Walter Leads Field Into Final Round of $390,750 Wal-Mart RCL Walleye Circuit Event on Devils Lake

Sept. 7, 2001 

Devils Lake, N.D., - Brian Walter of Minot, N.D., will lead 12 Pro Division anglers into the final round of the $390,750 Wal-Mart RCL Walleye Circuit tournament on Devils Lake after landing five walleyes weighing 22 pounds, 13 ounces Friday with co-angler Greg Darsow of Billings, Mont.

The duo's catch was the result of trolling crankbaits in about 20 feet of water. If Walter can duplicate his performance Saturday, he will win $50,000 cash and a Mercury-powered Lund boat with GARMIN electronics. Darsow is fishing for a top award of $15,000 cash.

"It feels great just to make the cut," said Walter, who is fishing his first Wal-Mart RCL Walleye Circuit tournament. "The first time I fished this lake was three weeks ago, so I hope everything goes good (Saturday) too."

Pro Mark Martin of Twin Lake, Mich., and co-angler Tony Jaworski of Chicago, Ill., advanced to the final round in the No. 2 position with five walleyes weighing 19 pounds, 11 ounces.

Rounding out the top five qualifiers were pro Ross Grothe of Apple Valley, Minn., and co-angler J. Phillip Dukes of Marathon, Iowa, with five walleyes weighing 18 pounds, 5 ounces; pro Rick Olson of Mina Lake, S.D., and co-angler Darren Miller of Stevens Point, Wis., with five walleyes weighing 17 pounds, 4 ounces; and pro Mark Christianson of Walker, Minn., and co-angler Russel McDonald of Canada with five walleyes weighing 16 pounds, 14 ounces.

Competition resumes at 7 a.m. Saturday at Spirit Lake Marina located at 7889 Highway 20/57 in Spirit Lake, N.D. Catch weights will be cleared and the winners will be determined by the weight of Saturday's catch alone. The final weigh-in will start at 3 p.m. at the Wal-Mart Supercenter located at 210 Highway 2 West in Devils Lake.

Run by Operation Walleye and named after retail giant Wal-Mart and boat manufacturers Ranger, Crestliner and Lund, the 2001 Wal-Mart RCL Walleye Circuit is the world's most lucrative walleye fishing series. It features three regular season tournaments each with a $390,750 purse and a championship with a $1.4 million purse.

After the Devils Lake tournaments, 200 pros and 200 co-anglers will advance to the Wal-Mart RCL Walleye Championship for a shot at top awards of up to $400,000 in the Pro Division and $150,000 in the Co-Angler Division. The championship will be held on the Fox River and Green Bay in Green Bay, Wis., Oct. 2-6. Green Bay hosted the inaugural Wal-Mart RCL Championship last year when Scott Glorvigen of Grand Rapids, Minn., won $300,000 and instantly joined the sport's top all-time money winners.

Sponsors of the 2001 Wal-Mart RCL Walleye Circuit are Coleman, Conseco, Crestliner, Energizer, EverStart Batteries, GARMIN, Kellogg's, Lund, Mercury Marine, Minn Kota, Poulan, Ranger Boats, Wal-Mart, Weed Eater and Yamaha Outboards.