Hunter Nitti Maintains AOY Lead, Nussbaum Only 7 Points Behind
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (August 26, 2024) – The 2024 Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s National Walleye Tour presented by Progressive Championship is coming to Oscoda, MI on Lake Huron next week, September 4th – 6th. The Top-41 Pro-Anglers from 2024 Progressive Angler of the Year points will be competing for over $300,000 in cash and prizes in the no entry-fee event to crown a new NWT Champion. The Top-41 Co-anglers will be competing for a top prize of $6,500 in the event. In addition, the 2024 NWT Progressive Angler of the Year race will be decided, where the winner will walk away with a 2024 Nitro ZV21 powered by a Mercury 300 XL Verado motor.
Lake Huron is the third largest lake in the Great Lake system and is comprised of 23,007 square miles on the eastern shores of Michigan. It is known for its quality Smallmouth Bass and Walleye fishing because of its high population of Alewives, Yellow Perch, and Golby. In addition to the exceptional walleye fishing and a premiere location for this year’s championship event, crowning the best of the best in Walleye fishing.
Nitti Still Looking to Complete the ‘Dream Season’
Ranger/ Mercury Pro-Angler Hunter Nitti is looking to get the job done at Lake Huron and capture the 2024 Progressive Angler of the Year. The Minnesota pro is coming off his worst finish of the 2024 season on Lake Sakakawea where he was the first angler out of the money, finishing 26th.
“The Sak almost got me…,” said Nitti. “I knew somewhere in the year I would slip a little bit, every year every angler does it, so I hope that last one in North Dakota was mine and I can get back to focusing in on my game and the title in Michigan.”
Hunter’s last trip to a Great Lake, Lake Erie back in April, resulted in a second-place finish behind 2023 Progressive Angler of the Year John Hoyer. He has maintained the lead ever since the second event in Red Wing, MN on the Mississippi River. Although Lake Sakakawea didn’t end with Hunter standing in the check line, it didn’t ruin his chances at maintaining the lead in points.
“I am just keeping focused in what has gotten me here today, and that is sticking to my electronics game and fishing for quality bites, not necessarily quantity,” said the Rapala Pro-Angler. “I’m not going to sit here and say I’m not nervous, this would mean everything to my family and my career. I am still one of the younger anglers out here, so to put myself in the same sentence as guys like Hjelm and Hoyer you can’t compare that to anything else. Those guys are the best of the best.”
Going into the 2024 NWT Championship next week, Hunter Nitti has 765 points and has a 7 point lead over second place Pro-Angler Dylan Nussbaum.
Veteran Pro-Angler Dylan Nussbaum in Second of Angler of the Year Points
Nitro Boats/Mercury Pro-Angler Dylan Nussbaum is no stranger to winning at the NWT level. As a veteran angler on tour, Dylan is looked at as one of the most consistent anglers on the water, consistently catching them around the country.
The Pennsylvania angler is coming off a second-place finish at Lake Sakakawea during the last event, which also allowed him to move into the second-place spot in Progressive Angler of the Year points race. Dylan is widely regarded as one of the most versatile anglers among the NWT pros. He’s usually dialed into the electronics game however he also excels using live bait and fishing for deeper suspended fish.
“This year has been pretty special for me no doubt,” said the Rapala Pro-Staff angler. “I’ve won out here on the NWT before but never have I captured a championship title or been close to an Angler of the Year title, so to have this kind of shot would be pretty amazing.”
Last year, John Hoyer swept the 2023 championship winning both the event and the 2023 Progressive Angler of the Year title, taking home more than $200,000 in cash and prizes on Devil’s Lake. Dylan sees this as an opportunity anyone can achieve and thinks it’s just as accomplishable this year.
“Seeing what John did last year is appealing to me. And to think I have a chance to do the same thing he did in a few weeks is humbling but is pushing me to want to fish harder than ever also.”
In total going into Lake Huron, Dylan has earned 758 points in 2024.
2024 Bass Pro Shops & Cabela’s National Walleye Tour presented by Progressive Championship Qualifiers
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2024 NWT Championship Take-off (7am CST) Each Day:
Au Sable Harbor of Refuge
AuSable Charter TWP, MI 48750
2024 NWT Championship Weigh-In (3pm CST) Each day:
Au Sable Harbor of Refuge
AuSable Charter TWP, MI 48750
LIVE Weigh-In Link: https://outdoorteamworks.com/live
The National Walleye Tour consists of four regular-season events and a no-entry-fee championship. Each regular season event is a two-day tournament and delivers over a 100 percent payback. Pro-Anglers compete against other Pro-Anglers, and Co-Anglers compete against other co-anglers.
For more information on rules and tournament payouts, visit https://www.nationalwalleyetour.com/
For more information on the National Walleye Tour, including the 2024 tournament schedule, fact sheets, photos, and official tournament results from past events, visit nationalwalleyetour.com. Subscribing to the NWT e-newsletter is the best way to receive up-to-date information, registration announcements, sponsor incentives, and Outdoor TeamWorks news.
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About National Walleye Tour
National Walleye Tour (NWT) is part of the Outdoor Team Works family of fishing tournaments. The OTW brand offers a wide range of fishing events from professional tournaments to grassroots fishing derbies. All events are supported by some of the top companies in the nation and include on-site activation and activities, as well as extensive media support. For live updates and information, follow NWT on Facebook and Instagram or visit www.nationalwalleyetour.com to catch up on all the action.