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Mirutenko Grabs Lead In $2.9 Million 2002 Wal-Mart RCL Walleye Circuit Season Opener 
 

Taylor, Mich., (April 3, 2002) — Pro Wasyl Mirutenko of Hawthorn Woods, Ill., and his opening day partner Joe Kutz of Allen Park, Mich., landed a five-walleye limit weighing 26 pounds, 5 ounces Wednesday on the Detroit River to lead the $2.9 million 2002 Wal-Mart RCL Walleye Circuit season opener. 

If Mirutenko can maintain his lead throughout the four-day tournament, he will collect $50,000 cash plus a fully rigged Ranger, Crestliner or Lund boat powered by Evinrude or Yamaha. Kutz is fishing for a top co-angler award of $15,000 cash. Unseasonably cool weather and water temperatures in the low 30s, however, will challenge both men and 149 other competitors in each division. 

To combat the cold weather and find active fish, Mirutenko and Kutz concentrated their efforts around a warm water discharge north of the takeoff site. In fact, nearly half the field fished within two miles of the power plant discharge.

Pro Rick Cole of Elwood, Ind., and co-angler John Galaska of Omaha, Neb., finished opening day in second place with five walleyes weighing 25 pounds, 12 ounces. Rounding out the top five were pro Tim Drascic of Monona, Wis., and co-angler Tom Harrison of Naperville, Ill., with five walleyes weighing 22 pounds, 9 ounces; pro Jeff Taege of Rhinelander, Wis., and co-angler Don Lee of Commerce Township, Mich., with three walleyes weighing 21 pounds, 15 ounces; and pro John Hertensteiner of Victoria, Minn., and co-angler Ron Schropp of Omaha, Neb., with five walleyes weighing 21 pounds, 13 ounces.

Overall, 460 walleye weighing 1,292 pounds, 14 ounces were caught Wednesday, including 55 five-walleye limits. More than 98 percent of the walleyes were released alive.

Competition resumes at 7 a.m. Thursday at Lake Erie Metropark in Brownstown, Mich., when competitors from 19 states and Canada takeoff for the final day of opening round competition. Following Thursday’s 3 p.m. weigh-in at the park, the field will be cut to the top 20 pros and top 20 co-anglers. These anglers will advance to the one-day semifinal round Friday where they will compete for a spot in the final round. Only the top 10 pros and top 10 co-anglers will advance to Saturday’s final round. Catch weights are carried over during the opening round, but anglers start the semifinal and final rounds from zero. Friday and Saturday’s weigh-ins start at 4 p.m. at the Wal-Mart Supercenter located at 7555 Telegraph Road in Taylor.

Directed by FLW Outdoors and named after Wal-Mart and boat manufacturers Ranger, Crestliner and Lund, the Wal-Mart RCL Walleye Circuit is the world’s most lucrative walleye fishing series. The circuit features four regular season tournaments each with a $346,000 cash purse and a championship with a $1.4 million cash purse. Cash payments are presented through 50th place.

The second Wal-Mart RCL Walleye Circuit tournament is May 1-4 on Lake Sharpe in Pierre, S.D., followed by events on Lake Winnebago in Oshkosh, Wis., May 29-June 1 and Saginaw Bay in Bay City, Mich., June 26-29.

After four regular season tournaments, 200 pros and 200 co-anglers from the Wal-Mart RCL Walleye Circuit and other sanctioned tournament organizations and events will compete in the $1.4 million Wal-Mart RCL Walleye Championship for a top pro award of up to $400,000 cash and a top co-angler award of up to $150,000 cash. The championship will be held on the Mississippi River near Red Wing, Minn., Oct. 2-5. Green Bay hosted the Wal-Mart RCL Championship last season when Dean Arnoldussen of Kaukauna, Wis., won $400,000 and instantly joined the sport’s top all-time money winners. 

