Devlin duo win RR walleye tourney

Ken Johnston
Editor

“One big fish could win the tournament,” said Lionel Robert, emcee, at the end of Day 1’s weigh-ins of the 3rd Annual Rainy River Walleye Tournament and that was all it took for Dale Labelle and Wayne Angus of Devlin.

With only 6.68 lbs separating the top twenty competitors after Day 1, it was clear that anyone of them could win the tournament’s top prize of $15,000.

Local favorites, Fred Foulger and Dickie Byrnes lead at the end of the first day with 11.58 lbs. However they were skunked on Day 2 and that cost them ten places in the standings.

Weighing just behind them was Wendy and Rick Gubersky of Edmonton, Alberta. They caught four fish for a weight of 10.54 lbs. to be second after a day of fishing. However they to returned to the weigh-ins with an empty live well. They slid to 14th place.

However one of the top five from day one, John and Ethan Swentik of Rainy River, improved. Fifth after the first day with 8.24 lbs and four fish, John had a good feeling on Sunday when he had four fish in the live well by 8:30 a.m. “We just culled fish, three of them twice,” said John. They weighed in exactly the same amount on day 2 with 8.24 lbs. with four nice fish for a total of 16.48 lbs. They received $6,500 for 2nd.

Squeaking just ahead of the Swentiks was the Labelle/Angus duo from Devlin. They were in 16th place after day 1 but caught that “one big fish” that weighed in at 7.24 lbs. Not only did that bring them up in the standings but it earned them the biggest fish of the day award which was $500 in cash.

Foulger and Byrnes won the big fish award on day 1 with a 6.72 pounder. Labelle said that like the others in the top three, they fished day 2 east of Rainy River. When they reeled in the 7.24 lunker, Dale knew, “Everyone had to beat us... we heard a rumour that someone had caught a 10 pounder and that worried us.” They used chub minnows on a 3/8 oz. chartreuse jig right on bottom. Their final weight on the tournament was almost a pound higher than Swentiks at 17.3 lbs. Labelle said this is his last tournament of the summer noting that of the seven he competed in he finished in the top 20 six times. He and Angus earned $15,000 for top spot in this year’s RRWT.

Both Labelle and Swentik said that the fish were biting early in the day and that things slowed down by mid day.

Coming in third this year was a U.S. husband and wife team from Warren, Minnesota. Pete Hapka has fished the tournament all three years and finished 10th last year and 13th the year before. His wife Sandra had to miss fishing with him last year due to other commitments but says she won’t miss it next year. She said she was hoping they would come in 10th and was overwhelmed when it was announced they finished third. Using shiners on a yellow jig, on bottom as well, they only had 4.9 lbs. on day one from four fish. However they stuck to their guns and with a north wind and some sun on Sunday they added another 9 lbs. to their total. They earned $3,000 for third and were full of praise for the tournament. “Rainy River really puts on a tournament with outstanding hospitality.

Rounding out the top five was Dave Byrnes and Mike Graham of Fort Frances, both with strong Rainy River ties, in fourth with 13.5 lbs. and Mike Vacura and Marni Korpi of Roseau, Minnesota, in 5th, with 13.42 lbs. They earned $2,500 and $1,900 respectively. Vacura said that he tried for two years to get into the RRWT and, “I am very proud to be in it. It is the best run tourney I have ever been in.”

Prize money for 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th and 10th was $1,500, $1,100, $1,000, $900 and $800.

Winning $1,000 for the Cool Under Pressure Award, posting the lowest to highest improved weights was the champs, Labelle and Angus.

The Hidden Weight was 2.42 lbs. and that earned Derek Ewald and Mike Gate $1,000.

Winning the Lions Club Boat Raffle was Danny Godin of Rainy River. The boat ticket, #926, was bought by his wife, Stacy, at the Morson Bass Classic as a birthday present for him. He said he plans to keep the boat and is taking offers on his old one. Taking home 2nd and 3rd prizes in the raffle was Jerry Blight (Morson)-$1,000 and Colleen Hanson (Sleeman)-$500.

Winning a set of golf clubs donated by Labbatts Duty Free was Scott Pierce of Rainy River.

Emcee Lionel Robert commended the committee on putting on, “The best walleye tournament in Northwestern Ontario.” He had this to say to the approximately 800 people in the tent for the final weigh-ins, “You guys rock Rainy River!”

While the tournament has grown to 75 boats from 43 its first year, the committee has not decided whether to increase its size for next year. Committee member Lisa Armstrong said that decision will be made by the committee.

There were 323 fish caught and only three died.