Illinois team wins walleye title

DEVILS LAKE, N.D. – Chris Clemmons and Bob Hausler topped a field of 215 anglers to win as the Cabela’s National Team Champions last weekend at Devils Lake.

They weighed 28.59 pounds last Sunday to give them a two-day tournament total of 48.12 pounds as well as a $30,000 payday and a new Ranger boat.

“We’re overwhelmed” exclaimed an excited Clemmons.  “We combined a little luck with a little skill and it worked out great for us. This is one of the best things that ever happened in our lives.”

The team used some traditional Devils Lake tactics to raise their winning fish. “We were using bobbers in the trees and pitched the occasional jig out,” Hausle said. “With all that timber we ended up going through a lot of rigs. We came in on Tuesday and found our fish right away on Wednesday. We found what we called the “Magic Bush”.  The Magic Bush produced all our big fish on Saturday by 8:30 and all our big fish on Sunday by 8:45.”

They also slip bobbered leech-tipped Aberdeen hooks and at times pitched 1/32 ounce weedless jigs with their leeches. They had two spots over the two days that produced their fish.The Magic Bush was adjacent to deep water which they thought was important and held an abundance of freshwater shrimp. Their second spot was very near the boat launch at Graham’s Island State Park , which gave them their largest fish of an already good basket. “We took really good care of our leeches,” shared Clemmons when asked if there was anything special that they did for their live bait rigs. “We kept changing them into fresh water during the week and kept them plenty cold. They were lively and I think that helped quite a bit.”

Clemmons and Hauslers Magic Bush also produced them a hefty $30,000 check to go along with a brand new 619 Ranger Boat with a Yamaha outboard.

“We needed to upgrade our boat.  I think we were the smallest boat out there this weekend.  We were in a little 17 footer with a 115 horse power motor!  The boat will be a nice addition,”  Clemmons said..

Second Place went to the Kansas team of Eric Everhart and Larry Spaeny with a two day total of 10 walleyes coming to the scales at 40.25 pounds.