And you’ll never believe (okay maybe you will) who took home the ‘dubyah’…again…. #RealNameNoGimmicks

20 year-old fish-head Dylan Nussbaum won the first ever MLF format (catch, record, release) artificial-only walleye tourney on Mille Lacs with 67-15 on 26 fish (that’s a 2-10 avg). Note: He’s from PA and has never fished Mille Lacs before…!

Here’s a face you better get used to seeing — also a photo summary of what it feels like chatting with Al Lindner (right) a few minutes before winning $10K:

Dylan caught ’em fishing a #6 “flake parrot” Rapala Flat Jig in 10′ on small gravel humps — with scattered weeds on top — where walleyes were feeding on perch:

That #6 Flat Jig weighs 1 3/16 oz [!] — runs 80% heavier than similar-length Jigging Raps — making it THE option for heavy current or ultra-deep water…. So WTHeck was Dylan doin’ using it on shallow 7-10′ gravel?!

Said running big, heavy baits up shallow is something they do a ton back home in PA.

Was watching him fish the bait and noticed he paused a bit longer between snaps than what would be considered “normal.” Me being a fish-nerd, timed his rips and had 1.6-2.0 seconds between (most) snaps.

That Rapala Flat Jig is way less “darty” than a Jigging Rap, and instead glides 4-8′ out to the sides — the longer pause lets it shoot out farther. It’s a little different look than most hard-bodied jigging baits, and one that obviously works…!

I hopped in Dylan’s Lund 2075 Pro-V after the tourney and got a recap of his day:

Sure we’ll be seeing you again soon — congrats dude!

Reminder: MLF format = every fish over 1 lb counts, catch weigh release, most weight wins.

Drake Herd made a HUGE comeback in the second half of the MLF-format walleye Champions Tour…landing just 5 oz outta 1st place! Guy was a freakin’ machine — every time I’d refresh the ScoreTracker Live app, he’d have another fish (or 2) plugged in. Don’t think he stopped to take a breath until he was back on the dock:

Caught ’em “sharpshooting” a custom-painted #9 Rapala Jigging Rap on 6-lb fluoro. Basically ran his big 250-hp tiller the entire day — driving around at 2.5-3.0 mph graphing fish in the rocks — would pitch to ’em and jig 3-4 times before moving on:

Was a “perch” color Jigging Rap custom painted by Drake’s company Renegade Outdoor Innovations. Thing looks filthy:

Let me know if you’ve got a few extra laying around, man. 😉

Full results from the Champions Tour walleye event here on ClassicBass.com.

Guys fish solo — other than an official riding along to weigh/record each catch — which makes landing fish interesting. Can use nets, but once the fish is out of the net it can’t touch anything in the boat (floor, windshield, etc) else they get a 2-minute penalty…meaning they aren’t allowed to do anything for 2 minutes.

Robert Cardenas “successfully” solo-landed a 5-lber…didn’t cost him any time, but did cost him a rod. #WorthIt?

Couple other things that = 2-min penalty:

> Fish must be released below the gunnel/side of the boat — no “throwing” them back. Felt a tiny-bit bad for the guy fishin’ outta a bass boat lol.

> Littering. Of course garbage but also baits. If you cast out and lose the bait, it’s a 2-min penalty…even if you break off on a fish. #DoubleOuch

Here’s walleye pro Mark Courts’s take on MLF-format tourneys finally coming to the walleye world:

This format is far from relaxing, but the most fun I’ve ever had…both fishing in ’em or even just following along from home.

Al Lindner and I didn’t fish this event, but were able to sneak in a few hooksets — between interviewing guys — like this 28″ mud melon that T-boned a #9 “parrot” color Rapala Jigging Rap:

Classic Bass dropped a tentative schedule for next year (at the rules meeting) including 5 regular-season walleye events and a year-end championship. Was going to leak it here, but figured I’d better get their blessing first in case it’s top secret….

One of the longest walleye I’ve ever seen — especially with video evidence — was plucked outta the South Saskatchewan River by TW fan Dustin Garthus. Went a staggering 34.5″ (12 lb 3 oz) and was caught working a point in 20-25′ with a #7 Rapala Jigging Rap. #MicDrop

Congrats dude! Few things I noticed in the pic:

Will have more outrageously-big walleyes from Dustin in Friday’s TW email.

– That’s Jeff “Gussy” Gustafson talking ’bout why his hands probably look like this at the end of each fishin’ day:

Gussy’s been absolutely whackin’ ’em on Lake of the Woods in between bass tourneys — both guiding and fun fishing:

No doubt they’re on the chew when you’ve gotta 26″ walleye puking up an 11″ burbot [shocked emoji]:

Even stuck a chunk on a Shane’s Baits umbrella rig (check your local regs!):

Love when bassin’ techniques cross over to the walleye world. Keep after ’em dude!