2015 Montana Circuit Tournament Results
2015 Tournament Results
2015 Wrap Up and Thank You to Our Sponsors
The 2015 Montana Walleye Circuit is now history and it was a great year. We are pleased to announce we have had an increase in sponsorships for the Montana Walleye Circuit 2016.
Overall, the majority of the sponsorship support went back into each of the 4 individual circuit tournaments which provided benefits to the greatest number of participants and the greatest exposure and promotion for the sponsors.
We had over 500 individuals fish in at least one if not more of the circuit events this past year!
Tammy started a Montana Walleye Circuit on FACEBOOK. Please take a look and LIKE us on FACEBOOK. Social media is here and it is a good way to get timely information out to sponsors, and anglers. This represents a new and different effort and probably will evolve throughout the season. Again, suggestions are appreciated.
The Circuit held 4 events in 2015:
Tiber Tournament May 30-31 91 teams
Fresno Challenge June 13-14 100 teams
Canyon Ferry Walleye Festival June 22-23 130 teams
Fall Classic Aug 8-9 58 teams
The schedule for 2016 has been set as follows:
Fresno Challenge May 21-22 100 teams
Tiber Tournament June 11-12 100 teams
Canyon Ferry Walleye Festival June 25-26 150 teams
Fenwick Fall Classic Aug 6-7 75 teams
The 2015 Circuit Awards and plaques for Angler of the Year, Team of the Year, Top Lund, Top Adult/Child Teams, Top Mixed Couple Teams, etc. were presented at the Walleyes Unlimited State convention in Bozeman, MT on April 30th, 2016 as follows:
Angler of the Year – Kennie Williams and Travis Scott received a check in the amount of $1000 from the Circuit. (a mercury powered Warrior team). Second
place went to Bob Hickey and Jason Mundel. They were presented a check for $500 from the Circuit. Third Place went to Bob Sherer and Darrell Archey. They were presented a check for $250 from the Circuit.
One of the Top 15 Angler of the Year participants was awarded a Ranger voucher worth $1500 from One Way Marine and Ranger Boats. Marlin Cross received that certificate based on a random drawing at the final awards ceremony.
Top Lund Team of the Year – Bob Hickey and Jason Mundel received a check for $500 from Townsend Marine and Lund. (a Mercury powered Lund team)
Team of the Year --From Huk Performance Fishing: Kennie Williams and Travis Scott received a new Huk Foul Weather rain suit, which is probably the best rain gear being made today, and a new sponsor this year!
Top Adult/Child Team – Andy and Tim Rose from Huntley, MT received a check for $250 from Bob and Patti Hickey and the Montana Walleye Circuit , along with 2 Mercury Boat bags. Second Place went to Marty McLean and Caed Malone. Third Place went to Todd and Devon Mitchell. Plaques were given to all placements.
Top Mixed Couple Team – Gordy and Tanya Matson from Ennis, MT received a check for $250 and 2 Mercury Boat bags. Second place went to Phil and Kim Kumm. Third place went to Tessa Damuth and Dewey Vogl. They were all presented plaques as well.
Largest walleye caught and released Award – Cody and Terry Eisenbarth from Great Falls was presented a replica mount of the largest walleye caught and released during the tournaments nicely done by Three Rivers Taxidermy--Dylan Lencioni. The team also received a check in the amount of $1000 from Region 3 (Miles City and Billings Chapters) Fresno, and Great Falls for releasing the biggest walleye of the year.
The 2nd largest walleye caught and released also received a cash award of $300 from the Great Falls and Fresno Chapters of Walleyes Unlimited and was presented to Belgrade anglers Bryan Finkbeiner and Vern Parrows.
A big thank you to North 40 for providing our advertising needs including: boat boards, posters, banners, and weigh cards.
We also want to give special thanks to all of the other sponsors who provided other things that we needed and were able to then use at no additional cost to the circuit:
Boat decals and bags from Townsend Marine and Lund
K2 Laserworks, Todd Koessl for the end of the year plaques
Walleyes Unlimited web master Dave Sedlock for making updates to the tournament web page.
Fish Tales Magazine for publishing the news and articles and sponsor thank you’s.
For the 2016 season, we have added several sponsors and welcome them to the Montana Walleye Circuit. We have new contingency awards from Snowy Mountain Motors, Lewistown (Ram Trucks), Tilleman Motors, Havre (GMC Trucks), and Pierce Chevrolet, Ronan (Chevy Trucks). Don’s Store, Lewistown donated the pistol we are currently raffling, and Ma’s Loma Café, Loma is donating a rifle for the next raffle. We also appreciate Western Trailer and Marine, Havre who are sharing the Crestliner contingency money now with long time sponsor One Way Marine, for all four tournaments. We also picked up some help for the goody bags this year from Northland Tackle. Please remember to support all of our sponsors—both new and old!!
