Despite excellent pre-fishing results, the first day was tough for many of the competitors at the 2nd Annual International Falls Bass Fishing Tournament. After a slow start on the river, Team # 44 of Mike Teigen of Barnesville, Minnesota and Ryan Teigen of West Fargo, North Dakota move into the second day tomorrow at the top of the leader board. The Teigens reported a combined weight of 16.71 pounds. Both fishermen mentioned tough wind conditions played a factor in results today. The majority of the competing teams reported combined weights under ten pounds.
Minnesota Hall of Fame fishermen Dave Genz of St. Cloud, Minnesota and Larry Bolig of Ham Lake, Minnesota, scored the big fish of the day, with a tournament record 4.31 pound bass. "Pre-fishing was great, but fish were scarce today," Genz said. He added the team didn't catch their first fish until 10:00. At the end of today's competition, Genz and Bolig were in ninth place with a combined weight of 13.10 pounds.
A full field of 60 teams competed on Rainey River and Rainey Lake for a combined purse of $30,000. The tournament is a two day, two person combined weight competition. The live release, two-day tournament features a unique format using both Rainy Lake and Rainy River. Half the anglers spent the first day on the lake or river. Tomorrow the teams will switch locations. The winners of the event will automatically qualify for the Fort Francis Bass Fishing Championship.
Event President Gary Potter said the field had doubled in 2006. "We're pleased with the caliber of fishermen we've got competing," said Potter, noting three Hall of Fame fishermen Genz, Bolig and John Peterson as well as former FLW competitor Allen Head among the competitors. Head, a thirteen year veteran of the FLW and Bassmaster tours, was a late registration at the beginning of this week. Potter also mentioned that pre-fishing was much stronger than in 2005. "I'm sure we'll make it over the 30 pound mark for ten fish," he said. The 2005 tournament was won with a combined weight of 28 pounds.
Duane and John Peterson, both of Bemidji, Minnesota, mentioned the fish were biting early for them. "We caught most of our ten pounds by 9:30," said John Peterson. "After that, there were just small 13 inch fish. We hooked a couple of good ones, but lost them. That's not a good thing to have happen in tournament competition." The Petersons ended the day in 21st place with a combined weight of 10.97 pounds.