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Jason Feldner and Don Karlgaard Win the FLW Walleye Tour on Devils Lake
July 31, 2010
The anticipation was high at today’s weigh in, because it was still anyone’s tournament to win, and Jason Feldner’s to lose. Jason, who is a guide out of Minnewaukan, ND, which is on the west side of Devils Lake, led the tournament for the first two days, but was less than two pounds in the lead. If he stumbled, someone else could win it all.
Was it fate? Last to weigh in, Jason came to the stage with his fish enclosed in a black “National Guard” bag. One by one he would take one fish out of the bag and place it in the water/scale at center stage. The weight was tallied after each fish was added, and the crowd was informed of the new weight and what was needed to take the win.
The suspense grew. Sitting in first place, and on the “hot seat” for the moment was, Scott Larson, of Mayville, ND. Jason was down to the last fish. Would he have enough to take the win away from Scott? He reached in the opaque bag and with a big grin on his face he raised a 5 pound fish high above his head, for everyone to see. The crowd cheered and Jason turned to give Scott a high five as Scott congratulated his friend for his win.
Then, he turned to the crowd, and with both arms above his head he pumped his fists in victory!
 Jason and his Co Angler, Don Karlgaard of East Gull Lake, MN came in with the largest 5 fish limit of the day with 15.13 pounds. A three day total of 48.14 pounds won Jason a top prize of $13,522.00 from the FLW and another $4,228.00 for the Optional Pot, for a total prize of $17,850.00. (Jason did not qualify for any contingency bonus program awards at this event).
“It feels awesome…it feels awesome! Boy! I’ll tell ya, at 10 o’clock this morning I’m thinking I’m going to have to do everything I can to put 17 inch and 18 inch fish in the boat, just so I can at least come in with 10 pounds.
I hit my best three spots this morning. I caught one 13 inch Walleye, and I’m thinking, “Something’s off here”. I don’t know if it was the weather, or I just pressured it too much, or what? We just kept moving. I had 8 spots and I saved one spot for today. I said, “I’ve got to go in there once", because I’ve always caught one decent fish out of there. And, it was only one or two fish, but I went in there today, and it was about a 500 yard stretch. I pulled in there and the first fish was just a hair over 20 inches and I said, “Yes! Perfect!”
Then, I caught a 17 ½ and I said, “We need to keep it”. We’re allowed to keep 8 fish in this tournament, so that gave us a little bit of leeway.
Then, a couple pike…one big pike got me really excited. Just got done with that pike and one of the rods went back, almost like it was snagged and there was that 24 incher. And, that was all in the first pass. We just kept going over that and over that and I threw another 18 in…getting nervous, but from 11 o’clock until ten till one we boated three more of them. All 19 ¾ inch fish, and I put them in the box, and at the end I got a 19 7/8, and I said, “I’ve got to keep it. I’ve got to keep it, I can’t throw back almost a three pound fish, and lose it all!" So, we came in, and I gambled, and it worked.
For Don’s efforts this week he will take home $3,094.00 from the FLW, $1,204.00 for the Optional Pot, and $2,500.00 for the Ranger Cup Contingency Bonus Award for a total cash prize of $6,798.00.
 Aw, it’s just amazing”, said Don. “I got to fish with some great pros and to be with Jason today was really…I was just so excited last night, and I’m usually not to nervous at these things, but this morning I was kind of nervous.
I knew I could just relax and he would take care of everything, and he did.
We had a slow bite though. It was probably 10 or 11 o’clock before we caught our first keeper fish. The big one came about noon and that felt pretty good. It was a good 24 incher. By 1 o’clock we put our 8th fish in the box and we just came in real slow. We stopped a couple times to check on the fish, so…(he changes thoughts midstream)
I mean, it was nerve-wracking at the beginning…we knew we had 16 pounds and we knew that that would probably be enough weight for the third day of the tournament where everyone’s weights were going down, and we didn’t have that much wind, and so, we thought we would be okay. You just never know until the last fish is weighed though.”
Juls: How many years have you fished as a Co Angler?
Don: Two years now. Last month at Lake Oahe was the first time I made the cut, and then this time, you know…to make the cut, and end up in first is just unbelievable! I’m just flabbergasted! I don’t know if that’s a word, but I like it. It fits!
Juls: I like that word. I’ll figure out a way to spell it. (Laugh) No worries!
Larson who took second place today came in with a 5 fish limit for 14.15 pounds and a three day total weight of 46.10 pounds. His earnings were $12,286.00 including contingencies.
In second place on the Co Angler side is Ted Kaminski of Saint Anthony, MN, who is forever to be known from this day forward as, “Pink Crocs Man” (see pics), with 45.6 pounds. His earnings this week were $1,598.00 that did not include any contingencies.
Third place goes to Kevin McQuoid of Isle, MN and Co Angler, Victor Wood of Rapid City, SD with 41.5 pounds and 39.15 pounds respectively. With contingency bonus awards included, along with the Optional Pot entry, Kevin is going home with a check for $10,420.00, and Victor headed home with $1,428.00 for three days of fishing.
Fourth Place went to Mark Courts of Harris, MN. Mark weighed in 15 fish over three days of competition for a total weight of 41.4 pounds. He was awarded a check for $6,204.00. On the Co Angler side, Bryan Bayerkohler of Eagan, MN enjoyed another top ten this season and took home another check to his credit, this time it was for $804.00.
Rounding out the top five places is Gary Maher of Menoken, ND. He brought in 12.3 pounds today for a total three day weight of 40.11 pounds. Gary went home with $3,371.00. And, taking 5th on the Co Angler side is Lowell Joy of Bemidji, MN with 39.6 pounds. Lowell, who has enjoyed the top ten position before took home a check for $1,242.00.
The rest of the best: To see full results please go to the Live Leader Board at www.liveleaderboard.com and click on the “Devils Lake” link.
The rest of the best:
6th Place: Pro, Paul Meleen, of Isle, MN and Co Angler, William Drake of Horace, MD
7th Place: Pro, Tommy Skarlis, of Waukon, IA and Co Angler, Greg Oppegard of W. St. Paul, MN
8th Place: Pro, Eric Olson, of Red Wing, MN and Co Angler, Lance Bainville of Mounds View, MN
9th Place: Pro, Chad Schilling, of Akaska, SD and Co Angler, Clarence Heckert of Winnipeg, MB
10th Place: Pro, Chris Burns, of Davenport, IA and Co Angler, Richard Ness of Blunt, SD
For details on what the Pros were doing this week, click here. Or just check out the Day 3AM story from the Live Leader Board.
The next FLW event will be the Qualifier Only Championship on Leech Lake September 22-25, 2010.
The next event that Walleye Central will be covering is the MWC at Au Gres next weekend, August 6th, 7th, and 8th.
For more information on fishing or attending an FLW event please visit their site at www.flwoutdoors.com.
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