Swentiks win RRWT

Ken Johnston
Editor

It was the closest finishes in Rainy River Walleye Tournament (RRWT) history with John and Ethan Swentik of Rainy River winning with a two day weight of 18.7 lbs. over Rick Amundsen and Jamie Gowdy of Baudette and Warroad with 18.64 lbs.

The Swentiks were in third place after day 1 of fishing with 10.3 lbs., most of which was because they had the biggest fish of the day; a 6.48 lb. lunker.

On day 2 John said they went to a spot he called, “the honey hole” upstream about two miles. “I knew we could get four fish there in a hurry and we did,” explained John. Once they got their four fish they headed to a spot they knew there were some big ones hanging off bottom.

“I could watch Joan (his wife) do the dishes from there,” said John. And he was not kidding. The pair set up right in front of their river front home in Rainy River and that is where they picked up their big fish each day.

For the most part the team stuck to using gold spinners and shiners and apparently it paid off to the tune of $15,000 for first prize.

The suspense over who was going to be the winner was riveting. The top five from day 1 were kept back until the very end of day 2 weigh-ins. The Swentiks were the third last team to be weighed and needed 8.35 lbs. to unseat Amundsen and Gowdy who had a mediocre day 1(6.28 lbs.) but an excellent day 2 (12.36 lbs.). When it was announced that John and Ethan had taken over the lead by 0.06 lbs. the crowd went crazy.

With two boats to weigh, Dan and Bryce Godin and day 1 leaders Doug Jorgenson and Al Wolanicki, it was tense to say the least.

The Godins pulled out three smaller fish and then Bryce went over to a second live well in their boat. Emcee Lionel Robert said, “Here comes the big one!” The crowd gasped and John Swentik turned white as he saw Bryce lift a big stuffed fish which turned out to be a pillow. Godins weighed only 2.64 lbs. and dropped to 12th place. With only one boat to weigh both the Swentiks were feverish with excitement and anticipation.

Jorgenson and Wolanicki then entered the tent with local fans knowing that the championship was going to go to one of their favourite teams, which one was the only question left. The day 1 leaders produced four smaller fish for a total weight of 5.7 lbs. that day and finished 3rd with 17.58 lbs. The Swentiks threw their arms up in the air basking in their glory.

John said for him it was very important to win this year, having been in the top ten every year except once since they started fishing the tournament in year two of its eight year existence. “I told people all summer we were going to win it this year because it could very well be our last year fishing together.” Next fall Ethan, a senior at Rainy River High School, will be off to university and depending on where he goes may not be able to come home to fish.

Well they did it and they could not be more happier. “We won the Rainy River Walleye Tournament... something we always wanted to do.”

Had someone told John and Ethan that fish caught basically in their front yard would net them the crown they probably would not have believed them. “I bought a new boat in the spring for the tournament but we could have paddled out there to catch the big ones,” said John.

John plans to use his half of the money to pay for a new boat motor he ordered last week and Ethan plans to save his for university.

Even though they won the tournament, their fishing story for the two days was much the same as everyone else’s. “We did not size up (cull) hardly at all,” said Ethan. Most teams caught quite a few little fish, making the big ones that were caught very valuable, even though they were all for the most part much smaller than the record sized walleyes caught last year and the year before.

With so many small fish the weights that won the tournament were nearly 7 lbs. below the last two years champions’. But in 2003 the winning weight was 20.92 lbs.

Rounding out the prizes were as follows:

1st-John & Ethan Swentik-$15,000

2nd-Rick Amundsen & Jamie Gowdy-$7,500

3rd-Tom Briggs & Rob Dorry-$3,500

4th-Doug Jorgenson & Al Wolanicki-$2,800

5th-Brian Ney & Dan Stier-$2,000

6th-Dean & Brian St. Pierre-$1,400

7th-Nibs & Cheryl Kreger-$1,300

8th-Bert & Ernie Seguin-$1,200

9th-Mike Vacura & Marnie Korpi-$1,100

10th-Cliff Westover & Mark Jodoin-$1,000

11th-Gerry Jolicouer & Anthony Mason-$700

12th-Dan & Bryce Godin-$600

13th-John Woppel & Jamie Westman-$500

14th-Rick & Mark Thompson-$400

15th-Doug Kreger & Alvin McLain-$300

Big fish Day 1: John & Ethan Swentik-6.48 lbs. $500

Big fish Day 2: Gerry Jolicouer & Anthony Mason-9.16 lbs. $500

Hidden wt. Day 1: Mike Vacura/Marnie Korpi-4.94lbs. $300

Hidden wt. Day 2: Mike Vacura/Marnie Korpi-8.75lbs. $300

The 2006 River Champs, (the team with the highest combined weight that fished both the Emo Walleye Classic and RRWT) was Sean Westman and Dave Oldakowski-$1,000 with 24.48 lbs.

The top Princecraft boat in the tournament was that of Les Morrison and James Harntell-$500.

Winners of the RR Playschool boat raffle:

Boat/motor: James ‘Jazz’ Comegan

$1,500 cash: Bert Seguin

$750 cash: Larry Pihlak

$250 cash: Trevor Blight

Karen Usiski won the Harris Hill weekend getaway.

John Blight won the 50/50 draw.

Fisherman’s boat was won by Mark Thompson.

Hook, Line and Sinker draw winners were: Joan Kreger $210 and Alicia Nordin $420.