Walleye Nations Creations NWT Pro-Angler JJ Debernardi Takes the Win at NWT Stop #2 on the Mississippi River

Walleye Nations Creations NWT Pro-Angler JJ Debernardi Takes the Win at NWT Stop #2 on the Mississippi River

Hjelm in Second, Nussbaum Ends in Third

Final Day Story Presented by Garmin

La Crosse, WI (May 23rd, 2025) – It’s been two years since JJ Debernardi took the emotional win at the NWT event on the Illinois River out of Spring Valley, IL. There, JJ was just starting his NWT career and fishing in honor of his recently lost friend Mike Hanson. The victory there was one many NWT anglers still talk about today and those same anglers knew it wouldn’t be the only time JJ lifted an NWT trophy.

The second stop of the 2025 Bass Pro Shops & Cabela’s National Walleye Tour presented by Progressive delivered an intense showdown as anglers battled shifting conditions and challenging waters. JJ Debernardi, representing Walleye Nations Creations, entered with a calculated strategy and immense determination, aiming to capitalize on his experience and adaptability. With skill honed over years of competitive fishing, he navigated Pool 8 with precision, focusing on key structures to maximize his haul. His ability to read the river and adjust to its demands set the stage for a remarkable finale.

Fast-forward to today, JJ started the day in third place on the Mississippi River. Making the decision to stay in Pool 8, he went out with the intent of keeping himself in the hunt for a check. But instead, he brought in just enough to sneak past the Ranger Boats Pro-Angler Duane Hjelm thanks to weighing in a five-fish walleye limit of 16-14 which made his total 34-08 in two days of fishing. That two-day total gave him the victory taking home $15,000 cash and a brand new 2025 Nitro ZV20 boat package outfitted with Garmin electronics valued at $83,825.00.

Along with his winnings, he also received the Garmin Exclusive Electronics bonus of $500 and the Angler’s Advantage bonus, making his take home winnings $101,388. This is also JJ’s second Nitro boat in 3 years to take home thanks to winning an NWT event.

“I kept it safe and stayed in Pool 8 both days fishing wings and rocky structure with a Rapala DT10 and a rig tipped with a Mud Cat”, said the Illinois Pro-Angler. “To take home this win truly means so much, I really cannot even put into words at the moment.”

Although JJ missed a check at the first event on Lake Sharpe in April, the win today on the Mississippi River will put him well into the Top-40 cut line of 2025 Progressive Angler of the Year points getting him closer to hopefully make the championship event on the Bay of Green Bay in September.

Rest of the Top 10:

2.) Duane Hjelm                   Pierre, SD                 33-13

3.) Dylan Nussbaum            St. Marys, PA            31-01

4.) Kevin McQuoid               Marathon, FL            30-09

5.) Danny Plautz                  Lakewills, WI             30-04

6.) John Hoyer                     Keosauquq, IA          29-11

7.) Carter Cournoyer            Lake Elmo, MN         28-03

8.) Eric McQuoid                  Algoma, WI               27-13

9.) Peter Mart                       Utica, MN                  26-08

10.) Bill Shimota                   Northfield, Mn           26-07

Co-Angler Joel Nickel from Green Bay, WI took home the win on the Co-Angler side with a two-day total of 33-01 and a check worth $10,000.

A full recap of the NWT Stop #2 including bait, techniques, and feedback from the top anglers will be published early next week!

Outdoor TeamWorks and the NWT would like to thank Explore La Crosse CVB for their hospitality and being a great host to all the anglers and fans this week.

The next event of the 2025 NWT season will be in Alpena, MI on Lake Huron, July 10-11th. There are still a number of open NWT Pro-Angler spots available, and anglers still interested in fishing at the event are highly encouraged to register. Pro-Angler entry fees are $2,000 and the winning pro of that event will take home a 2025 Nitro ZV20 boat package plus $15,000 cash-GUARANTEED.

 2025 National Walleye Tour Schedule:

●       April 24-25             Pierre, SD                  Lake Sharpe

●       May 22-23              La Crosse, WI            Mississippi River

●       July 10-11             Alpena, MI                 Lake Huron

●       August 7-8             Dunkirk, NY               Lake Erie

●       September 3-5      Marinette, WI             Bay of Green Bay

For more information on the National Walleye Tour, including the 2025 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.