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Member
Posts: 34
| The final day of the FLW Leech Lake event got underway on time and under a beautiful clear sky. The wind was almost flat and that is actually the forecast for the bulk of the day. Even with yet a different weather pattern, the water temps have remained stable and the fish the top ten anglers are on should still be catchable. Spirits were high and anticipations growing as the final day's blast off came and went.
"I have been fishing relatively deeper than most guys," says Mercury Pro, Tommy Kemos who left the dock this morning in 5th place. "Its a tight race and it is really anybody's tournament to take home. I expect to find the fish where I have been finding them on a daily basis, my shorts come early and my overs have been typically coming during the afternoon. It will be a tight race and very interesting to watch it unfold this afternoon."
With the National Guard teams consisting of Shimota and Courts holding down the 2nd and 3rd spots respectively, it will be a win/win for the National Guard Team. Both are wishing the other well, but hoping they have the better bite as they are there to win.
"If the guys are on the same fish they have been catching and can manage to put a limit in the boat, its going to remain tight for the finish," explains Bill Shimota, currently in 2nd place after day two. "I am confident my pattern will hold and that the fish will eat, its just a matter of the right fish. To win, you will have to have two solid overs and a healthy collection of unders, or you just flat won't win. A certain amount of luck in involved there, but these guys are the best in the world and will find fish today."
Its a tight race, with less than ten pounds separating 1st from 10th. It is really anybody's tourney at this point.
Top Ten-
Kevin Carstensen - 29-00
Bill Shimota - 27-11
Mark Courts - 26-13
Rick Olson - 24-02
Tom Kemos - 23-04
Paul Meleen - 21-10
Mark Christianson - 21-00
David Bjorkman - 20-11
Scott Larson - 20-11
Eric Olson - 20-07
The final weigh in will take place just up the road at the Northern Lights Casino at 3:30 PM.
Tournament coverage brought to you by: Lund Boats and The Reel Shot/JJ Keller Fishing Team, and Mercury Marine.
(Morning interview with Kemos.jpg)
(Shimota getting ready.jpg)
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 Backing in.jpg (39KB - 205 downloads)
Blsat off.jpg (26KB - 214 downloads)
Getting wired.jpg (35KB - 199 downloads)
Going.jpg (50KB - 196 downloads)
Gone.jpg (19KB - 205 downloads)
Gone gone.jpg (15KB - 189 downloads)
Graph.jpg (38KB - 182 downloads)
Lund Rig.jpg (33KB - 187 downloads)
Morning interview with Kemos.jpg (49KB - 202 downloads)
Pre BLast off sun.jpg (21KB - 183 downloads)
Shimota getting ready.jpg (34KB - 167 downloads)
Telling Lies.jpg (33KB - 194 downloads)
Unhooking.jpg (40KB - 184 downloads)
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Member
Posts: 34
| The final day of the 2011 FLW Leech Lake walleye tournament did not disappoint! The weather was beautiful, if you were a spectator. However, warm sun, high skies, and flat calm conditions threw a lot of anglers' plans for a major loop. Those that were fishing shallow, like Bill Shimota, had to relocate to deeper fish. It paid off for some, but hurt others game plans.
"I was doing things a little bit different than other anglers and fishing shallow fish," said Shimota, who claimed a 2nd place finish. "There was a small bait fish spawn taking place that kept some good fish in shallow water. With today's conditions it was just not going to happen. So we moved out and found the fish in deeper water."
Kevin Carstensen beat the odds and picked up the winning fish near his weekend's honey hole and managed to pull of an impressive win with a three-day total of 41-11. But, his day was filled with emotion as he battled a few elements that would make any anglers nerves on edge.
"Early in the morning I noticed I was having battery issues as the alarm on my trolling motor was going off," says the 2011 FLW Leech Lake Champ, Kevin Carstensen. "This problem magnified and ended up keeping our livewells from working and all of our fish expired. I knew I had the winning bag, but was concerned about the penalty that would accompany dead fish. But, we took our chances and ended up winning the event. It was a bittersweet victory."
Carstensen took home a $63,000 check and is looking forward to the next event.
Top Ten
Kevin Carstenson - 41-11
Bill Shimota - 37-11
Mark Courts - 37-5
Paul Meleen - 32-14
Eric Olson - 32-6
David Bjorkman - 29-2
Tom Kemos - 26-13
Rick Olson - 26-10
Mark Christianson - 24-12
Scott Larson - 21-15
The next event is out of the city of Oconto, Wisconsin on legendary Green Bay, July 21st-23rd. Stay tuned for updates!
Tournament coverage brought to you by: Lund Boats and The Reel Shot/JJ Keller Fishing Team, and Mercury Marine.
Edited by THA4 6/11/2011 7:11 PM
(Big Fish in the pot.jpg)
(Carstensen two fish.jpg)
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Big Fish in the pot.jpg (42KB - 217 downloads)
Carstensen trophy.jpg (23KB - 178 downloads)
Carstensen two fish.jpg (28KB - 203 downloads)
Carstensen Victory.jpg (33KB - 202 downloads)
Carstensen wins.jpg (29KB - 195 downloads)
Courts and fish.jpg (28KB - 199 downloads)
Courts takes lead.jpg (31KB - 212 downloads)
Nice eye sun.jpg (23KB - 177 downloads)
Olson big fish.jpg (32KB - 195 downloads)
Shimota fish.jpg (24KB - 186 downloads)
Shimota takes lead.jpg (30KB - 180 downloads)
Waiti ng.jpg (43KB - 169 downloads)
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Member
Posts: 650
| Thanks for the coverage and pics. watched it yesterday. pretty nice. Sounds like a great place to visit someday. | |
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| Thank you for putting a caption on the photo's. Nice to know who I'm looking at !!! | |
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