We are excited to be working for the sponsors and anglers for the Montana Walleye Circuit for 2016. We would like your feedback regarding the Montana Walleye Circuit. We also appreciate the Tournament Directors and the Angler Committee that has stepped up to help out with the circuit: Brian Olson-Fresno, Scott Achilles-Tiber, Matt Zeadow-Canyon Ferry, Don and Orrin Pyrah-Fenwick Fall Classic, Bob Hickey-Angler Committee, Mike McElvain-Angler Committee, and Todd Koessl-Angler Committee.
Also, Thanks to Roger Terwilleger for serving as the Montana Walleye Circuit Director for the past two years.
Tournament results and final circuit rankings are posted on the Walleyes Unlimited tournament page at: http://montanawalleyesunlimited.net/tournaments.htm under the results tab.
Tammy and Don Pyrah, Montana Walleye Circuit Co-Directors
2015 Walleyes Unlimited of Montana 2015 Fort Peck Championship Series
By Steve Harada
The 2015 WUM Fort Peck Championship Series was fished by over 650 individual anglers and many of the tournaments saw a significant increase in numbers. The Rock Creek Walleye Tournament kicked of the Fort Peck Champion Series and had a near capacity pool with 95 teams out of a maximum 100. The Montana Governor’s Cup and the Hell Creek Walleye Tournament both filled their rosters. The Fall Classic ended up with nearly 60 teams, the Classic was added as a fourth event this season as a pilot and it was held out of Hell Creek Marina.
Brandon Babb from Wolf Point captured the honors as the 2015 Angler of the Year with a great year on the water, with a 1st place finish at Rock Creek with Gary Cayko and a 2nd place finish at Hell Creek with his son Brady Babb. Brady & Brandon also won the Adult/Child competition for this year with their 2nd place at Hell Creek and a 48th place at the Montana Governor’s Cup. Congrats and way to keep fishing in the family! This year’s second place award was a tie and captured by perennial top anglers Travis Scott of Harlowtown and Kennie Williams of Lewistown. These guys had a 6th place finish at the Gov Cup and were Runner’s Up at the Fall Classic event. They had a tremendous year on the water and congratulations to both. Third place honors go out to Jon Stoller from Laurel who had place 5th at Hell Creek and 3rd place at the Fall Classic.
Team of the Year honors go out to Travis Scott & Kennie Williams after their great angling performance. Second place for team of the year was won by Chris and Ken Rossol from Sidney who had a 10th place at Rock Creek and a 7th place at the MT Gov Cup. The Rossol’s have fished together for a long time and their angling expertise shows. They also caught the largest walleye by a qualifying team in the 2015 Ft. Peck Championship series with an 11.42 pound walleye caught and released at Rock. Third place honors go out to mixed couple team Jessica and Chris Kwasney of Circle. This husband and wife team had a 21st place at Gov Cup and a 7th place finish at Hell Creek. They also ended up winning first place in the mixed couple competition with a great year on the water.
The second place Mixed Couple award went to Jesse and Monica Reuter of Sidney who had another solid year after winning last year’s MT Governor’s Cup. This year they finished 20th at Gov Cup and ended up 9th at Hell Creek. Third place went to Gordon and Tanya Matson from Ennis who had a 14th place at Hell Creek and 18th place at the Fall Classic. Awesome job to the Matson’s husband/wife team with their great Peck fishing!
Second place in the Adult/Child Competition was won by Bobby McElvain of Billings and Breyden Rose from Huntely. These two young guns had a great year and demonstrated that the future of angling is in great hands for many years to come. They finished 23rd at Rock Creek and a stellar 8th place at Hell Creek. Great job guys!
We are looking forward to another great year in 2016 and hopefully we will get some snowpack in the mountains. Fort Peck has been fishing well with guys out in boats just two days ago on the first day of winter. Mother Nature has vented a little bit so the boats may be put away for a little bit anyway. At this time, there are three tournaments scheduled for the Fort Peck Championship Series; Rock Creek June 4 & 5, The Montana Governor’s Cup Walleye Tournament July 8 & 9 and Hell Creek is slated for July 23 & 24, 2016. Thanks to the sponsors of the Fort Peck Championship Series, The Gateway Club, Hi-Line Ford, D & G Sports, Git-n-Go, J & M Distributing, Rock Creek Marina and Wolf Point Walleyes Unlimited. A big thanks to all of the volunteers who staff the tournaments, the Patrol Boat Operators, the Marinas the host the events, the Montana FWP, our official scorekeeper Lee Ann Loucks and all of the tournament anglers. The tournaments all were either filled or close to full so get your applications in early and make sure you get a spot. Have a great winter and have a Happy, Safe & Bountiful New Year!
