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KOESTER & RHODES WIN CABELA’S MASTERS WALLEYE CIRCUIT WORLD WALLEYE CHAMPIONSHIP ON LAKE ERIE

Dundee, MI – Jeff Koester of Brookville, Indiana and
Scott Rhodes of Traverse City, Michigan were crowned Cabela’s Masters Walleye Circuit World Walleye Champions on Saturday, October 6th in Dundee, Michigan, cashing $25,000 for the honor.

The duo bested a field of 59 teams on a very cooperative Lake Erie that provided three days of calm conditions.
Koester and Rhodes trolled the Canadian waters near Pelee Island with spinners. Their three-day fifteen fish winning weight topped the roster at 88.68 pounds, a 5.9 pound average. This was the team’s second circuit victory as they won the Walleye Madness Championship bracketed tournament in May of 2007, held in Port Clinton, Ohio.

“Good thing we had that first day basket over 37 pounds,” shared Rhodes after the honor was bestowed on the stage, just outside the Cabela’s store in Dundee, Michigan. “We ended up needing that extra room.” The new Champs managed to retain the lead each day of the tournament, bringing in 22.43 pounds on day two and 28.60 pounds on day three. Their day one weight 37.65 pounds was the largest basket of the tournament,
although fifteen other 30-plus pound baskets were brought in over the three days. Their lead on day one was 7.83 pounds. After the second day, however, the race tightened up
and it was still open for anyone to pull ahead, especially with the quality and proliferation of the walleyes on Lake Erie.
The biggest fish of the tournament was a tie between the leaders and Tim Waltz of Williamsport, Pennsylvania and George Barach of Barryton, Michigan. Each brought in 10.39 pound walleyes to earn big fish of the day with Koester and Rhodes big fish coming on Thursday and Waltz and Barach besting the field on Saturday. Friday’s big fish award went to Burt Willes and Troy Saunders of Menasha, Wisconsin for their 9.60 pound walleye. Each team received a $500 gift card from Cabela’s for the honor.
David Kolb of Ada, Michigan and Dan Byers of Cedar Springs, Michigan both bought new Toyota Tundra trucks this year – and it paid off. They split the $5,000 bonus from Toyota for being the highest finishing team in the tournament in a Toyota Tundra. Kolb and Byers finished in 10th place with 75.29 pounds and cashed $1,500 for the 10th place spot plus $5,000 from Toyota for $6,500. Adam Rasmussen of Stevens Point, Wisconsin won the Ranger Cup bonus of $1,000 for finishing highest in the Ranger Cup program. Rasmussen and partner Brad Jakusz from
Amherst, Wisconsin finished in 5th place with 83.63 pounds.