Entry fees for regular season tournaments are $1,250 for pros and $500 for co-anglers. A limited number of co-angler spots are still available in each tournament. To enter, visit FLWOutdoors or call 270-362-5259.
OPENING DAY RESULTS — APRIL 3, 2002
Wal-Mart RCL Walleye Circuit: Detroit River, Taylor, Mich.
Pro Division
Place Name City, State Caught Lbs. Ozs.
1 WASYL  MIRUTENKO HAWTHORN WOODS, IL 5 26 5
2 RICK  COLE ELWOOD, IN 5 25 12
3 TIM  DRASCIC MONONA, WI 5 22 9
4 JEFF  TAEGE RHINELANDER, WI 3 21 15
5 JOHN  HERTENSTEINER VICTORIA, MN 5 21 13
6 JOHN  E NELSON WAHKON, MN 4 20 13
7 JEFF  MANZ VANDERBILT, MI 5 19 14
8 RANDY  VANDERWEIDE WYOMING, MI 5 19 5
9 DAN  PLAUTZ MUSKEGO, WI 5 19 1
10 JOHN  KOLINSKI MENASHA, WI 5 18 4
11 TODD  RILEY AMERY, WI 5 17 4
12 MARK A BRUMBAUGH ARCANUM, OH 5 16 12
13 PHILIP C EIRIKSON AUSTIN , MN 5 16 7
14 JERRY J RUFFOLO MANITOWOC, WI 3 16 5
15 SCOTT  ALLAR WELCH, MN 5 16 0
16 TOM  BRUNZ MADISON LAKE, MN 5 15 13
17 GREGORY J YARBROUGH WHITE LAKE, MI 5 15 8
18 BRET  BEEBE CROSSLAKE, MN 5 15 1
19 BRIAN  NEY BAUDETTE, MN 2 14 10
19 JOE  MITCHELL CAMBRIDGE, MN 5 14 10
21 PETE  HARSH SAUK CENTRE, MN 5 14 8
22 DAVID  POZEK DEARBORN, MI 5 14 2
23 JOE  LOCKMAN GRAND RAPIDS, MI 4 14 1
24 ROBERT  PIETTE WYANDOTTE, MI 5 14 0
25 PAUL K. K WRIGHT WESTPOINT, IN 5 13 14
25 JOE  WHITTEN TOLEDO, OH 5 13 14
27 RICK  TRABERT TIFFIN, IA 5 13 11
28 CHAD  HALL ALGONA, IA 5 13 8
29 ROSS  GROTHE APPLE VALLEY, MN 5 13 6
30 DAVE  TRUETT LOWELL, IN 2 13 4
31 CHRIS  GILMAN CHISAGO CITY, MN 3 13 2
32 JOHN  CAMPBELL WALKER, MN 3 13 0
33 MIKE  GOFRON ANTIOCH, IL 5 12 13
34 TODD  FRANK PULASKI, NY 5 12 11
34 JOHN  PRATT ROBERTS, MT 2 12 11
36 MARTIN J GLORVIGEN GRAND RAPIDS, MN 5 12 10
36 LARRY  MOTE BURLINGTON, IN 5 12 10
38 ERIC  PETROSKY ROYAL OAK, MI 5 12 7
39 CARL  GRUNWALDT GREEN BAY, WI 2 12 6
40 RONNIE H RHODES LORAIN, OH 3 12 5
41 MARK  MARTIN TWIN LAKE, MI 5 12 2
42 ERIC  NAIG CYLINDER, IA 5 12 0
43 PERRY  GOOD EAGAN, MN 5 11 14
44 DAVE  SPAID PIERRE, SD 2 11 11
45 RICHARD  LACOURSE OREGON, OH 5 11 10
