Dave Landahl
Published October 16, 2004

	Dave Landahl Photo Dan Felber and Eric Eichorn lead wire-to-wire

Let it be known to the entire walleye tournament fishing world that Eric Eichorn and Dan Felber of Red Wing, Minn are not just the 2004 MWC World Walleye Champions, they are also a couple of tough dudes.

With a Day Three weight of 13.19 pounds they captured the title and a check for $26,000, by nearly five pounds. They lead all three days, opening up a can of butt-kick on the entire field, never relenting and never allowing the cold-weather conditions to interfere with their ultimate goal, the MWC title.

"We really stuck to our game plan and it paid off big time," said Eichorn. "The only problem we had today was the wind. It made it impossible for us to hold on our spot. Other than that we did the same thing all three days."

Their tactics were basic. The champs fished one wing dam near DeSoto, Wis., for the entire tournament. Both anglers fished willow cats on Lindy rigs or 3/8-ounce dark hair jigs. They positioned their boat in 12-feet of water fishing the top of the wing dam in approximately 4-feet of water.

"The one thing that made our spot a little different was the little island off the tip of the wing dam," said Eichorn. "It created a little bit of an eddy that I think held the good fish."

The gusty winds almost cost the Red Wing team the title.

"Our only problem was lack of boat control today," said Eichorn. "Our anchor could not hold. We really needed two anchors to keep us in position. After we left, we saw a team go in there and catch a bunch of fish."

Eichorn fulfilled a lifetime goal.

"I have dreamed of winning an event like since I was a little kid," said Eichorn. "I would see pros fishing for money on TV and thought I would like to do that. A lot of hard work paid off."

Kent Eide and Dennis Clark of Rochester, Minn., brought a spare anchor with them today. That extra anchor helped them take the runner-up position for the event.

"We fished the same area the guys that won were fishing," said Eide. "The only difference for us was that we had two anchors allowing us to fish effectively," said Eide.

Eide and Clark weighed the big limit of the tournament at 24.55 pounds.

Like the champions Eide and Clark fished willow cats with a bottom rig consisting of a barrel weight and swivel and a pink Gamakatsu hook.

Felber was almost a no show to his own victory.

"I guess the only other thing I would have like to have happen differently today besides having another anchor was my partner getting some extra rest," said Eichorn. "He didn't get in until early this morning."

Eichorn and Felber just won the 2004 MWC World Championship. What are they going to do now? Felber, a man of few words, said "I would like to go to the bar after this." I guess Disney World is out.

MWC Championship - Mississippi River Results



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