Click here for complete results!
2015 Montana Walleye Circuit Top 100
Click here for complete results!
Fenwick Fall Classic Results
Click here for complete results!
Mens Hell Creek Results
2015 Hell Creek Walleye Tournament top finishers, photos and complete results
1st place: Clyde Phipps-Kane Mury
2nd place: Brandon & Brady Babb, also top adult child team
3rd place: Eric Doeden-Aaron McWilliams
Top mixed couple: Chris & Jessica Kwasney
Click here for complete results!
Broadwater Rod and Gun Club Derby Results
On July 11, 2015 The Broadwater Rod and Gun Club held its Annual Walleye Derby on Canyon Ferry Lake. Sponsors were State Bank of Townsend and Townsend Marine. 43 teams took off from Broadwater Bay at the Silos at 8:30am.
In addition to the $300 prize in the adult/child category, again this year was an additional prize. Townsend Marine joined forces with Lund to bring the Angler and Young Angler (AYA) program to the BRGC Derby. Courtesy of Townsend Marine and Lund the winning adult/child team received a Lund boat. Townsend Marine also donated a motor guide to the 2nd place adult/child in addition to the $175 from BRGC. Townsend Marine contributed a fisher finder for the 3rd place who also got $150 from BRGC.
Results are as follows:
Adult/Child Teams:
1st place: $300 Randy and Calysta Larson of Helena. 2nd place: $175 Jim Gillespie and Tyler Paddock of Helena. 3rd place: $150 Lonnie and Rylie Wirtz of Belgrade 4th place: $140 Dave and Bradon Gregor of Gallatin Gateway 5th place: $130 Dewey and Kennedy Vogl of Townsend 6th place: $120 Joe and Shana Bushilla of Belgrade
Female/Female Teams:
1st place: $300 Janna and Hanna Kroll of Helena 2nd place: $175 Shawna McCartney and Rachel Stubbendeck of Townsend
Female/Male Teams:
1st place $300 Rich and Sheryl Tatarka of Bozeman 2nd pace: $175 Kiff and Kamae Meier of Townsend 3rd place: $150 Tom and Roxanne Tubbs of Helena 4th place: $140 Derek and Meagan Fox of East Helena 5th place: $130 Kindra and Bruce Turney of Townsend
1st place overall: $400 Randy and Calysta Larson
Big Walleye: $380 Randy and Calysta Larson
Big Carp: $150 Randy and Calysta Larson
Governor Cup Tournament Results
Sam Lawson and Clay Kittleson - 34.52 lbs
Luke Sundby and Eli Williams - 32.66 lbs
Kevin Lynch and Mike Block - 31.24 lbs
Martin and Danny Reichert - 28.30 lbs
Fuzz Carnahan and Jay Boardman - 27.77 lbs
Click here for complete results!
Canyon Ferry Tournament Results
Williams, Kennie and Scott, Travis - 39.48 lbs
Ross, Stanley and Briggs, Thad - 38.13 lbs
Schmidt, Ken and Jones, Mark - 29.68 lbs
Archey, Darrell and Sherer, Bob - 25.63 lbs
Dreier, Tim and Jensen, Bob 25.32 lbs
Click here for complete results!
Rock Creek Tournament results
Rock Creek 2015 -By Steve Harada
The Rock Creek Walleye Tournament kicked of the Fort Peck Champion Series with a very subtle ping rather than a bang for most the 95 anglers. However, Gary Cayko of Bismarck, ND and Brandon Babb of Wolf Point started out the tournament with an explosive first day and brought in a 5-fish limit of 40.84 pounds. These fish were all caught in the first hour or so of the event. They zeroed on Day 2 but their commanding lead sustained and the ended up with a 15 pound advantage over the second place team to win the 2015 Rock Creek Tournament. Glendive brothers and long-time tournament anglers, Tim and Steve Linder came out smoking on Day 2 and had a great day with 24.96 pounds to capture the runner-up and also the Cool Under Pressure Award. Third place also went to another Glendive team, Jamie and Troy Egge, who went out and smacked 22.5 pounds of Walleye for the day. The husband/wife team also popped the big walleye for the day with a 31 ˝ inch hog and mixed couple award, as well! Both the second and third place teams went from zero weight on Day ? to near the top of the leader board, overall. The adult/child team was won by Jason and Beau Beery of Brockway with 15th place overall and 15.7 pounds.
