PORT CLINTON, Ohio (May 14, 2011) – Chief Warrant Officer Corbi of Johnstown, Ohio, and Staff Sgt. Rod of Oxford, Ohio, won the FLW Soldier Appreciation Walleye Fishing Tournament held on Lake Erie Saturday. The team, fishing with pro Rich Mealey caught three walleyes for a total of 23 pounds, 6 ounces to win the Ohio/Indiana Border Battle and bragging rights amongst their peers.
“Rich set us up trolling and we were trolling back and forth using Reef Runner crankbaits,” Corbi said. “It started off pretty good and then tapered off toward the end of the day, but we had a good day out there.”
Corbi said the team caught eight keepers on the Reef Runners during the course of the day, but catching fish wasn’t all the Guardsmen were doing while on the water.
“We’re all out here to have fun and just have a day to spend with fellow soldiers from Indiana and Ohio,” Rod said. “I think this tournament is great and I appreciate all of the volunteers who agreed to take us out and spend their day and their time having us out on their boats.”
In this tournament, FLW Walleye Tour pro anglers took members of the Indiana and Ohio National Guard fishing to compete amongst their peers. Each team was allowed to bring in three walleyes. FLW Outdoors is operating the tournaments in conjunction with the National Guard to show appreciation to our service members of the National Guard.
A total of 39 service men and women, 18 teams, participated in the tournament. Rounding out the teams was:
2nd: Staff Sgt. Porter, Marion, Ind., and Sgt. Vu, Connersville, Ind., fishing with pro Nick Schertz, 22-6
3rd: Capt. Skiver, Harrod, Ohio, Staff Sgt. Slavings, Wadsworth, Ohio, and Staff Sgt. Long, Elk Hart, Ind., fishing with National Guard pro Bill Shimota, 22-1
4th: Spc. Flannery, Port Smith, Ohio, and Staff Sgt. Sharp, Greenville, Ohio, fishing with Chevy pro Jason Przekurat, 21-13
5th: Sgt. Myers, Bloomington, Ind., and Spc. McKinney, Ft. Wayne, Ind., fishing with National Guard pro Mark Courts, 18-15
Staff Sgt. Hatfield, Oak Harbor, Ohio, and Chief Warrant Officer Zimmer, Warren, Ohio, fishing with pro Jimmy Bell, 18-15
7th: Sgt. 1st Class Embry, Evansville, Ind., and Sgt. Jones, Washington, Ind., fishing with pro Scott Steil, 18-10
8th: Staff Sgt. Morath, Lawrenceburg, Ind., and Sgt. 1st Class Mattingly, Muncie, Ind., fishing with OFF! pro Chris Gilman, 16-13
Sgt. 1st Class Dornich, Indianapolis, Ind., and Sgt. Anderson, Demotte, Ind., fishing with pro Roy Vivian, 16-13
10th: Staff Sgt. McCarty, Toledo, Ohio, Staff Sgt. Sanford, Celina, Ohio, and Spc. Hammond, fishing with pro Kevin Kerkvliet, 16-8
11th: Sgt. Miller, Columbus, Ohio, and Chief Warrant Officer Gettys, Ohio, fishing with pro Curtis Rees, 15-10
12th: Sgt. Braun, West Lafayette, Ind., and Sgt. 1st Class Pattengale, Monticello, Ind., fishing with pro Matthew Taylor, 15-5
13th: Sgt. Vanover, Houston, Ohio, and Spc. Casto, Columbus, Ohio, fishing with EGGO pro Brian Brosdahl, 12-1
14th: Sgt. 1st Class Tharp, Portland, Ind., and Spc. Futrell, Canal Fulton, Ohio, fishing with pro Joe Carter, 8-11
15th: Sgt. 1st Class Reyes, Canton, Ohio, and Sgt. 1st Class Taraska, Willowick, Ohio, fishing with pro Stephen Gastin, 8-8
16th: Staff Sgt. Conley, Marion, Ohio, Staff Sgt. Turner, Marion, Ohio, and Staff Sgt. Roy, fishing with pro Dennis Lantzy, 8-7
17th: Chief Warrant Officer Myers, Mooresville, Ind., and Staff Sgt. McGuire, Plansfield, Ind., fishing with pro Rick McGlaughlin, 6-5
18th: Staff Sgt. Beasley, Clinton, Ind., and Sgt. 1st Class McGraff, Kokomo, Ind., fishing with pro Glenn Vinton, 5-15
The Soldier Appreciation Tournament was held in conjunction with the National Guard FLW Walleye Tour.