46 SCOTT  GLORVIGEN GRAND RAPIDS, MN 5 11 9
47 DUANE  TEN CATE SIOUX FALLS, SD 3 11 8
48 GARY  ROACH MERRIFIELD, MN 5 11 7
49 DAVE  HANSON BEMIDJI, MN 5 11 5
49 FRANK  ZATOR MANHATTAN, IL 5 11 5
51 RON  GAZVODA LAKEWOOD, CO 5 11 4
51 CHRIS  BAHL SIDNEY, NE 2 11 4
53 ROBERT  CROW PATERSON, WA 5 11 0
54 STEVE  LOTZ LENA, IL 5 10 14
55 BRUCE  DESHANO SAND POINT, MI 5 10 11
56 RICK  WALTER CASPER, WY 5 10 9
57 SHELDON  MEIDINGER BISMARCK, ND 4 10 7
58 RICK  OLSON MINA LAKE, SD 5 10 6
59 JASON  PRZEKURAT STEVENS POINT, WI 3 10 5
60 DENNIS  LANTZY WARREN, MI 5 10 0
61 SCOTT  RHODES TRAVERSE CITY, MI 4 9 15
61 DWAINE  WHITE OREGON, IL 5 9 15
63 TIM  REITAN SABIN, MN 5 9 13
63 BRUCE  SAMSON MINNETRISTA, MN 5 9 13
63 CARY  LITERSKI WAUPACA, WI 5 9 13
66 PATRICK J BYLE COLGATE, WI 2 9 12
67 DANNY  PLAUTZ MUSKEGO, WI 2 9 11
68 NORB  WALLOCK CONOVER, WI 3 9 10
69 BILL  LEONARD ESTHERVILLE, IA 5 9 7
70 DAVID  RHODES NEW WILMINGTON, PA 4 9 5
70 BOBBY J YANCEY NEWPORT, MI 4 9 5
72 JULIA  DAVIS PORT CLINTON, OH 5 9 4
72 BILL  ORTIZ DODGEVILLE, WI 5 9 4
74 THOMAS G VANDERWEIDE JENISON, MI 5 9 0
75 TOM  DINNEWETH DEARBORN HEIGHTS, MI 3 8 13
75 RONALD  MASON ESTHERVILLE, IA 5 8 13
75 BILL  COATS RIPON, WI 5 8 13
78 JOHN  JANOUSEK BRAINERD, MN 4 8 12
78 GREG  SCHENECKER WATERTOWN, SD 4 8 12
80 TOMMY  SKARLIS WALKER, MN 5 8 10
81 ANDREW F KUFFER FAIR HAVEN, MI 4 8 4
82 JEFF  KOESTER BROOKVILLE, IN 4 7 14
83 JOHN  GILLMAN FREELAND, MI 3 7 11
84 JEFF  RUSSELL GRAND HAVEN, MI 1 7 9
85 RYAN  JOHNSON TAYLOR, MI 4 7 6
86 LARRY  PETERS TRENTON, MI 4 7 5
86 JIM R WAHL LE CLAIRE, IA 4 7 5
88 KEN  SCHOENECKER WEST BEND, WI 4 7 4
89 ERIC D OLSON MINNEAPOLIS, MN 4 7 3
90 TOM  BRUNO PIERRE, SD 3 7 1
91 ANDY  ZIMMERMAN NEW FRANKEN, WI 4 6 15
92 VICTOR  STOLCERS DELAVAN, WI 3 6 14
93 DAVID R KRAFT BISMARK, ND 2 6 11
94 KEITH  ESHBAUGH WASHINGTON, PA 4 6 10
95 DONALD G SMITH SHELBY, MI 2 6 4
96 MARK  MERAVY SHOREWOOD, IL 3 6 1
97 BRAD  KNOLL MENASHA, WI 3 5 15
98 ROGER  MEYER WATERTOWN, SD 3 5 12
99 STEVE  LAMB NASHVILLE, TN 3 5 11
100 KEVIN  MCQUOID ISLE, MN 3 5 9
100 RICK  THAMES AVELLA, PA 3 5 9
