Nascak nabs early lead on Detroit River
Bitter cold front weakens bite as anglers scramble to adjust
TRENTON, Mich. – Pro angler Richard Nascak is proof that enduring eight hours of wind and cold can be quite rewarding. On a day in which the vast majority of the field struggled, the Winona, Minn., pro boated five walleyes that weighed 22 pounds, 5 ounces to take a convincing lead in the season-opening Wal-Mart FLW Walleye Tour event on the Detroit River.
Only 41 limits were brought to the scale Wednesday, and many of those fish were small males. Overall, 361 fish that weighed just over 886 pounds were caught.
Nascak credits his experience on the Mississippi River near his home for his success on day one. He noted the importance of understanding the flow of the river, which he described as comparable to the Mighty Miss.
“It feels good, but the fishing was much worse today,” Nascak said. “We were actually expecting better results. During prefishing, we hit a lot of fish on either the first or second pass, and then we just laid off them.”
Curiously tight-lipped about his location and presentation, Nascak would only allow that he was jigging with plastics in 17 to 26 feet of water.
“Tomorrow the southern end might really turn on. I’d be happy with 22 pounds again tomorrow.”
Allar hog hunting in second
In second place is Welch, Minn., pro Scott Allar. Despite only boating three walleyes, Allar currently sits just behind the leader with 20 pounds, 2 ounces.
While many pros opted to first catch a small limit, Allar spent the entire day searching for big females.
“We had the fourth up to the boat, but she came off,” Allar said.
Just like Nascak, Allar considers the Mississippi River near Red Wing, Minn., to be his home body of water. Fishing downriver in 12 feet of water, he jigged with both minnows and plastics to entice his bites.
“We know we’re on big fish, but we were fortunate because a lot of people in the same area struggled. If I can catch four or five fish, they’re all going to be big. I’m pretty confident that I can catch a few. That’s the plan anyway, but it doesn’t always work out that way.”
Morris third
In third place is Bismarck, N.D., native Troy Morris, who caught three walleyes that weighed in at 16 pounds, 2 ounces. Morris said he caught his first walleye at about 8:30 a.m. with a jig and a night crawler.
“After that first fish, the mud moved in pretty heavy, so we decided to go handlining,” explained the Ranger pro.
Morris said he caught the remaining two fish on bright-colored crankbaits worked over steep breaks.
“The bite wasn’t good to begin with, but the cold front has made it worse. Right now, one fish can bump you up a long ways.”
Morris continued, “I think we were just working the right structure; it’s a big-fish spot. We’ve got a lot of confidence in our spot, and we just stuck with it.”
Sak, Swank tie for fourth
Mark Sak of Imlay City, Mich., and Darold Swank of Pierre, S.D., each brought in sacks weighing 14 pounds, 14 ounces, which were good for a fourth-place tie.
Sak and his partner, Richard Ness, caught three monsters by handlining upriver. Sak explained that these river fish begin shallow and work deeper as the day goes on.
“This river is going to turn on shortly; there’s a lot of fish coming in,” Sak said.
Swank’s boat, on the other hand, caught a five-walleye limit by jigging with a minnow.
Rest of the best
Rounding out the top 10 pros on day one on the Detroit River:
6th: Kannon Kares of Eaton Rapids, Mich., two walleyes, 14-8
7th: Tim Flynn of Tea, S.D., two walleyes, 14-5
7th: Michael Miller of Grosse Ile, Mich., three walleyes, 14-5
9th: Tommy Skarlis of Dorchester, Iowa, five walleyes, 14-2
10th: Dustin Kjelden of Brookings, S.D., five walleyes, 13-6
10th: John Renschen of Red Wing, Minn., five walleyes, 13-6
10th: Joe Whitten of Toledo, Ohio, two walleyes, 13-6
Dahl enjoys early success
On the co-angler side, Charles Dahl caught 22 pounds, 5 ounces to lead day one and said he and his partner had a fun day.
“I take anything I can get; it all adds up in the end,” quipped the three-year veteran.
Dahl said the biggest fish in the boat struck his jig at about 9:30 a.m.
“The big one stayed under the boat, then I finally saw (Nascak’s) face, and I knew it was huge. He netted it when it was almost under the boat. Rick’s just a great guy.”
Lending credence to the theory of beginner’s luck, second place on the co-angler side went to rookie Joe Bencze. The Bellriver, Ontario, native caught three walleyes weighing 20 pounds, 2 ounces.
A proud member of the newly formed Canadian trio, which also includes John and Michael Kopcok, Bencze is competing in the first tournament of his career.
“I wasn’t nervous when the tournament started, but now I’m getting nervous,” Bencze said. “Scott taught me a lot today; he’s very professional.”
Mizmo Bait Company owner Jimmy Cox of Bono, Ark., placed third for the co-anglers with three walleyes weighing 16 pounds, 2 ounces.
Ruthton, Minn., resident Richard Ness and Wonder Lake, Ill., native Jason Romano tied for fourth among the co-anglers with 14 pounds, 14 ounces.
Rounding out the top 10 co-anglers on day one on the Detroit River:
6th: Toby Wyatt of Clarkson, Wash., two walleyes, 14-8
7th: Jim Schleicher of Maxwell, Neb., three walleyes, 14-5
7th: John Warner of McHenry, Ill., two walleyes, 14-5
9th: Daniel Maix of Oregon, Ohio, five walleyes, 14-2
10th: Joseph Fallaw of Wonder Lake, Ill., two walleyes, 13-6
10th: Scott Tipton of Box Elder, S.D., five walleyes, 13-6
10th: Jason Wrosch of Melrose Park, Ill., five walleyes, 13-6
Day two of FLW Walleye Tour competition on the Detroit River begins as the field of 150 boats takes off from Elizabeth Park Marina at 7 a.m. Eastern time Thursday for the second day of the opening round.