should provide ample opportunity.
According to pro Jason Przekurat, most of the fishing last year took place on the Iowa side. “I’d guess the percentage of fishermen in Iowa waters to be around 80 percent last year,” said Przekurat.
“The flow of the river is just better in some places on the Iowa side,” Flynn added. “You have to forget where you fished last year and remember what you learned.”
Gilman echoed Flynn and Przekurat’s thoughts and said every fish he caught last year came from the Iowa side.
“Right now, I’ve heard the fishing is pretty tough,” said Gilman. “I still think the weights will be up slightly because people will be weighing in 4-pounders instead of 1 1/2-pounders. It will be difficult to get a limit each day, but I don’t think to make the top 10 you’ll need a limit each day.”
After a long layoff, Gilman is excited for the championship to get under way.
“I really like the tournaments where you have to work to get your fish,” Gilman said. “The better anglers typically rise to the top over the course of four days.”
Milestone for walleye angling
The $650,000 purse will make this the largest no-entry-fee championship ever held in the history of walleye fishing. Just for qualifying, each pro angler will take home a minimum of $1,350. The stakes get much higher though, as the winning pro angler has the opportunity to win as much as $125,000, while the winning co-angler can take home $22,000 in cash.
Pros and co-anglers are randomly paired each day and fish for a combined boat weight. Pros compete against other pros, and co-anglers compete against other co-anglers. The full field competes during the two-day opening round for one of 10 final-round slots based on their two-day accumulated weight. Weights are cleared for the final round, with the winning pro determined by the heaviest two-day total weight from days three and four. The co-angler winner is determined on day three based on the weight of that day’s catch.
Catch the action
Sunset Park on 18th Avenue in Rock Island will host daily 7 a.m. takeoffs throughout the event. Daily weigh-ins will be held at the Wal-Mart store located at 3930 44th Ave. in Moline beginning at 5 p.m. Central time. The community is invited to attend takeoffs and weigh-ins as well as the Family Fun Zone, which opens at 3 p.m. Friday and 1 p.m. Saturday outside the weigh-in tent at Wal-Mart. The Family Fun Zone features interactive displays, product samples and games for the entire family. All activities are absolutely free.
You can also catch all the weigh-in action at FLWOutdoors.com with FLW Live. The first weigh-in will be broadcast Wednesday, Sept. 27, at 5 p.m. Central time and will continue throughout all four days’ weigh-ins.