By MARK HENCKEL
Billings Gazette

TOWNSEND - The Helena team of Pat Spencer and Tom Bender weighed in 29.92 pounds of walleyes to win the first Walleye Classic held on Canyon Ferry Reservoir over the weekend. 

Spencer and Bender won the Walleyes Unlimited of Montana Circuit event by more than 4 pounds, weighing in 15.52 pounds Saturday and 14.4 pounds Sunday, to claim the $4,000 first prize. 

The Great Falls team of Kerry Parsons and Doug Rohlf won $2,000 for second place with 25.42 pounds, while Evan Peacock and Tom Tubbs, of Helena, claimed $1,500 for third with 24.32 pounds. 

The big fish of the tournament - weighing 7.36 pounds - was caught by the team of Mark Ward, of Missoula, and Arlyn Lemer, of Lolo, which finished seventh in the event. Ward is radio personality "Captain Catchin'" who hosts the Montana Outdoor Radio Show from 6 to 8 a.m. Saturdays on a statewide network. 

The tournament drew 131 teams from seven states and 52 towns in Montana. 

The next circuit event is at Hell Creek on Fort Peck Reservoir this weekend. The final event is at Crooked Creek on Aug. 28-29. 

Here are the top finishers from the Walleyes Unlimited of Montana circuit event at Canyon Ferry. 

   1.Pat Spencer-Tom Bender, Helena, 29.92 pounds, $4,000; 

   2.Kerry Parsons-Doug Rohlf, Great Falls, 25.42, $2,000; 

   3.Evan Peacock-Tom Tubbs, Helena, 24.32, $1,500; 

   4.Don Yates-Stan Laber, Bridger, 23.54, $1,000; 

   5.Darrell Archey, Great Falls-Pat Barnes, Jordan, 23.28, $900; 

   6.Garfield Simmons, Clancy-Lewis Williams, 23.26, $800; 

   7.Mark Ward, Missoula-Arlyn Lemer, Lolo, 21.46, $700; 

   8.Steve Rasmussen-Ramona Gowers, Butte, 20.56, $600; 

   9.Dan Majeske-Bill Legate, Billings, 18.61, $500; 

  10.Tim Fredrick-Alan Heimbach, East Helena, 18.12, $400; 

  11.Tom Rohlf-Don Rohlf, Great Falls, 18.11, $300; 

  12.Randy Wilke-Dan Chovanak, Helena, 18.0, $200; 

  13.Dale Hawks-Don Wolf, Chester, 17.66, $170; 

  14.Rollie Armacost-Wally Tuck, Great Falls, 17.34, $170; 

  15.Doug Roberts-Ron Simonsen, Great Falls, 16.7, $170; 

  16.Ken Seay-Marlin Cross, Great Falls, 15.3, $170; 

  17.Davie Leidle-Greg Leidle, Jefferson City, 15.02, $170; 

  18.Sam Gill, Butte-Jean Robinson, Miles City, 14.88, $170; 

  19.David Madden-Robert Hazelwood, Helena, 14.73, $170; 

  20.Kyle Sando-Zak Tesoro, Bozeman, 14.64, $170.

Day One Big Walleye - Mike Banka, Billings-Nick Neumeyer, Sheridan, 4.88 pounds; John Ulmer-ron Graham, Townsend, 4.58; Ken Seay-Marlin Cross, Great Falls, 4.26. 

Day Two Big Walleye - Mark Ward, Missoula-Arlyn Lemer, Lolo, 7.36 pounds; Tim Mcalpine-Lemont Herrin, Helena, 5.1; Donald Myer-Barbara Shehan, Lincoln, 4.42. 

Mixed Couple - Steve Rasmussen-Ramona Gower, Butte, 20.56 pounds; Marvin Kappel-Kay Kappel, Billings, 14.04; Rick Beyer-Debbie Beyer, Great Falls, 9.96. 

Adult-child - Richard Stennerson, Lame Deer-Jaren Stennerson, Billings, 7.18 pounds; Randall Murphy-Zack Rossberg, Helena, 4.18; John Cribb-John Cribb, Jr., Bozeman, 1.86.