ALPENA, Mich. (July 11, 2025) – The third stop of the 2025 National Walleye Tour, presented by Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s, launched with impressive weights and tight competition on the waters of Lake Huron out of Alpena, Michigan. Leading the Pro Division after Day 1 is local Ranger pro Jason Trapp of Pinconning, MI, who brought in an impressive 30 pounds, 7 ounces.
Trapp, fishing familiar waters, made quick work of his limit.
“We weighed in early with over 30 pounds,” said Trapp. “It was just one of those days where everything clicked. I caught all five fish within the first hour and took it easy the rest of the day. It was a great day for a long Ranger boat ride.”
Looking ahead, Trapp is cautious about the forecast.
“I’m a little worried about the wind tomorrow. It looks okay in the morning, but it’s supposed to pick up in the afternoon. I’m just hoping for the same big bites. The one thing I’m really relying on is my Garmin LiveScope—no doubt about it.”
In second place is Isaac Lakich of Richfield, WI, with a solid 29-pound bag. Lakich made a risky decision to run far from the launch, and it paid off despite uncertainty.
“I didn’t know exactly how it was going to go down with the limited amount of time I was going to have to fish,” Lakich said. “I was making a really, really long run, so I didn’t know how it would shape up. When you’re making a big run in a tournament, you’re typically fishing in the mid -afternoon, which is the worst part of the day. So yeah, I was super pleasantly surprised to put it together the way it happened.”
Lakich attributes his knowledge and drive from being a guide to his success.
“It’s what I’ve done for a long time now. Between my full-time guide business—where I target trophies almost exclusively—and ten years of tournament fishing, I’ve built this second gear. You just sit down, put your nose to the grindstone, and trust your pre-fish and instincts.”
With stronger winds ahead on Friday Lakich is prepared to make some adjustments.
“Tomorrow, for sure, the wind’s going to impact things. With a big run and forecasted winds in the afternoon, it’s going to close that window a bit. I didn’t even practice the run—I did it for the first time today. Conditions were mild, but I came in on pretty much E for gas, so there’s a chance I don’t make it in.”
Rounding out the top three is Jay Przekurat of Stevens Point, WI, with 28 pounds, 2 ounces. He’s confident in his area and ready to go after them again.
“Can’t wait for tomorrow to get back to my area and start looking around. The fish in my area are the right ones, so anything is possible. Just have to pull five in the boat. Gonna put the Ranger to work again on the big water tomorrow!”
The following Co-Anglers topped the leaderboard along with their Pros:
- Terry Chilcote – Marshall, MI
- Kyle Hyde – Wales, MI
- Garrett Greer – St. Paul, MN
With tight weights and shifting conditions, Day 2 will be an exciting day! Don’t miss any of the action! Launch will being at 7:00am CT and weigh in will start at 3pm. The event is free to attend and will be held at Alpena Marina 400 E. Chisholm ST Alpena, MI 49707.
Fans that cannot attend in person are encouraged to tune in to the livestream here and follow the National Walleye Tour Facebook and Instagram for live updates all day!