This has been the most challenging fishing year for me in all my adult life. Two skin cancer surgeries in February, subsequent infections, and every other day care from a wound clinic limited my ability to fish the first two NWT events scheduled for 2022. The wound in my back healed enough I could make the NWT event at Prairie du Chien, WI in early June. Day 1 saw me with Canadian John Kopcok. We locked through the dam north of Prairie and dragged jigs tipped with crawlers on a large flat John fished during practice. We managed to catch three River walleyes for 5.48 pounds. Day 2 found me as a co with the only bass boat in the tournament. Pro Ryan Beeman from De Soto, WI gave me a “fast ride” up to the dam where we locked through and fished a half dozen spots he had caught fish on “willow cats” during practice. Ryan is no stranger to the River and we managed a limit of five fish for 10.28 pounds. Ryan finished in the money with an 11th place finish while John also finished in the money with a 27th place finish. I finished 25th on the co-angler side and got a check to help cover my hotel/travel expenses! The River proved to be a tough bite for many well known pros. Pro Gary Maher and Co Ryan Swenson led the field of 113 boats. You can check out the results summary and Brett Carlson’s stories at the NWT website. Riding in a bass boat at 72mph in a walleye tournament was a first for me! Spike