Minnesota Master Angler - Tommy Ruckmar
Tommy Ruckmar did, on May 9, 2020, caught and Released by sportfishing method from Minnesota waters a 30.75" / 9 lb 8 oz Walleye and is hereby recognized as an official Minnesota Master Angler.
Fish Catch Details
- Angler Name: Tommy Ruckmar
- Angler Home: St. Paul, MN
- Date of Catch: May 9, 2020
- County: Blue Earth
- Lake/River: Minnesota River
- Species: Walleye
- Size: 30.75" / 9 lb 8 oz
- Catch Was: Released
- Catch Story: This is a fun story. First and foremost, the walleye was actually 9.76 pounds and 30 3/4 inches. Sorry I was unable to put those figures in the above table and rounded up. It was a very cold and rainy opener for three buddies and I. This is the third time in a row that we've been going here for opener. All of our fishing spots were taken due to the low river levels and the bite was slow. We decided to go back to our campsite early because it was supposed to rain and we wanted to start a fire. My buddies were done fishing but I wanted to give it another try. My friend recommended trying this spot that was on a ledge. This ledge was about 10 feet straight up from the water so I was skeptical in case we caught something big. Down below the ledge was only about a foot of sand before the water. The first cast resulted in a snag and I had to re-do my setup. About an hour later I had something big on. I started yelling and another friend ran all the way back to the boat to get the net. Another friend luckily came over to see what all the excitement was. After about a 15 minute fight we had the fish close to the shore. One friend had to drop down the ledge. His only support was grabbing my other friends hands. His other hand had the net. Once he got the fish in the net, all three of us had to work together to get the net with the fish up above the approximate 10 foot cliff. We took some quick pictures and released the fish. It was a thrill of a lifetime and I can't imagine a better way to catch it. Please let me know if you need more pictures. The fish was caught with a 1/4 ounce jig and a worm. A side note, the friend who had the net was "rewarded" with a 21 pound Sheepshead about a half hour after this catch. Maybe he should apply for this as well!
- Witness Name: Dylan Yarger
- Witness Home: Lake Crystal, MN
Official Certificate
