Skarlis Wins 2008 FLW Walleye Championship by Julia (Juls) Davis

Tommy Skarlis hoisted the $150,000.00 check above his head as red, white, and blue confetti rained down on him this afternoon in the Bismarck Civic Center, where the final event of the FLW Walleye Tour season took place....crowning him this season's year end champion!

Tommy Skarlis: This is phenomenal! To win the FLW Walleye Tour Championship is incredible. I've wanted to win a championship my whole life, my whole career, and especially here in the best community in the whole world! For walleye championship fishing...my favorite place is Bismarck/Mandan, North Dakota!

I've spent 24-25 days on stage here in championships over the course of my career. I wanted to win a championship on the FLW or the PWT so bad, and I finally seized it! This is my 6th career tournament win, and my first championship. I couldn't be happier. Words don't describe the feeling of finally winning one.

Some notable moments today were:

**The FLW crew surprised Robert Blosser on stage with his Father's appearance at the event. After a tearful hello and a big bear hug, the weigh-in proceeded. Robert's Father is a FLW Tour angler (Bass), and joked about the differences in the two fish species. It was heartwarming.

**Pete Harsh was given the Land-O-Lakes Angler of the Year trophy again, in front of the huge crowd that just roared with laughter when he asked his faithful fishing companion if she "wanted to go fishing"....her answer? "Woof-Woof" (right on cue). Pete's love for his girl, "Shadow", is well known, and he was all choked up and trying to hold back tears when he talked about how she was always with him at each event, and even fished with him when the conditions weren't too bad. "She's my good luck charm", Pete said (not holding back the tears any longer).

**Ross Grothe's family drove out to be with him too. He hadn't seen his baby boy in 14 days, so he was pretty choked up by their showing up to support him. And, when the confetti started flying, Tommy Skarlis went over to Ross and gave him a big bear hug. Ross and Tommy are teammates and traveling partners...no, more like brothers, so this win meant a lot to both of them.

It was an excellent show and everyone did a great job! The crowd was awesome and couldn't have been more generous with their applause and participation. It was truly the best weigh in I have been to. I know now why the organizations all want to have their championships out here! Bismarck/Mandan, North Dakota ROCKS!

1st Place: Tommy Skarlis 5 fish today for 13.10 and a total of 29.7
2nd Place: Robert Blosser 4 fish today for 9.14 and a total of 23.15
3rd Place: Todd Frank 3 fish today for 10.8 and a total of 23.7
4th Place: Ross Grothe 4 fish today for 8.10 and a total of 22.13
5th Place: Chris Gilman 5 fish today for 10-10 and a total of 22.12
6th Place: Todd Riley 5 fish today for 9.0 and a total of 16.11
7th Place: Tom Keenan 3 fish today for 5.11 and a total of 16.9
8th Place: Ted Takasaki 2 fish today for 4.1 and a total of 16.2
9th Place: Brett King 2 fish today for 4.1 and a total of 11.7
10th Place: Joe Okada 1 fish today for 2.11 and a total of 11.7

Thanks to those who showed up to our live webcast here on Walleye Central and participated in the live chat. That's what keeps us going guys and gals! We aim to please, and if we have no one to please, there's no reason to do the coverage. You're all what makes this site what it is...so, Thank You!