102 MARK  BRODERICK EAST BETHEL, MN 1 5 6
103 PAUL  MELEEN ISLE, MN 2 5 2
104 MARK  MAHAFFEY CLEAR LAKE, IA 3 5 0
105 RANDY  TYLER HOMETOWN, IL 2 4 15
105 DENNIS E POLLESCH MARKESAN, WI 1 4 15
107 MARK J CHRISTIANSON WALKER, MN 2 4 12
107 GEORGE  BARACH BARRYTON, MI 2 4 12
109 RICHARD  FRANKLIN LOUISBURG, KS 2 4 3
110 DAVID  KUFFER SHELBY TOWNSHIP, MI 2 3 15
110 CECIL  NEWMAN RIVER ROUGE, MI 2 3 15
110 RUSSELL  MCDONALD DRYDEN, ON 2 3 15
113 SHANNON  KEHL MENOKEN, ND 2 3 11
114 CURTIS  REYNOLDS ROYAL OAK, MI 2 3 9
115 DAN  SWANSON FORT COLLINS, CO 1 3 7
115 CHUCK  EMERY ALTADENA, CA 1 3 7
117 LARRY  NEAU UNION GROVE, WI 1 3 6
118 DAVE  SCROPPO TRAVERSE CITY, MI 1 2 14
119 AARON D MCQUOID ISLE, MN 1 2 12
119 GARY A DARLING FORT COLLINS, CO 1 2 12
119 ROBERT  HEAFORD MASON CITY, IA 1 2 12
122 MARK  COURTS HARRIS, MN 1 2 11
123 MARK  PRESTA RACINE, WI 1 2 10
124 RON  SEELHOFF BURLINGTON, CO 1 2 9
124 IRVIN  KRAUS POWELL, WY 1 2 9
124 LEON  HOULE ROSEVILLE, MN 1 2 9
127 GUS  WHITE SAINT HELEN, MI 1 2 8
128 ROBERT  LINKEWITZ NEW BALTIMORE, MI 1 2 5
129 MIKE  MCCLELLAND PIERRE, SD 1 2 4
130 RICH  MEALY WESTERVILLE, OH 2 1 13
Co-Angler Division 
1 JOE  KOTSULL ALLEN PARK, MI 5 26 5
2 JOHN  GALASKA OMAHA, NE 5 25 12
3 TOM  HARRISON NAPERVILLE, IL 5 22 9
4 DONALD  LEE COMMERCE TOWNSHIP, MI 3 21 15
5 RON  SCHROPP OMAHA, NE 5 21 13
6 STEVE  TEMPLETON CLEAR LAKE, IA 4 20 13
7 ROB  MARZ EASTPOINTE, MI 5 19 14
8 DENNY  ELDREDGE STANTON, MI 5 19 5
9 DANA  DELP LANSING, MI 5 19 1
10 ROGER  SIDERS ALLEN PARK, MI 5 18 4
11 TIM  WILLIAMS OREGON, OH 5 17 4
12 DARREN  EDLUND MINNEAPOLIS, MN 5 16 12
13 JERRY  EMERY WALKER, MN 5 16 7
14 DAVID  WAGNER CIRCLE PINES, MN 3 16 5
15 JASON  LIND BILLINGS HEIGHTS, MT 5 16 0
16 JOHN  WATE HOLLY, MI 5 15 13
17 DALE T SANDERA HOUGHTON LAKE, MI 5 15 8
18 JON  ODYKIRK CLARE, MI 5 15 1
19 RICK  MCLAUGHLIN GLENROCK, WY 2 14 10
19 THOMAS  NORDYKE NEWPORT, MI 5 14 10
21 ROB  CARPENTER HOWARD, OH 5 14 8
22 BILL  PERRY STANTON, MI 5 14 2
23 RON  SMITH HUDSON, WI 4 14 1
24 DOUGLAS  CZIRR OSWEGO, NY 5 14 0
