CHENIER, SCHULTZ LEAD WAL-MART FLW WALLEYE LEAGUE FINALS ON
LAKE MICHIGAN
ESCANABA, Mich. (Sept. 8, 2006) - Boater Glenn Chenier of Gladstone,
Mich., caught 10 walleyes weighing 40 pounds, 4 ounces during
the first two days of competition in the $141,950 Wal-Mart FLW
Walleye League Finals on Lake Michigan to jump from third to
first place with a 2-pound, 7-ounce lead heading into the tournament's
final day Saturday. If he holds on for the win, Chenier will
receive a $45,000 Ranger 621 powered by Evinrude.
On Thursday Chenier caught five walleyes weighing 20 pounds,
13 ounces while fishing with co-angler Terry Barrette of River
Falls, Wis. He then added five fish weighing 19 pounds, 7 ounces
to his total Friday while fishing with co-angler Mike Kordus
of Menasha, Wis. All of his walleyes came on crawler harnesses
pulled in 9 to 30 feet of water.
"I have five different spots that I'm working," said
Chenier, who finished second during his last FLW Walleye League
Finals appearance in Escanaba in 2004. "We had a good bite
in the morning (Friday), then it slowed down until the front
passed through. After that, it really kicked in again. The weather
may be rough again tomorrow, which could help me. Being local,
I know where to look and what to do. It all comes down to making
the right decision at the right time. I just have to be careful
not to beat myself."
Anglers were battered by a strong cold front that passed through
the area around mid morning, dumping rain and stirring up 8-to
9-foot waves.
Rounding out the top five boaters are day-one leader James Tiemann
of Marinette, Wis. (eight walleyes, 37 pounds, 13 ounces); John
Schneider of Shawano, Wis. (nine walleyes, 37 pounds, 7 ounces);
Scott Hausauer of Appleton, Wis. (seven walleyes, 37 pounds,
1 ounce); and David Kolb of Ada, Mich. (nine walleyes, 36 pounds).
In the Co-angler Division, Randy Schultz of Fond Du Lac, Wis.,
sits atop the leaderboard with a two-day total of eight walleyes
weighing 38 pounds, 12 ounces. He now holds a 2-pound lead with
one day to go thanks to an incredible catch Friday of three
walleyes weighing 21 pounds, 6 ounces that boosted him from
12th to first. If he holds on for the win, he will receive a
G3 V185F powered by Yamaha.
"We had a triple header this morning," said Schultz,
who fished with boater Brian Deffner of Eland, Wis., Friday.
"We caught all three fish that we weighed in at the same
time."
The fish, including a 29-incher and a 30-incher, were hooked
on crawler harnesses pulled behind planer boards. Throughout
the day, Schultz and Deffner caught approximately 20 fish over
the area's 23-inch size restriction. Teams are only allowed
to weigh two fish over 23 inches.
Coincidentally, the last time Schultz was paired with Deffner,
Schultz won the Wisconsin Division Super Tournament on Green
Bay earlier this season.
On opening day, Schultz caught five walleyes weighing 17 pounds,
6 ounces while fishing with boater David Kolb of Ada, Mich.
Rounding out the top five co-anglers are Chad Glaza of Gleason,
Wis. (nine walleyes, 36 pounds, 12 ounces); Mark Cloutier of
Escanaba, Mich. (eight walleyes, 35 pounds, 5 ounces); Don Ransom
of Sault Sainte Marine, Mich. (seven walleyes, 34 pounds, 13
ounces); and Greg Fischer of Appleton, Wis. (six walleyes, 32
pounds).
A total of 190 walleyes weighing 658 pounds, 4 ounces were caught
Friday. Only 13 of 103 teams caught limits.
Boaters and co-anglers who finished in the top 35 in the final
points standings for each FLW Walleye League division advanced
to this no-entry-fee tournament.
Anglers will take off from Escanaba Harbor located at Loren
W. Jenkins Memorial Drive in Escanaba at 7 a.m. Saturday. Saturday's
weigh-in begins at 4 p.m. at the Wal-Mart store located at 601
N. Lincoln in Escanaba. The community is invited to attend the
free takeoff and weigh-in festivities.
FLW Walleye League boaters and co-anglers are randomly paired
and fish for a combined boat weight, with boaters competing
against other boaters and co-anglers competing against other
co-anglers. The full field competed Thursday and Friday, with
the top 15 boaters and 15 co-anglers advancing to Saturday.
Winners will be determined by the heaviest three-day accumulated
weight.
The Wal-Mart FLW Walleye League was created in 2003 to provide
the grassroots walleye angler a chance to compete in professionally
administered, close-to-home tournaments with lucrative cash
awards.
Named after the legendary founder of Ranger Boats, Forrest L.
Wood, FLW Outdoors administers the Wal-Mart FLW Tour, Wal-Mart
FLW Series, Stren Series, Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League, Wal-Mart
Texas Tournament Trail presented by Abu Garcia, Stratos Owners'
Tournament Trail, Wal-Mart FLW Walleye Tour, Wal-Mart FLW Walleye
League, Wal-Mart FLW Kingfish Tour, Wal-Mart FLW Kingfish Series,
Wal-Mart FLW Redfish Series and Wal-Mart FLW Striper Series.
These circuits offer combined purses exceeding $37.9 million
through 249 events in 2006.
For more information about FLW Outdoors and its tournament programs,
visit FLWOutdoors.com or call (270) 252-1000.
Wal-Mart and many of America's largest and most respected companies
support FLW Outdoors and its tournament trails. Wal-Mart signed
on as an FLW Outdoors sponsor in 1997 and today is the world's
leading supporter of tournament fishing. For more information
about Wal-Mart, visit Wal-Mart.com |