The calendar has flipped to May, and that means the first month of the Midwest Walleye Challenge in South Dakota is complete!
The 2026 event already has seen a record number of both participants and fish submitted, with some quality fish at the top of the leaderboard! In total, 151 anglers are registered for the event with 68 registering at least one fish.
The Day County Walleye Slayers, which appears to have every angler in Day County on their team, continues to dominate the top of the leaderboard. Their 1,825 points is triple their second-place competitor, which is the Butte County Eye-ballers with 597 points. Meade County – Reel Eazy, sits in third with 513 points.
Sitting in fourth place is Team Lip Ripper Fishing with 332 points. The Spink County Slammers are hot on the heels with 314 points to round out the Top Five.
County Points:
- 1st Place: Day County – Walleye Slayers 1,825 points
- 2nd Place: Butte County – Eye-ballers: 597 points
- 3rd Place: Meade County – Reel Eazy: 513 points
- 4th Place: Stanley County – Team Lip Ripper Fishing: 332 points
- 5th Place: Spink County Slammers: 314 points
- 6th Place: Clark County – Eye Candy: 295 points
- 7th Place: Sully County – The Sully Squad: 196 points
- 8th Place: Hamlin County – Happy Hookers 98 points
- 8th Place: Brown County 98 points
There has been numerous quality walleye landed, with the top 13 positions for longest walleye coming in at over 25 inches. In total, 35 anglers have registered a walleye over 20 inches.
Tacey Miller of the Day County Walleye Slayers leads longest walleye at 29.5 inches. Fellow Day County Walleye Slayer, Justin Zirbel, sits in second with a 29 inch fish. Collin Gades of the Spink County Slammers sits in third with 28.75 inches.
Max Muggli has a 28.54 inch fish, and he’s followed by three Day County Walleye Slayers: Ari Sichmeller (27.25 inches), Turner Wickre (27.25 inches), and Chandler Carda (27 inches) to round out the Top Seven.
Brent Hoffman has a 27 incher for 8th place, then two more Day County Walleye Slayers in Kaed Rauk and Jagger Dargatz round out the Top Ten. In total, the Day County Walleye Slayers have 10 of the top 13 places for longest walleye.
Longest Walleye:
- Tacey Miller: 29.5 inches
- Justin Zirbel: 29 inches
- Collin Gades: 28.75 inches
- Max Muggli: 28.54 inches
- Ari Sichmeller: 27.25 inches
- Turner Wickre: 27.25 inches
- Chandler Carda: 27 inches
- Brent Hoffmann: 27 inches
- Kaed Rauk: 26.5 inches
- Jagger Dargatz: 26.25 inches
Hank Asher has a commanding lead for most walleye with 145 fish registered. In second is Chandler Carda with 114 fish. Collin Gades has 85 fish, Karstyn Schlechter has 65 fish, and Ari Sichmeller has 55 fish.
Most Walleye:
- Hank Asher: 145 fish
- Chandler Carda: 114 fish
- Collin Gades: 85 fish
- Karstyn Schlechter: 65 fish
- Ari Sichmeller: 55 fish
- Christoper Piehl: 51 fish
- James Carpenter: 43
- Hudson Fuller: 35 fish
- Michael Ocobock: 34 fish
- Hunter Fredericks: 25 fish
There is still plenty of time for anglers to register, and get their fish submitted. The event runs through June 28, leaving plenty of time for the leaderboard to continue to change!
