Karlgaard’s hot streak continues

East Gull Lake, Minn., co-angler wins FLW Walleye Tour event on Devils Lake

OSHKOSH, Wis. – A few years ago, Don Karlgard decided it was time to hit the tournament trail and chase the elusive walleye, his favorite species. At 59 years young, Karlgaard is a retired mathematics instructor and coach. But even when he was teaching he dedicated his summers to guiding in the Brainerd Lakes area.

Karlgaard, a member of the esteemed Nisswa Guides, decided to fish the 2010 FLW Walleye Tour when he saw Leech, one of his favorite lakes, as the host venue for the year-end championship. But something strange happened in route to Walker, Minn., – Karlgaard got on a hot streak. He notched his first top-10 finish last month on Lake Oahe and then went out and won the final Western Division event on Devils Lake.

“I can’t top that,” he exclaimed. “I’m so happy to win and I’m delighted to go to Leech. That’s been the goal from the start. I’ve had a lot of 40s and 50s (finishes) so this is great. I really drew some great fishermen this week.”

On day one Karlgaard used crankbaits and swimbaits (Northland Mimic Minnows) with local pro Troy Sand. On day two he fished with veteran pro Paul Meleen and the two casted Shad Raps and rigged over deeper points. On the final day of competition Karlgaard got to cast more crankbaits (Lindy Shadlings) and participate in pro winner Jason Feldner’s spinner program. After unsuccessfully casting during the morning hours, the two trolled several areas in Pelican Lake.

“We got to our third trolling spot and it was on,” Karlgaard said. “From 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. we caught all of our fish.”

The final margin of Karlgaard’s win was 2 pounds, 15 ounces.

“This was my first time to Devils and I can’t wait to come back. They say in the spring the fishing is even better than it is up in Canada.”

For a three-day weight of 48 pounds, 5 ounces, the East Gull Lake, Minn., resident earned $3,094. Karlgaard also claimed $1,204 from the optional pot and $2,500 from the Ranger Cup program for a total of $6,798.



Kaminski retains second

Coming in second for the co-anglers was Ted Kaminski of Saint Anthony, Minn. Kaminski, the brother of the Walleye Tour pro Dean Kaminski, fished with local angler Scott Larson on day three and the two managed a 14-pound, 15-ounce limit. He finished the tournament with a combined weight of 45 pounds, 6 ounces, earning $1,237, plus an additional $361 in optional pot money.

Kaminski and Larson trolled spinners with night crawlers on day three. The bite was slow early. In fact, they only had three fish in the box at 1:30 p.m. But they scrambled around and eventually found them along the weedline where the bank transitioned from gravel to sand.

Kaminski finished sixth in the Western Division points race.

Wood third

Co-angler Victor Wood of Rapid City, S.D., rose one spot from fourth to third after catching five fish Saturday weighing 11 pounds even. Wood fished with 2008 Walleye Tour Championship winner Tommy Skarlis Saturday.

“Fishing Devils in the finals with Tommy Skarlis, I don’t know if it gets any better than that,” he said.

Wood’s three-day total weight was 39 pounds, 15 ounces, good for $928, plus another $500 in Ranger Cup bonus money. This was Wood’s third top-10 finish in nine FLW Outdoors tournaments.

Bayerkohler fourth

Bryan Bayerkohler of Eagan, Minn., was able to catch a limit on day three weighing 12 pounds, 5 ounces. Bayerkohler drew National Guard pro Mark Courts on the final day and the two spent most of their time using bottom bouncers on the outside edge of the weeds.

Bayerkohler finished in the fourth spot among the co-anglers with a total weight of 39 pounds, 14 ounces, earning $804.

Joy fifth

Fifth place went to Lowell Joy, the 2009 Walleye Tour Championship winner, who boated five walleyes Saturday with pro Kevin McQuoid that weighed 12 pounds, 13 ounces. Joy’s three-day total weight was 39 pounds, 6 ounces, which earned him a check for $742. The Bemidji, Minn., native earned an additional $500 from the Ranger Cup program.

Rounding out the top 10 co-angler finalists at the FLW Walleye Tour event on Devils Lake:

6th: William Drake of Horace, N.D., 38-8 (three-day total), $681 + $321 optional pot

7th: Greg Oppegard of West St. Paul, Minn., 38-6, $619 + $301 optional pot

8th: Lance Bainville of Mounds View, Minn., 37-3, $281 optional pot

9th: Clarence Heckert of Winnipeg, Manitoba, 33-0, $495 + $261 optional pot

10th: Richard Ness of Blunt, S.D., 29-10, $433 + $241 optional pot

The 2010 FLW Walleye Tour regular season has concluded. Up next is the year-end championship, held Sept.22-25 on Leech Lake in Walker, Minn.