ANGLERS CATCH FISH & GOOD WEATHER AT 2025 WALLEYE WEEKEND

Photo story by Dave Petrick

Calm waters and sunny skies contributed to an ideal 2025 walleye season opener in the Iowa Great Lakes.

And, Walleye Weekend created its share of ripples, thanks to the Iowa Great Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources and the area’s bait shops and fishing stores.

Dawn Ingvaldson from Albert Lea, Minn. reeled in the catch of a lifetime. She caught one of the 10 tagged walleye for a $43,000 prize about two hours after the competition started on Saturday, May 3. Her tagged fish was residing on Big Spirit Lake and the catch was verified at Stan’s Bait & Tackle. (Photo courtesy of the Iowa Great Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce.)

Other 2025 Walleye Weekend contest winners included:

Largest walleye

1st — Jordan Birchard of Spencer (27.75 inches) worth $375

2nd — Blake Mulder of Spirit Lake (26.75 inches) worth $225

3rd — Nathan DeMuth of Milford (26.75 inches) worth $150

Charlie Shuck Memorial Award Winner

Heaviest stringer of (3) walleye (under 19 inches)

1st — Spencer Vaccura of Jackson, Minn. (7.75 pounds)

2nd — Nathan DeMuth of Milford (6.76 pounds)

3rd— Richard Griffin of Boone (6.54 pounds)

Heaviest northern pike

1st —  Tyrel Godberson of Marcus (11.84 pounds and 35.25 inches)

2nd — Tim Baskerville of Sioux Falls, S.D. (10.47 pounds and 34.5 inches)

3rd — Josh Miller of Spirit Lake (8.93 pounds and 33.5 inches)

Heaviest stringer of (10) Bullhead

1st — Chris Daisy of Spirit Lake (12.85 pounds)

2nd — Aiden Pullian of Holstein (12.66 pounds)

3rd — Brian Reinhart of Milford (11.62 pounds)

Heaviest stringer of (5) panfish

1st — Shannon Gustin of Lakefield, Minn. (6.39 pounds)

2nd — Brad Petrowski of Jackson, Minn. (6.27 pounds)

3rd — Justin Nolta of Orleans (6.24 pounds)

The Chamber also operates an extended contest through Aug. 31, where anglers who paid an extra $20 can still fish for one of the tagged walleye even after Walleye Weekend comes to a close. The first walleye caught during this portion of the contest heads home with 20% of the proceeds generated from the extended tournament, the second receives 15% and the third receives 10%.