Huron LEWT champs weigh 11.33-pound walleye

HURON -- Tyler Berthold and Jeremy Lisy teamed up to win the Lake Erie Walleye Trail tournament in Huron on a perfect Saturday, weighing five fish that totaled 44.81 pounds. Berthold and Lisy also caught the biggest fish in the tourney -- a 11.33-pounder. The champs claimed first prize, plus money for the biggest fish as well as the side pot. Running a Ranger boat paid a $7,000 bonus, brining their total winnings to $15,840. That is LEWT's biggest payout in series history. "When you think of Lake Erie walleyes you think of giants," LEWT tournament director Jason Fischer said. "That thought does not always translate into reality when fishing for these elusive creatures, but on Saturday the stars lined up and LEWT anglers were able to bring in the biggest bags the series has seen in years." The Huron event sent off 73 teams vying for $24,000 in cash and prizes. "We knew it was going to be a good day as the camera boat ran into anglers who were already boasting giants in their livewells when we arrived," Fischer said. Lucas and Gordon Hahn, the defending Huron champs, opened the scales with a 40-pound bag. That weight was topped by Berthold of Colombia Station and Lisy of Akron. The champs' big bag held off six additional 40-pound bags at the weigh-in. Team of the Year points leaders Ryan Yonkers and Cole Carlson put up a 43.39-pound bag to finish second and claim $3,860. Chris Bradway and Kody Hill finished third (41.77 pounds) while Jason Kopf and Roger Rigg, from Vermilion, teamed up to finish a close fourth (41.67). Vic's Sports Center and Ranger pros Gary and Nicholas Zart rounded out the top five with 41.01 pounds. Bill Dudas and Mark Wilmot finished sixth (40.66) and the Hahns placed seventh (40 pounds). The Hahns, a father-son team from Huron, are second in the season points standings and have cashed checks in seven straight LEWT tournaments. LEWT's next tournament is scheduled for June 5 in Lorain.