MINNEAPOLIS – After four consistent tournaments, Steve Reupke and Frank Duxstad of Port Aransas, Texas, won the 2008 Land O’Lakes Western Division Team of the Year award on the Walmart FLW Redfish Series. Reupke and Duxstad accumulated 474 points during the regular season, and those points qualified the team for the no-entry-fee 2008 Walmart FLW Redfish Series Championship in Biloxi, Miss., Oct. 30-Nov. 1.
At the season-opening tournament in Port Lavaca, Texas, Reupke and Duxstad finished sixth and earned $3,030. At the next qualifier held in Venice, La., the two finished third, earning $6,116. They narrowly missed notching their third consecutive top-10 finish in Rockport, Texas, where they took 14th. The season’s final qualifier was originally scheduled for Cocodrie, La., but was moved to Venice, La., because of Hurricane Gustav. Reupke and Duxstad were sitting in 17th place after day one but rallied with 16 pounds, 5 ounces on day two to finish in seventh place – their third top-10 finish of the season.
“To be consistent at every venue was our goal,” said Reupke. “We started fishing together last year and at the last tournament we took fourth and everything has picked up from there. Frank and I are good friends and we talk about our fishing strategy every evening. We’re continually looking for ways to improve ourselves.”
Reupke said he and Duxstad mainly relied on one scented, soft-plastic bait en route to their TOY title.
“We used a 4-inch Berkley Gulp shrimp 90 percent of the time. It was always in our arsenal – whether it was under a popping cork or if it was on a jighead when we were sight-fishing.”
In one month, they will have a shot at a six-figure payday in the FLW Redfish Series Championship.
“We’re planning on making the long run towards to Louisiana,” Reupke added. “If we can get there, we’re comfortable fishing that water because we’re familiar with it. But cold fronts and rough weather can come into play that time of year. It will be an interesting tournament – we expect to do well.”
The Land O’Lakes Team of the Year title is determined by the total accumulated points from four regular-season events. One hundred twenty-five points are awarded for a win, 124 for second, 123 for third, and so on.
Coverage of Reupke and Duxstad’s TOY title will be broadcast to 81 million FSN (Fox Sports Net) subscribers in the United States as part of the “FLW Outdoors” television program airing Dec. 7. “FLW Outdoors” is also broadcast in Canada on WFN (World Fishing Network) and to more than 429 million households in the United Kingdom, Europe, Russia, Australia, Africa, Asia, and the Middle East through a distribution agreement with Matchroom Sport, making it the most widely distributed fishing program in the world. The program airs Sunday mornings at 11 Eastern time in most markets. Check local listings for times in your area.
FLW Outdoors, named after Forrest L. Wood, the legendary founder of Ranger Boats, is the largest fishing tournament organization in the world. In 2008 alone the organization is offering more than 90,000 anglers the chance to win over $40 million through 230 tournaments in 10 circuits. FLW Outdoors also took fishing mainstream with the largest cash awards in the history of fantasy sports, $7.3 million.
For more information about FLW Outdoors and its tournaments, call (270) 252-1000. For more information about FLW Fantasy Fishing and Player’s Advantage, visit FantasyFishing.com.