MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – Fishing has always been a family sport, and competitive fishing is no different. The Wal-Mart RCL Walleye Championship features three husband-and-wife teams, seven sets of brothers, and five father/son entries in addition to some of the biggest names in the sport.
The 1999 In-Fisherman Angler of the Year, Mike Gofron of Antioch, Ill., and 1998 Professional Walleye Trail (PWT) Champion, Ted Takasaki of East Gull Lake, Minn., will be among the walleye fishing celebrities competing in the RCL (Ranger, Crestliner, Lund) Championship. In the world of professional walleye fishing, these men are two of the best. They are tied for most consecutive PWT tournament money finishes with nine apiece, and they rank fifth and sixth on the PWT’s top money winners list. Gofron has earned $195,650 in his career and Takasaki has earned $190,567. With a potential $400,000 on the line at the RCL Championship, each man stands to double his career PWT winnings.
Even the PWT’s all-time leading money winner, Ron Seelhoff of Burlington, Co., stands to earn nearly as much money at the RCL Championship as the $328,325 he has amassed during his PWT career.
Glenn and Carol Chenier of Gladstone, Mich.; Darold and Flo Swank of Pierre, S.D.; and Archie and Marjorie Andrew of Landmark, Manitoba, comprise the husband-and-wife entries.
Brothers entered in the RCL Championship include twins Scott and Martin Glorvigen of Grand Rapids, Minn.; Mark Keenan of Appleton, Wis., and his brother Tom of Hatley, Wis.; Steve Grams of Marshall, Wis., and his brother Todd of Cottage Grove, Wis.; Andrew and Norm Klopak of Winnipeg, Manitoba; Marvin Koizumi of Calgary, Alberta, and his brother Tom of Medicine Hat, Alberta; Greg McConville of Des Moines, Iowa, and his brother Owen of Pella, Iowa; and Andrew Kuffer of Fair Haven, Mich., and his brother David of Shelby Township, Mich.
Bill Hall of Algona, Iowa, and his son Chad; Clarence Bohn of Fond du Lac, Wis., and his son Craig; Terry McQuoid of Isle, Minn., and his sons Aaron and Kevin; Ken Carpenter of Slave Lake, Alberta, and his son Stephen; and Richard Bassing of Andover, Minn., and his son Brian, have also qualified for the RCL Championship.
The RCL Championship is the only walleye tournament in history to bring together anglers from 26 different tournament organizations in the United States and Canada for a chance to win a share of up to $1.4 million cash. It is the richest walleye tournament in history.
Contestants advanced to the RCL Championship by virtue of being the highest finishing Ranger, Crestliner or Lund boat owners in their respective qualifying tournaments.
In draw-format tournaments, the two highest-finishing sponsor boat owners were invited to enter the RCL’s Pro Division. The next two highest-finishing sponsor boat owners were invited to enter the Co-Angler Division. In Pro/Am events, the two highest-finishing pros who own a sponsor boat were invited to enter the Pro Division. The two highest-finishing amateurs who own a sponsor boat were invited to enter the Co-Angler Division. In team tournaments, the two highest-finishing teams owning a sponsor boat were invited to the RCL Championship. The boater was invited to fish the Pro Division, and provided he or she also owns a sponsor boat, the amateur or co-angler was invited to fish the Co-Angler Division. If the highest-finishing sponsor boat owner did not wish to participate in the RCL, the next highest-qualifying angler was selected.