25 MARTY  LEECH HOLLAND, MI 5 13 14
25 GREG  DARSOW BILLINGS, MT 5 13 14
27 JAMES  KRAFT EAU CLAIRE, WI 5 13 11
28 DAVID  PINKOWSKI WESTLAND, MI 5 13 8
29 MATT  SMITH GREEN BAY, WI 5 13 6
30 ANDREW  PATTON GREENWOOD, IN 2 13 4
31 MARK  EHRKE COLUMBUS TWP., MI 3 13 2
32 DAVID D ORR ROSEVILLE, MI 3 13 0
33 DOUG  PALMER MAPLEWOOD, MN 5 12 13
34 ADAM  HAMMONS WESTLAND, MI 5 12 11
34 DAVID  MEITZ EASTPOINTE, MI 2 12 11
36 DAVID W GILBERT DECORAH, IA 5 12 10
36 CRAIG  POOCK OMAHA, NE 5 12 10
38 JAMES  LYONS EAST CHINA, MI 5 12 7
39 GEORGE  HANSON MIDLAND, MI 2 12 6
40 MICHAEL  ALDRIDGE RIVERVIEW, MI 3 12 5
41 DAVE  DUGALL HIGHLAND, MI 5 12 2
42 THOMAS  EBI DEARBORN, MI 5 12 0
43 RICHARD  SCHONFELD LINCOLN PARK, MI 5 11 14
44 TODD  ROBBINS ROMULUS, MI 2 11 11
45 LARRY  LAMBERT LAKESIDE MARBLEHEAD, OH 5 11 10
46 MARK ALAN  DAVID ADA, MI 5 11 9
47 JACK  MACY SOUTH WHITLEY, IN 3 11 8
48 GREG  ABBOTT CANTON, SD 5 11 7
49 RICHARD  HOLLENBACH CINCINNATI, OH 5 11 5
49 DON  BERANEK JUNCTION CITY, WI 5 11 5
51 KEN  BOOTH WIXOM, MI 5 11 4
51 DEBORAH  GALINAC CARLETON, MI 2 11 4
53 RONALD  CLEWETT WOODHAVEN, MI 5 11 0
54 DENNIS  OSBORN WARREN, MI 5 10 14
55 TOM  JIRIK AMERY, WI 5 10 11
56 BOB  HASKELL OWEGO, NY 5 10 9
57 JOHN W OLEXA SAINT JOSEPH, MI 4 10 7
58 MIKE  MINK TAYLOR, MI 5 10 6
59 TODD  FENNER REDFIELD, SD 3 10 5
60 BOB  PODLESKI PRESCOTT, MI 5 10 0
61 BRIAN  KRZESAK WARREN, MI 4 9 15
61 CHAD  WISKOW MENASHA, WI 5 9 15
63 RODNEY  NUTT GREENVILLE, MI 5 9 13
63 FRANK  COKER BEAVERTON, MI 5 9 13
63 BRETT  DUKEK SHEVLIN, MN 5 9 13
66 ALAN  SZOKE GROSSE ILE, MI 2 9 12
67 CHARLES  FITZPATRICK RICHLAND CENTER, WI 2 9 11
68 JACKIE  PERRY MILACA, MN 3 9 10
69 JASON  FOX Stanton, MN 5 9 7
70 DANIEL  URAM TRENTON, MI 4 9 5
70 SCOTT  NAROG WALKER, MN 4 9 5
72 MARC  HUDSON FREMONT, OH 5 9 4
72 DEREK  FERESTAD BEMIDJI, MN 5 9 4
74 CHERI  SCHULTA HAZELHURST, WI 5 9 0
75 MIKE  BENTZ BROOKVILLE, IN 3 8 13
75 JOHN R SOLEK INDIANAPOLIS, IN 5 8 13
75 TOM  TENERELLI GRAND BLANC, MI 5 8 13
78 DOUG  HARTLE CALGARY, AB 4 8 12
78 THOMAS  MEYER WATERTOWN, SD 4 8 12
