Van Cleve wins wire to wire
Wilmot, S.D., native claims FLW Walleye Tour event on Mississippi River
WELCH, Minn. – As a co-angler, Cal Van Cleve doesn’t enter competitive fishing tournaments with the idea he’s going to win. He enters them to have fun and learn more about how to catch elusive walleyes. Unlike many of his peers, Van Cleve got into the game late. In fact, he never caught a walleye until he was 50 years young.
To say Van Cleve is hooked now is an understatement. This is his third year competing on the FLW Walleye Tour. And up until this week, he’s experienced only moderate success. That changed when he drew pro Toby Kvalevog on day one of the 2010 Western Division opener on the Mississippi River. Fishing a current seam, the two combined for a 27-pound, 7-ounce limit and never turned back.
Van Cleve drew pro Terry Filkins on day two and together they managed a very respectable 16 pounds, 13 ounces. Van Cleve still had the pole position at the conclusion of Friday’s weigh-in, but it had shrunk to just over a pound. As the co-angler leader, he was paired with pro Bill Shimota on the final day and the two experienced a once-in-a-lifetime day.
“I drew three of the best in my opinion,” said the co-angler champion.
Van Cleve caught only one fish himself, but he was more than happy to net Shimota’s monsters. Their day-three weight settled in at 35 pounds, 8 ounces, giving Van Cleve a total weight of 79 pounds, 12 ounces – more than 10 pounds above second place. While they used both three-way rigs and crankbaits, most of the big fish came from casting No. 7 RS Shad Raps.
“We had a whale of a day. In fact it was the best day of fishing I’ve ever been a part of. He (Shimota) could do no wrong. It’s quite a combination when you draw an excellent fisherman like Bill on his best day. This is the sort of thing that happens to other people.”
A semiretired farmer, Van Cleve received $6,629 for his first victory.
“I’ve been waiting a long time for Sonny to give me a check.”
Dube climbs to second
Coming in second for the co-anglers was Robert Dube, father of river rat Chuck Dube. The 75-year-old Dube fished with Kvalevog on day three and managed a 26-pound, 3-ounce limit. He finished the tournament with a combined weight of 68 pounds, 14 ounces, earning $1,159.
“I tell you what, he can fish,” Kvalevog said of his day-three partner. “He told me early in the day he thought he had a bite and moments later he was bringing in our 9-pounder.”
While his son lives in the Twin Cities area, the elder Dube lives in Williston, N.D. That means he’s especially excited for the next two Western Division events held in the Dakotas.
“Having success in these tournaments is not hard when you have three pros like I had.”
Drake rises to third
Co-angler William Drake of Horace, N.D., rose two places with a 28-pound, 12-ounce catch and finished third. His three-day total weight was 59 pounds, 15 ounces, good for $1,739.
Drake caught his fish with pro Wisconsin pro Richard Lowe. In two months the Tour will be heading to his home water – Devils Lake, N.D.
Hennings falls to fourth
Dave Hennings of Hartley, Iowa, was able to catch five fish on day three weighing 15 pounds, 4 ounces. After fishing with Shimota on day two, he drew pro Dusty Minke on the final day. The two spent most of the day casting and trolling shad-style crankbaits.
Hennings finished in the fourth spot among the co-anglers with a total weight of 58 pounds, 7 ounces, earning $754 without contingencies.
Wood fifth
Fifth place went to Victor Wood of Rapid City, S.D., who boated five walleyes Saturday with pro Steve Lotz that weighed 16 pounds, 15 ounces. Wood’s three-day total weight was 52 pounds, 9 ounces, which earned him a check for $1,524.
Rounding out the top 10 co-angler finalists at the FLW Walleye Tour event on the Mississippi and St. Croix rivers:
6th: Lance Bainville of Mounds View, Minn., 50-4 (three-day total), $946
7th: Bryan Bayerkohler of Eagan, Minn., 42-12, $580
8th: Daniel Halan of Rochester, Minn., 38-11, $522
9th: Daniel Meisner of Merrill, Wis., 38-5, $464
10th: Christopher Hanson of New Hope, Minn., 34-15, $405
FLW Walleye Tour competition resumes June 24-26 on Lake Oahe in Pierre, S.D.