Kvalevog leads FLW Walleye Tour Event on Mississippi River

5/20/2010 6:19:44 PM

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Pro Toby Kvalevog of Brainerd, Minn., and co-angler Cal Van Cleve of Wilmot, S.D., brought in five fish weighing 27 pounds, 7 ounces Thursday to lead day one of the FLW Walleye Tour Western Division tournament on the Mississippi River, where they are fishing pool no. 3. The pair now holds a 2-pound, 2-ounce lead over their closest rivals in the first Tour stop on the Western Division featuring 56 pros and 56 co-anglers from across the country fishing for top awards of $30,455 in the Pro Division and $5,398 in the Co-angler Division.

“It was a beautiful day on the water and I had a stick today in Cal [Van Cleve],” said Kvalevog. “[Cal] told me he couldn’t catch any fish with a jig and the first thing this morning he caught one jigging. I then asked him what else he couldn’t do and we would do it.

“I got to my spot this morning, and there was already a boat there. I just adjusted and moved away, and luckily it ended up being the right spot. There were three boats, including myself, that stayed there all day. I just hope it stays that way, and I can get to where I was.

“The fish bit off-and-on all day so hopefully I can get [to the same spot] tomorrow. Hopefully if I can’t get there, I can get somewhere where I can get a decent bag tomorrow. I don’t expect to get 27 pounds again, but I would certainly be happy with it.”

Kvalevog said he had limited preparations for this tournament. “I got on the water at 7 a.m. Wednesday morning and of course we had to be done at noon. I did come down a couple weeks ago and fish, and the water came up and was so much faster. All the stuff I was fishing, except for one spot, was no good.”

Rounding out the remainder of the top-10 pros and co-anglers after day one the Mississippi River are:

   2nd:   Steve Lotz, Lena, Ill.; Lance Bainville, Mounds View, Minn.; five fish, 25-5
   3rd:   Bill Shimota, Lonsdale, Minn.; Todd Dankert, Anoka, Minn.; five fish, 23-11
   4th:   Robert Bruegger, Wabasha, Minn.; Robert Dube, Williston, N.D.; five fish, 23-1
   5th:   Dusty Minke, Forest Lake, Minn.; Michael Dubois, Elk River, Minn.; five fish, 21-9
   6th:   Chevy pro Jason Przekurat, Stevens Point, Wis.; National Guard co-angler Daniel Halan, Rochester, Minn.; four fish, 21-2
   7th:   Chad Nissen, White Bear Township, Minn.; Jason Anderson, West Fargo, N.D.; five fish, 20-13
   8th:   Paul Meleen, Isle, Minn.; Larry Behsman, Elysian, Minn.; five fish, 18-10
   9th:   Richard Lowe, Soldiers Grove, Wis.; Bryan Bayerkohler, Eagan, Minn.; five fish, 17-0
   10th: Brian Bjorkman, Fargo, N.D.; Boyd Strissel, Billings, Mont.; five fish, 15-11

Overall there were 214 fish weighing 589 pounds, 9 ounces caught by 54 boats Thursday. The catch included 30 five-fish limits.