80 WILLIAM  JAKEL WESTLAND, MI 5 8 10
81 MARK  HULL YOUNGSTOWN, OH 4 8 4
82 DAVID  MULASKI ROANOKE, TX 4 7 14
83 DICK  BRAUN SUNFISH LAKE, MN 3 7 11
84 MIKE  MCCLURG WEBSTER, SD 1 7 9
85 MARK  RAMGE OSHKOSH, WI 4 7 6
86 GREG  CHIRRICK BILLINGS HEIGHTS, MT 4 7 5
86 TONY  JAWORSKI CHICAGO, IL 4 7 5
88 JAN  MITCHEL MONROE, IN 4 7 4
89 JAY  AHONEN ORTONVILLE, MI 4 7 3
90 DENNIS  DOLAN JR GARDEN CITY, MI 3 7 1
91 JOHN  CHAPO GRASS LAKE, MI 4 6 15
92 DENNIS  POWERS ST. CLAIR SHORES, MI 3 6 14
93 JOSEPH  KUNZ ALLEN PARK, MI 2 6 11
94 DON  RANSOM SAULT SAINTE MARIE, MI 4 6 10
95 STUART A DUKEK BAGLEY, MN 2 6 4
96 JONATHAN  ROHDE KILDEER, IL 3 6 1
97 ARLEN  WENDT COON RAPIDS, MN 3 5 15
98 MICHAEL L CREWS ENGLEWOOD, OH 3 5 12
99 LARRY  TRUMAN HARRISVILLE, MI 3 5 11
100 KEN  POOLE BYRON, MN 3 5 9
100 J PHILLIP  DUKES MARATHON, IA 3 5 9
102 HENRY  KISSELBURG YPSILANTI, MI 1 5 6
103 JOSEPH T JILK BAY CITY, WI 2 5 2
104 MIKE  DONAHOE STEWARTVILLE, MN 3 5 0
105 TOM  CRAWLEY MOSINEE, WI 2 4 15
105 RONALD  FLATT BROWNSTOWN TOWNSHIP, MI 1 4 15
107 JOHN  FISCHER PRINCETON, MN 2 4 12
107 MATT  PATRICK PORTLAND, MI 2 4 12
109 THOMAS  GARTNER MOUNT PROSPECT, IL 2 4 3
110 BRUCE  WINGEN THORNTON, CO 2 3 15
110 JOHN  MILLS SOUTHGATE, MI 2 3 15
110 PATRICK  JAKEL WESTLAND , MI 2 3 15
113 MICHAEL  FLOETER LINDEN, MI 2 3 11
114 RAYMOND A OATMAN CANTON, MI 2 3 9
115 STEVEN  HICKS EDEN PRAIRIE, MN 1 3 7
115 JEROME  CHWIERUT GLENVIEW, IL 1 3 7
117 BOB  BAUGHMAN ALPENA, MI 1 3 6
118 GREG  ROEHRS BEAVERTON, MI 1 2 14
119 JAMES  PLAUTZ MUSKEGO, WI 1 2 12
119 MICHAEL  CALAMANTE VERMILION, OH 1 2 12
119 LEONARD  LASTINE DEARBORN, MI 1 2 12
122 KEITH  STRAUSS SYRACUSE, IN 1 2 11
123 AUDREY  ROBB DRYDEN, ON 1 2 10
124 RICHARD  STEELE RIPON, WI 1 2 9
124 SCOTT  HAUSAUER APPLETON, WI 1 2 9
124 IKE  RHODES HARROGATE, TN 1 2 9
127 PAUL  FALLAW MCHENRY, IL 1 2 8
128 DON  WILLIAMS LOVELAND, CO 1 2 5
129 KARL  ELSNER JR CORTLAND, NY 1 2 4
130 ROBERT  LIDTKE STERLING HEIGHTS, MI 2 1 13

For complete results, visit FLWOutdoors.com
 

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