Schaefer, Nickel Win NWT Event at Salt Ste. Marie, Michigan

Photo Caption: First-place pro-angler Peter Schaefer (right) and first-place co-angler Tyler Nickel (left) holds their trophies at the National Walleye Tour Presented by Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s event at Sault Ste. Marie, Mich., on August 14.

Schaefer, Nickel Win National Walleye Tour Event Presented by Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s at Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan

Pro angler earns more than $80,000 in winnings

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (August 17, 2020) – Peter Schaefer, of Linwood, Michigan, weighed a combined total of 45.03 pounds to win the National Walleye Tour Presented by Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s event at Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, August 14. Schaefer won a fully rigged Ranger 2080MS with a 250-horsepower Mercury outboard, $15,000 in prize money and $2,280 in Anglers Advantage cash for a total of $80,380 in winnings.

While risky, the potential for thick, beefy 4- to 6-pound walleyes was real. To make it happen, pros would have to complete a treacherous run south on Lake Huron towards Alpena, Michigan. In the end, the long runs paid off for Schaefer who bested the closest competitor by more than 2 pounds.

Even before practice, Schaefer knew his winning area was a spot that warranted extra attention.

“Those walleyes are summering there,” said Schaefer, who serves on the board of directors for the Saginaw Bay Walleye Club. “This time of year, that’s just where they’re living. They live in the cracks and crevices of big Volkswagen-sized boulders.”

To reach his spot, Schaefer would venture 86 miles south from Sault Ste. Marie. To complete his roundtrip trek, he would have to refuel on the way back. Today, he plowed through 3- and 4-footers on his journey north as he could only manage top speeds of 36 or 37 mph.

“My main spot down there was like 38 to 48 feet deep,” said Schaefer. “I was trolling crankbaits – mainly Bandits and Smithwick Top 20s with 2-ounce snap weights. Chrome bases were key – purples and blues with orange bellies.”

With speeds of 1.7 to 2 mph, Schaefer would pull the cranks 1 to 5 feet from the bottom. Today, the wind picked up and blew the bait, eventually pushing some walleyes to his secondary area, an adjacent shoreline piece of structure.

“My second area was like 17 to 24 feet of water,” said Schaefer. “Today it accounted for my biggest one and a 4-pounder.”

On the shallower spot, Schaefer would have the crankbaits ticking the tops of the rocks. He trolled these cranks 100 to 120 feet from his planer boards.

“On my way back, I stopped at a jigging spot within sight of the ramp,” said Schaefer. “At 3:48, I popped a 5-pounder on a jighead and pork-tail minnow (fluke-style plastic). That fish gave me a 3-pound upgrade.”

What Schaefer didn’t know was that his late cull also secured his first national win.

“I’ve been tournament fishing for 13 years,” said Schaefer. “I’ve won a few local tournaments, and I’ve done well on the Michigan Walleye Tour and the MWC. But to win on this level, it means a lot. I’ve dedicated a lot of time and effort to this sport; I’m addicted to it. This is the real deal, and I’m ecstatic that I won.”

Third-place finisher Steve Vandemark and fourth-place finisher Mike Defibaugh won $6,000 and $3,500, respectively, for participating in the Ranger Cup contingency program.

Tommy Kemos (second), Steve Vandemark (third), Mike Defibaugh (fourth), Dane Stanaway (fifth), Gary Gorsuch (sixth), Jim Schiefelbein (seventh), Benjamin Teets (eighth), Ed Stachowski (ninth) and Aaron Marzean (tenth) round out the top-10 pro-anglers.

Tyler Nickel, of Oshkosh, Wisconsin, took home top honors in the Co-angler Division with a total weight of 35.25 pounds. On day one, Nickel fished with Defibaugh, and the two caught limit worth 18.91. Today he fished with young stick Dylan Nussbaum, and together they weighed five walleyes for 16.34. Nickels earned $8,428, which included a $1,500 Ranger Cup check.

Daniel Smith (second), Mark Vanvliet (third), Myles Badinger (fourth), Rex Robinette (fifth), Matt Schiefelbein (sixth), Karl Sprengel (seventh), Cory Sebastian (eighth), Jeffrey Gehrke (ninth) and Gary Speicher (tenth) round out the top-10 co-anglers.

The next stop for the NWT is set for September 10-11 on Lake Sakakawea in North Dakota.

For more details, anglers are encouraged to call 612-424-0708 or check out the website at www.nationalwalleyetour.com. From here, site visitors can learn more about the NWT, view the TV schedule and learn more about what’s in store for 2019.

National Walleye Tour events are made possible through the sponsorship and continued support of these well-respected brands: Bass Pro Shops, Cabela’s, Ranger Boats, Mercury, Lucas Oil, AFTCO, Triton Boats, Power-Pole, Berkley, Abu Garcia, Sunline, Valley Fashions, T-H Marine, Atlas, G-Juice, Powertex Group.

2020 NWT scheduled events:

Sept. 10-11 – Garrison, N.D.

Championship

Oct. 14-16 – Huron, Ohio