April 18, 2008-Port Clinton, Ohio-Rookie Pro John Swanstrom continued an amazing run on Lake Erie Friday bringing in a 5 walleye basket weighing 45lbs 13oz jumping his 3-day total weight to a FLW record breaking 122lbs. 

“I’m in awe,we had an unbelievable day on the water ‘ said Swanstrom.  Unbelievable is right as Swanstrom has already, on day 3, beat Pat Neu’s FLW four-day cumulative weight record of 111lbs, 8oz.

Being consistent and staying versatile on a lake where walleyes are known to appear and disappear very quickly has been key for Swanstrom.  “We hit a few fish early but once we moved to our secondary spot we caught our big fish in nearly an hour and a half” said Swanstrom. 

Swantstrom, a native of Superior, Wisconsin will bring an 18 pound lead into the fourth and final day.

Sitting in second place in the Pro Division is Larry Stephen Smith who brought in a 5 walleye basket weighing 31lbs 5oz brining his 3-day total of 15 walleyes to 103lbs 14oz.

Third Place belongs to Erik Furseth of East Lansing, Mich. with a 3-day total of 15 walleyes weighing 102lbs 7oz.

Sitting in Fourth Place is Chad Schilling of Akaska, S.D. with his 3-day total of 15 walleyes weighing 101lbs 9oz.

Tied with Schilling is David Frey of Avon Lake, Ohio with a 3-day total of 15 walleyes also weighing 101lbs 9oz.

In Sixth Place is Rick Franklin from Bemidji, Minn. with  his 3 day total of  101lbs 2oz

Seventh Place belongs to Kevin Michnicki from Cleveland, Ohio with a total weight of 100lbs even.

Sitting in Eighth Place is Robert Henton of Spartanburg, Penn. with a total weight of 99lbs 11oz

Taking the Ninth Place spot is Dan Stier of Clearwater, Minn. with a total weight of 98lbs 4oz.

And taking the tenth and final spot is “Mr. Tiller” Pete Harsh with a 3-day total of 98lbs 2oz.

Jason Copeland leads the co-angler field with a 3 day total of 15 walleyes weighing 111lbs 11oz.  Copeland has been coined the nickname “sleepy” because of his willingness to nap during the day, only waking up long enough to reel the fish in. A strategy that has proved effective.   “I feel very well rested and after tomorrow I believe I will be even more caught up on my sleep” exclaimed a “very awake” Copeland on the stage.  If Copeland can hold on and keep awake just enough he has a good chance at winning the $10,000 first place prize on the co-angler side.

Sitting in Second Place on the Co- angler side is John Kopcok (Brother of Michael Kopcok fishing in the pro division) of Bellriver, ON with a 3-day total of 15 walleyes weighing 106lbs 1oz. 

Rounding out the top ten co-anglers; Ike Rhodes of Harrogate, TN with 102lbs 9oz, Larry Behsman of Elysian, . with 100lbs 5oz, Kenny Henexson of Thorton, Colo. with 99lbs 9oz, Randy Seidl of Appleton, Wisc with 96lbs 2oz, Jeff Sather of Montevideo, Minn. with 94lbs 10oz, Bruce Fever of Centerville, Iowa with 92lbs 5oz, Nate Brunz of Madison lake, Minn. with 90lbs 9oz and Marty Barski of Crystal Lake, Illinois with 89lbs 4oz.

Although some anglers chose to take the 50 mile run up to Detroit the main lake basin has proved to be the spot to catch the large 8-12 pound females.  The anglers are using the traditional crankbaits and spinners to entice the fish to bite.  Most of the anglers are catching their fish in the upper water column (4-8 feet) in the morning and slowly moving their baits down as the warm day progresses.

As predicted by many the Lake Erie walleye bite is getting better and better.  On Day 1 52 limits were brought to the scales…Friday 106 limits were brought in.  Furthermore, On day 1 2,658 pounds of fish were caught….Friday 4,041 pounds were caught.  Proving once again there is no place like Lake Erie!

The final day of FLW Walleye Tour competition on Lake Erie begins as the top 10 pro and 10 co-anglers take off from the Nor Easter Club at 6:30am Eastern time Saturday. The final weigh-in will take place at 4 p.m. Eastern time from the Wal-Mart store located at 2826 E. Harbor Road in Port Clinton.

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