The 48th Annual Devils Lake Chamber Walleye Tournament brought out over a hundred fishermen and women to compete for big cash prizes on Friday. The top prize was a hefty $6,500. The tournament this year saw 112 entrants compete, six more than last year. It isn’t just people from Devils Lake who were looking to make a big catch. People from Fargo, Minnesota, and as far away as the state of Wisconsin who tried their luck at the Grahams Island State Park waters. Veterans of the game not only compete but beginners are hoping to nail some big catches.
“I just love that it’s a community event,” said Johnnie Candle, tournament director and master of ceremonies. “Brings the whole community together. Highlights our lake. Shows the world what we have to offer.”
Fish that are caught are either kept by the anglers or are donated toward the August Community Fish Fry and Corn Feed.
Tanner Paine and Tyler Elshaug took the top prize catching five walleye at a total of 28.89 pounds. This was their fourth time fishing together in the tournament. It should come as no surprise they won as they are fishing guides from Perch Patrol.
“We got the fish early and we were nervous until the last guy weighed in. It was pretty awesome,” said Elshaug. They credited new fishing technology such as forward-facing sonar that helped them successfully fish.
“It was an incredible, incredible event. Two great young men. They’re both guides here on Devils Lake. Born and raised in Devils Lake. Make their living on the lake. So it’s really fun to see those guys come through and beat a field of guys,” Candle said. “We have teams that have fished 29, 30 some years. And they beat them. It gives hope to all the young anglers out there that they can do it, too.”
