Scott Larson: New Cabela’s NWT Pro Champion
Category: press release
Sep 23rd, 2015 by OutdoorsFIRST
Modified Sep 23rd, 2015 at 12:00 AM
Scott Larson: New Cabela’s NWT Pro Champion
By K.J. Houtman
Scott Larson’s tournament dreams have rolled around in both happy awake and sleep state since 1996 when he started fishing tournaments. They took on a new pallor in 2001 when he came in third place in a Devils Lake RCL tournament. He knew then a win was within reach. Two
team format wins in a smaller circuit in ’06 then an MWC win on Devils Lake in 2008 cracked the door open. Things were moving in the right direction. In 2010, a second place finish in the FLW brushed up next to success. Today the North Dakota angler captured not just a pro-angler tournament win with the Cabela’s National Walleye Tour-THE only real game in town for competitive walleye anglers-but it carried the title of Champion along with it.
“This win means a dream come true,” said Larson. “This was a personal goal for me and it was exhilarating.” The 44-year-old business owner of Advantage Pest Control and farmer in Mayville, North Dakota, runs a Ranger FS-Series 620 with a Mercury Verado 250. His Minn Kota Terrova bowmount trolling motor and Humminbird electronics connected with the iPilot-Link were keys to his success. “I don’t remember how we used to troll before this Terrova iPilot-Link set up,” said Larson who used a two-step approach, trolling at times and jigging others. “My Humminbird marked the big fish we caught on the final day and I hovered over it forever. She finally bit.” Larson won a total prize package valued at $83,000 including cash and a new Ranger Boat.
“I loved the drive-in style weigh-in for the final day,” said Scott, married to Leah and father to a nine-year-old daughter named Maysa and a five-year-old son named Jayd. “My family and friends were right there hooting and hollering. My sponsors got great exposure. It was exhilarating.” Larson had an impressive 29.25 pound basket on the final day to take the win with 74.89 pounds. “I had some nice fish in the livewell. I started by pulling four pounders out, and when I got the big fish out the crowd went wild.”
Larson alternated between trolling leadcore with Berkley Flicker Shads across 13′-15′ contours at times and spot locking to jig Jigging Raps on 25′ to 30′ deep rock piles. “I found some great rock piles while ice fishing,” said Larson.
Devils Lake can be a challenge for out-of-town anglers to arrive and do well. Advantage seems to set up with local sticks. “It’s so big and vast-it can be mind boggling,” said Larson when asked why. “It changes every year, too, and it changes for the time of year-spring, summer, fall.” There are so many techniques employed that all options are open on Devils Lake. Narrowing it down can be tricky. Larson’s key to success was boat control.
“I give a lot of credit to all my gear and equipment, including the Berkley Flicker Shads and Jigging Raps,” said Larson. “My Mercury-powered Ranger Boat got me to where I needed quickly, as some of my spots were 10- to 15-miles apart. And I don’t know how we did it before the Minn Kota Terrova and Humminbird electronics with the iPilot Link. It was really key to my success.” Larson won with a four-pound margin, unheard of in the tournament world where fractions of a pound make a big difference. His baskets were 27.52-, 18.12- and 29.25-pounds respectively.
Leaving the service of the USArmy earlier this year, 27 year old Clint Glass has found time for the things he loves most: hunting and fishing. This was his first year fishing the NWT, though he fished FLW tournaments with his father when he was a teenager. The former soldier deployed twice during his career-to Iraq and Afghanistan. Competing as a co-angler is something Clint’s father, who now lives in Canada, enjoys. “Winning the championship my first year was incredible,” said Glass. “It’s something I’ll never forget, something I’ll strive to beat next year.” Working as a railroad conductor for BNSF, Clint is furloughed whenever there’s a drop in shipping grain or oil. Living in Montana, he doesn’t mind having free time in the late summer or fall-the time of year he lives for. “Hopefully the railroad will pick up or they’ll move me to where they need me more. It isn’t what I thought it would be after leaving the service.” For now, Glass will work in South Dakota on a ranch and hunting lodge for the busy fall season.