09/03/2026
2026 TOURNAMENT SEASON RECAP
What a season it was!
Cody and I spent 2026 chasing walleyes across Minnesota and South Dakota, battling tough bites, big fields, changing conditions—and some of the best anglers in the region.
The season started on Big Stone Lake in May with the Minnesota Tournament Trail. We finished 17th with 22.96 lbs. A lost 25" fish at the boat kept us from a potential Top-10 finish, but the tournament got us back in the groove.
A couple weeks later, we returned to Big Stone for the Moose Lodge Walleye Tournament, finishing 6th with 7.40 lbs. Every fish mattered in a tough bite!
In June, we fished the 46th Annual Lac qui Parle Lake Walleye Tournament, putting together a five-fish limit by 8:20 a.m. and finishing 11th. We caught more than 20 walleyes that day, but couldn't find the upgrades we needed.
Next came Bitter Lake, South Dakota, for the Roberts County Rescue Walleye Challenge. A completely different bite than we found during prefishing forced us to adjust and grind it out. We finished with four fish for 7.80 lbs.
After some time off, we headed back to Bitter Lake for the Master's Walleye Circuit. Competing against 93 boats and some of the best walleye anglers from around the country, we finished 32nd with 25 lbs. 9 oz.—just four pounds out of the money.
Then came August 29th…THE ONE WE'LL REMEMBER!
We fished the 9th Annual Pauly J. Larson Memorial Tournament on Lac qui Parle Lake, competing against 80 boats.
The morning started slow. Our first fish didn't come until late morning.
Then, around 1:15 p.m., everything changed.
A 27" walleye hit the boat.
We followed it with a couple more fish, made a move, and suddenly the pieces started falling into place. We added another 15.25" walleye and a 25.5" kicker, completing our five-fish limit with 17.51 pounds.
When the scales closed…
1ST PLACE
80 BOATS
17.51 POUNDS
$10,900 TOTAL PAYOUT
The winning fish came pitching jigs with minnows and crawlers.
From a slow morning to an incredible afternoon comeback, it was a day we'll never forget!
2026 SEASON HIGHLIGHTS
🏆 Pauly J. Larson Memorial Champions
🥇 1st out of 80 boats
🥇 $10,900 championship payout
🎣 6 tournament events
🎣 Minnesota & South Dakota
🏆 6th-place finish on Big Stone
🏆 11th-place finish at LQP
🎣 32nd out of 93 at the Master's Walleye Circuit
The season wasn't always easy. There were lost fish, tough bites, crowded spots, difficult decisions and plenty of times when one more kicker fish could have changed everything.
But that's tournament fishing.
You keep grinding. You adapt. You learn. And you keep coming back.
A huge THANK YOU to everyone who supported us throughout the season, our sponsors Miller Services/Tri-County Insurance and Mitlyng Electric, HVAC, Plumbing & Refrigeration, the tournament organizers and volunteers, and all the anglers who shared the water with us.
Most importantly, we're thankful for the great friends, memories and time on the water that made this season so special.
And ending the season as Pauly J. Larson Memorial Champions on Lac qui Parle Lake?
Couldn't have written a better ending.
Pete McGinty & Cody Enger
