SPIRIT LAKE, N.D. – Lund pro Keith Seidlinger of Devils Lake, N.D., and his opening-day teammate Keith Strauss of Syracuse, Ind., landed a five-fish limit weighing 30 pounds, 9 ounces Wednesday on Devils Lake to lead the fourth and final regular season event in the $3.07 million Wal-Mart RCL Walleye Tour.
Clear skies, 80 degree temperatures and overall calm conditions on the sprawling 150,000-acre natural lake, which has grown almost daily since the mid ’90s due to record rainfall and no outlet to relinquish the influx of water, made fishing for walleyes in abundant shallow-water cover somewhat challenging. The bluebird conditions did not, however, keep the 196 teams representing 19 states and Canada from landing an impressive 102 limits.
“I’m very excited to be leading,” said Seidlinger, who finished 15th on Devils Lake the last time the RCL Tour visited in 2001. “The good lord definitely smiled on us, but I’ll have to make some decisions (Thursday). The forecast is calling for southeast winds up to 25 mph, which could present a problem for me.”
Seidlinger and Strauss caught their limit of walleyes on leeches and crawlers along a transition line in standing timber situated in 17 to 18 feet of water. If the wind picks up Thursday, Seidlinger suggested that he might switch to a crankbait in an attempt to maintain his lead by targeting walleyes feeding in shallower water.
The winner in the Pro Division will collect $90,000 in cash and prizes, including a Ranger, Crestliner or Lund boat powered by Evinrude or Yamaha. Co-anglers are fishing for a top award of $15,000 cash. Pros and co-anglers fish for a combined boat weight and are randomly paired each day.
“This was definitely one of the best days that you can have on the water,” said Strauss, who is fishing his second RCL Tour season and currently ranks 11th in the points standings.
Pro Troy Morris of Bismarck, N.D., and co-angler Dustin Clark of Albert Lea, Minn., finished opening day 13 ounces off the pace in second place with five walleyes weighing 29 pounds, 12 ounces.
Rounding out the top five were pro Chris Dombrowski of Kaukauna, Wis., and co-angler Ed Krawiecki of Red Wing, Minn., with five walleyes weighing 28 pounds, 14 ounces; pro Joe Whitten of Toledo, Ohio, and co-angler Joseph Conley of Inver Grove Heights, Minn., with five walleyes weighing 26 pounds, 4 ounces; and pro Scott Allar of Welch, Minn., and co-angler Jon Tennessen of Monticello, Minn., with five walleyes weighing 26 pounds, 3 ounces.
Spirit Lake Casino and Resort is hosting daily takeoffs at 7 a.m. as well as Wednesday and Thursday’s weigh-ins beginning at 3 p.m. Friday and Saturday’s weigh-ins will be held at the Wal-Mart store located at 21 Highway No. 2 W. in Devils Lake beginning at 4 p.m.
The top 20 pros and co-anglers advance to the one-day semifinal round Friday based on their two-day opening-round catch. Weights are cleared Friday, and only the top 10 pros and co-anglers advance to Saturday’s final round where anglers again start from zero. The top 68 pros and co-anglers will earn $432,085 in cash and prizes.
Wal-Mart RCL Walleye Tour anglers compete in four regular-season tournaments in their quest to qualify for the $1.4 million Wal-Mart RCL Walleye Championship Oct. 1-4 at Treasure Island Casino and Resort on the Mississippi River in Red Wing, Minn. The top 35 pros and co-anglers from each qualifier earn a berth in the championship. With a total purse of $3.07 million for the season, the RCL Tour is the world’s most lucrative walleye-tournament series.