The largest walleye for the event was a 32 Ľ inch beast caught on Day 1 by Matthew Neisen of Spearfish, SD and Joe Vaith of Lesterville, SD who also finished 6th overall. The largest northern pike was a 42 incher caught by Kyle Vine of Vida and Colby Tognetti of Bismarck, ND.
Mother Nature was very nice this year and provided two absolutely gorgeous days on the water. A wild thunderstorm came through on Friday night, along with cold water temperatures and clouds of baitfish all may have contributed to the “tough bite” but it was certainly challenging and humbling for nearly everyone out there. Thanks to all of the sponsors of the Rock Creek Walleye Tournament - Budweiser, Nemont Beverage, The Gateway Club, Rock Creek Marina, Wolf Point Walleyes Unlimited, The Lakeridge Motel, Big Sky Fire Equipment, Carly Rush and Carl and Cathy Seilstad. Thanks to all of the anglers who fished the event, a big thanks to the Patrol Boat volunteers and all of the staff who contribute immensely to the success of the event. Next event on the Fort Peck Championship Series is the Montana Governor’s Cup Walleye Tournament. I believe they are close to 170 teams and will likely fill up with 200 boats this year. The “bite” has turned on a Fort Peck in past week or so, watch out for some huge weights at the next events. After Gov Cup is Hell Creek, July 25 & 26 and a new qualifying event for the Fort Peck Championship Series is the Fall Classic. This year the Fall Classic will be held out of Hell Creek and be a qualifier for both the Walleyes Unlimited of Montana Fort Peck Championship Series and WUM Tournament Circuit, WUM Circuit rules will be followed at this event.
1st - Gary Cayko and Brandon Babb - 40.84 lbs
2nd - Tim Linder and Steve Linder - 24.96 lbs
3rd - Troy Egge and Jamie Egge - 22.5 lbs
4th - Douglas Wick and Dayton Wick - 21.86 lbs
5th - Tyler vine and Gage Gordon - 20.42
Click here for complete results!
Tiber Tournament results
Congratulations to all fisher men and women in the Tiber tournament last weekend. Below are the top five over-all finishers and complete results
Brian Olson / Casey Chovaniac - 38.7 lbs
Donald Beville / Ralph Bosworth - 33.82 lbs
Phil Kumm / Kim Kumm - 25.15 lbs
Stanley Ross / Thad Briggs - 24.24 lbs
Terry Eisenbarth / Cody Eisenbarth - 24.12 lbs
Click here for complete results!
Fresno Tournament results
Below are the top five over-all finishers and complete results
Thomas, Steve and Cole, Ray - 27.98 lbs
Hinderager, Ty and Fischer, Matt - 27.38 lbs
Corbitt, Kevin and Collinsworth, Dave - 27.22 lbs
Rooney, Robert and Rooney, Daniel - 26.16 lbs
Molstad, Nate and Overcast, Jordan - 24.56 lbs
Click here for complete results!
Jordan Walleyes Unlimited Annual Tough Guy Results
Jordan Chapter of Walleyes Unlimited Hosted in annual walleye banquet on Friday April 17 with approximately 250 people in attendance. This was followed by its Annual Tough Guy Walleye Tournament on Saturday. While the temperature was favorable with a high near 60 degrees, wind above 20 mph made conditions truly tough. The toughest made the 40 mile run to Forchette Bay and beyond and did quite well. One team reported a 2 hour and 10 minute trip back to Hell Creek to the waves. No large females were caught be the teams did well on 14’ to 20” inch males. Pre fishing did have fisherman doing well in Snow Creek but that bite shut down due to the conditions.
Water temp outside Hell Creek was at 45 degrees and 48 degrees in the bay. Forchette was near 50 degree water temp.
64 teams participated in the event which represents the second highest participation level in the 20 plus year history of the Tough Guy. Winners of the event were:
1st: Clint and Layne Thomas of Jordan with a five fish 14.06 pound bag
2nd: Bob Magnuson and Jerome Papineau of Miles City with 5 fish for 13.50 lbs
3rd: Ben and Steve Powell
4rd: Pat Slater and Mark Nuss from Powell Wy with 5 fish for 11.02 lbs
5th: Clyde and Brem Phipps with 5 fish for 10.04 lbs
6th: Dave Jones and Dustin Knutson from Calgary AB with 5 fish for 9.96 lbs
7th: Casey and Kaiden Thomas of Jordan with 5 fish for 7.18 lbs
Big northern was a tie at 37˝” between the Clint and Layne Thomas team and the Powell team
Big walleye was a 22” fish caught by the team of Clint and Layne Thomas. Second place was a tie with the Thomas team and Magnuson and Papineau at 21”
