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Q-C set to host pro anglers

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By Shannon Heaton | Sunday, July 13, 2008 |

They’re among the best at what they do.

They spend most of their time outdoors, earning professional dollars doing something that most of us don’t do well. And they’re in town this weekend.

No, it’s not the John Deere Classic.

On Saturday, the Wal-Mart FLW Walleye League’s Heartland Division will hold its third tournament of the season on the Mississippi River in Moline.

Though it’s possible the presence of the JDC might affect angler turnout, it’s expected to draw 200 weekend walleye fishermen.

Looking for a favorite Saturday?

Check the anglers’ zip code and proximity to LaSalle County and the Illinois River, which apparently seems to be the hotbed for finding walleye anglers.

Tonica resident Adam Sandor is the Heartland Division’s standings leader for Land O’Lakes Angler of the Year honors. Just a few miles away, living in Cedar Point, is co-angler points leader Scott Trumpinski.

Additionally, fishermen to watch this weekend — also from the same LaSalle County area just east of the Quad-Cities — include Glenn Daughterty of West Streator and Cliff Banks of Spring Valley. Just west of them, in Princeton in eastern Bureau County, is another angler — Mark Michael — who should be competitive Saturday.

Each boat will take off from Sunset Park and Marina at 7 a.m. Saturday, with weigh-ins held there starting at 3 p.m. Fans can come to both, which are both free.

Saturday’s tournament offers cash payouts extending through 20th place for both anglers and co-anglers — who compete separately but are paired randomly to try to achieve a combined boat weight — with the winning boater earning as much as $7,000 for his or her efforts.

Each FLW Walleye League division — there are four in all — sends 30 boaters and 30 co-anglers to a league finals event in Winona, Minn., in mid-September.

Points champions from each division qualify for the FLW Walleye Tour championship in North Dakota in late September.

Entry for Saturday’s tournament still is possible. Interested competitors can call (270) 252-1000, or visit www.FLWOutdoors.com to register. Entries will be accepted during Friday’s registration period from 4 to 6 p.m. at the north end of Sunset Marina in Rock Island.

FLW (short for Ranger Boats founder Forrest L. Wood) Outdoors, the largest fishing-tournament organization in the world, also offers anyone the opportunity to become a virtual pro fisherman through fantasy competitions. Interested online participants can sign up at www.FantasyFishing.com.