Americana Outdoors E-Magazine - October 2017

Onthefinal day, Arnoldusenmadehis10-milerunandcaughta27-incherrightaway. Anhourlaterhe boxeda25-incherandafteranotherhourheboxeda28-incher. At1a.m., hemovedaquartermiletoa wedlineandlost oneonhisfirst pas. Hissecondpasyieldeda26-incher. Withfour fishinthelivewel at12:30, heranbacktohisprimaryareaandcaughta21-incher, whichheimmediatelythrewback. At2 p.m., heputthewinningfishintheboat, a28-incher. Aftercatchingonemore, a23-incher, hedecided toheadin, notwantingtoincuranypotential penaltiesfordeadfish. "I figuredifI couldget over 30pounds, I shouldbeinthetopfive,"saidArnoldusen. "I wasn't eventhink- ingaboutwinning. ThenIsawChasecomeinwithtwofishandthenSprengel withthreandIrealized theirfishdidn'tgo. ThenIheardKemosandOkadadidn'thavethemandIrealizedthere'snobodythat canbeatme." WhileArnoldusenwouldocasionalypulaboardinandcasttospecificfishhegraphed, al10ofhis weighfishcameviatroling. Hiscrankbaitofchoicewasapurple(custompainted) No. 9BerkleyFlicker Minnow. Arnoldusen'schampionshipwinnetedtheangleratotalof$85,053.Second-placepro-anglerKeith Kavajeczweighedatwo-daytotalof68.04poundstowinatotalof$42,621,includingafulyrigged Ranger1880witha150horsepowerEvinrudeG2outboard. BrianBjorkman(third), NickSchertz(fourth) DustyMinke(fifth), TomKemos(sixth), JohnHoyer (seventh), RoyVivian(eighth), JohnGilman(ninth), andJayEpping(tenth) roundoutthetop10pro-anglers.

KevinDay, ofWaupaun, Wisconsin, tookfirst placeintheco-angler category. Ondayone, Dayfishedwith felowWisconsinanglerMaxWilsonandthetwocaughta34.23-poundlimit. Ondaytwo, DaydrewIli- noisproMikeGofronandtheyimprovedto40.61. "BothdaysweusednothingbutShiverMinnows,"saidDay."Ifishedthemanywherefrom40fetto4 fet. It'sanawesomewaytocatchthemonthebay; it'safantasticbait."