It was a busy weekend across the Dakotas, with the Dakota Walleye Classic and AFTCO Walleye Throwdown events taking place across the region.
Dakota Walleye Classic Final Results
The 2025 Dakota Walleye Classic on Lake Sakakawea out of Beulah Bay Campground wrapped up Saturday, July 26, 2025 and at the end of the event it was Ryan Subart and Tom Huynh at the top of the leaderboard. Subart and Huynh weighed a total of 61.01 pounds.
Pierre’s Dewey Hjelm and Valerie Marson took home 3rd place and $500 with a total of 55.65 pounds.
North Dakota Walleye Classic Top Ten:
1st: Subart/Huynh 61.01 pounds
2nd: Wendel/Wendel 57.14 pounds
3rd: Hjelm/Marson 55.65 pounds
4th: Haider/Haider 52.70 pounds
5th: Miller/Miller 52.08 pounds
6th: Leapaldt/Carlson 51.12 pounds
7th: Dolbec/Dolbec 47.91 pounds
8th: Binstock/Binstock 44.41 pounds
9th: Hostetler/Miller 42.51 pounds
10th: Franzen/Hertz 41.62 pounds
AFTCO Walleye Throwdown Final Results
The newly rebranded 2025 AFTCO Walleye Throwdown on Lake Oahe out of Akaska brought a new tournament format, which was focused on big walleye with first place receiving $15,000 for largest walleye over the two-day period.
It was Tobey Hofer with a 13.95 pound goliath who hoisted the trophy and the check at the end of the event. Overall, three walleye topped 13 pounds with Jeff Beard bringing in a 13.55 pounder, and Sierra Hoffman weighing a 13.02 pounder. Close behind in fourth was Erv Malsam with 12.93 pounds
There’s no shortage of big fish across the system, and this was another example across the weekend!
South Dakota Governor’s Cup Results
The 2025 South Dakota Governor’s Cup is in the books, and if you missed the recap it was Beau Schilling and Ben Beadle standing on top of the Schilling Family Show! Four fish at 11 pounds anchored a record-shattering 61.51 pound bag for Beau and Ben, who edged out Beau’s father and sister, Chad and Samantha, who took home second.
