Scott Steil Overcomes Renner's 8 Pound Lead to Win the WalMart FLW Walleye Tour Championship and $105,000.00!

"I don't know what it is, but I love this body of water! I always do well here. This is my third top ten on this body of water", said the 2009 FLW Walleye Tour Champion, Scott Steil. "This is the big one! I mean, I couldn't be happier. It hasn't really sunk in yet. I mean, I went out in second place with a mountain to climb, and it just feels great to come out on top here", said Scott.

Chad Kuel (Lindner Media): 8 pounds was a huge lead for you to overcome. The fish must have come in the right order for you...

Scott: They did! I was going out to win, there was no doubt about it. You know, I mean I was hoping to have everything over 20 inches, and let the chips fall where they will. I wasn't going to throw back anything under 20, and they just came in the right order, which is just perfect for this body of water. (laughs)

Chad: What does this do for you...I mean, you've had other wins with the FLW Walleye Tour...

Scott: Well, this is a big one. I mean, I came out here though, expecting to win! This is my third top ten on the Oahe system here...maybe even 4...Ahhh, I was 11th once, but I've been close and always in the top ten with this thing. It turned out great today! (his laugh sounds very relieved).

Chad: Best of the best...

Scott: (laughing) That's what they say today!

Scott's partner, Tony Renner, watched from the sidelines while he waited to weigh in his fish, as Scott loaded his fish into the water weigh in scale. If a picture were worth a 1000 words, I wouldn't have to type anymore! I think at this moment he knew, it was going to be close, or that he knew he needed that one last fish that eluded him.

Having led the field by 8 pounds yesterday, Tony brought his fish to the scales. Scott was asked to stay on the stage as Tony weighed in his fish to see which of these two friends, teammates, and fishing partners, would be victorious at the end of the weigh in.

Scott: You know...we went out there knowing that if I ended up first and he was second, or if he was first and I was second, we were going to be happy. I mean, we went out one/two, and the idea was to stay one/two as a team, and that's how it turned out. I'm sure Tony is very happy for me, just as I was for him yesterday.

As Tony reached in his bag and brought out one fish at a time, Scott looked kind of nervous. Tony had 4 fish in the water, but needed one last fish that would weigh 3 pounds 2 ounces to take the lead and win away from Scott. Tony reached in his bag for the 5th and final fish, but came up empty saying, "That's it. I don't have anymore". As Scott excitedly moved to the winners circle at the front of the stage, and while all eyes were on Scott, the emotion of the moment clearly had Tony crushed momentarily, but not for long. And, like always, he's the consumate professional, Tony Renner congratulated his teammate for a job well done, and proceeded to signing autographs for all the people who rushed the stage at the end of the show.

Scott's win earned him a check for $105,000.00 including contingency bonuses, and Tony's second place finish earned him a check for $39,000.00 with only the motor contingency.

Tony had this to say, about it all...

Tony: I had a great tournament. I had three real consistent days, and today I just couldn't get bit. I had four bites. I didn't lose any fish. Nothing changed, really. There are no excuses. I just didn't get the bites. I moved, looking for smaller fish, and I couldn't even find them. I had 4 pretty decent fish right away, but it was nothing like it was yesterday. It was a little disappointing, but my partner, Scott, won it, and I'm happy for him. We worked hard all week, and he kind of helped me out, to get these patterns going, and you know? Next year! We'll get'um then.

In third place was Pro David Andersen of Amery, WI his efforts this week garnered him a check for $14,000.00 without any contingencies.

Fourth place went to Carl Adams, Jr. of Blackduck, MN. His 4th place finish along with contingencies earned him a check for $17,800.00.

In fifth place is the day one and day two leader, Todd Riley of Amery, WI. Todd took home a check for $14,500.00 with contingencies.

For full results please see the Live Leader Board at www.liveleaderboard.com and click on the "Missouri River" link in the 09 FLW Walleye

To find out what presentations the pros were using please see the day 4AM article, also on the LLB.

Coverage of the Walleye Tour Championship, hosted by the Bismarck-Mandan Convention & Visitors Bureau, will be broadcast in high-definition (HD) on VERSUS, the network which brings anglers the best fishing programming on television featuring the most-trusted authorities on the water. The Emmy-nominated “FLW Outdoors,” will air Nov. 15 from 12:30 to 1:30 ET. “FLW Outdoors,” hosted by Jason Harper, is broadcast to approximately 500 million households worldwide, including internationally through agreements with WFN (World Fishing Network) and Matchroom Sport to such countries as Canada, Germany, China, South Africa, Australia, Malaysia, Russia, Hungary and the United Kingdom, making it the most widely distributed weekly outdoor-sports television show in the world.

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For more information about FLW Outdoors and its tournaments, visit FLWOutdoors.com or call (270) 252-1000. For more information about FLW Fantasy Fishing and Player's Advantage, visit FantasyFishing.com.