DeVries and Koch Reel in 17.5 Pounds and $4500 in Walleye Classic

The Big Stone Walleye Classic celebrated its 40th year at Hartford Beach on Big Stone Lake on June 19. A total of 97 teams from North and South Dakota, Minnesota, and Iowa fished for the chance to claim a piece of the nearly $20,0000 prize money.  First-place winners, Doug DeVries and Dalton Koch, reeled in 17.5 pounds of walleye and netted a whopping $4500.

Jason Ackerman and Jeff Trapp were the second-place winners. They pulled in 16.5 pounds of fish to earn $3500.

The third-place team of Tyler and Jason Bear pulled up 15.9 pounds to take home $2500.

Rick and Ashley Kruse wrangled a walleye weighing seven pounds to win the coveted Biggest Fish Award and a cool $1000.  The 40th-place team of Pete McGinty and Cody Enger were awarded $200 in 40th anniversary money. There was a total of 138 fish caught totaling 342.58 pounds in the tournament.

Other place winners included: 4. Riley Arndt and Tanner Arndt – 14.95 pounds – $1700  5. Bill Schellberg and Kip Koch – 12.9 pounds – $1500 6. Dave Albrecht and Junior Albrecht – 12.3 pounds – $1100  7. David Rudebusch and James Rudebusch – 12.15 pounds – $800  8. Monty Athey and Jackson Athey – 11.85 pounds – $600  9. Grant Borns and Zach Hunke – 11.35 pounds – $500 10. David Cornelius and Brian Krutchek – 11.1 pounds – $400  11. Brandon Trapp and Shawn Wellnitz -10.98 pounds – $300  12. Brett Hudson and Chris Wrich – 10.7 pounds – $200 13. Rick Kruse and Ashley Kruse – 9.95 pounds – $200 14. Allen Schlenker and Mark Schlenker – 9.85 pounds – $200

Raffle ticket winners were: Carin Schmitz, $300; Rich Albrecht, $200; Heather Pillatzki, $150, and Shawn Wellnitz, $100.

The Big Stone Walleye Classic is a non-profit organization. Committee member officers include: Nicolle Berkner, president; Mike Larson, vice president; Brandon Berens, treasurer; and Jani Berens, secretary. Other committee members are Mike Tietjen, Bob Berens, Michelle Berens, Travis Thiele, Jody Heemstra, and Tiffany Patnoe.

The 2022 Big Stone Walleye Classic will be held on June 18, 2022.