Narrator 2

And they were coming to Rossford.

Jason's a good guy, well-liked. You can see it in the way the other anglers interact with him. And he knows as much about walleye and what it takes to catch them as anyone competing.

Jason's a good guy, well-liked. You can see it in the way the other anglers interact with him. And he knows as much about walleye and what it takes to catch them as anyone competing.

There's definitely a level of skill separating your typical weekend caster from serious walleye competitors. But it also means that at these walleye tournaments, all the regulars are experts. So the difference between first and second place, or first and fifth, comes down to ounces. So there's skill involved, definitely. But there's also luck.

There's definitely a level of skill separating your typical weekend caster from serious walleye competitors. But it also means that at these walleye tournaments, all the regulars are experts. So the difference between first and second place, or first and fifth, comes down to ounces. So there's skill involved, definitely. But there's also luck.

By the end of 2021, Chase and Jake seemed to be having a lot of fun, catching fish and cashing checks. They were killing it. Maybe a little too hard. People noticed. People talked.

By the end of 2021, Chase and Jake seemed to be having a lot of fun, catching fish and cashing checks. They were killing it. Maybe a little too hard. People noticed. People talked.

But there was something Mayor Neal did not know. Chase and Jake were actually disqualified from one of those big tournaments they initially won. It was the Fall Brawl, the Big Granddaddy with the $100,000 prize.

But there was something Mayor Neal did not know. Chase and Jake were actually disqualified from one of those big tournaments they initially won. It was the Fall Brawl, the Big Granddaddy with the $100,000 prize.

Did they withdraw? Was there some kind of unfortunate technicality? A rules violation, perhaps? It was all very... fishy.

Did they withdraw? Was there some kind of unfortunate technicality? A rules violation, perhaps? It was all very... fishy.

Logistics may not seem important, but just wait.

Logistics may not seem important, but just wait.

He's also checking to make sure that there aren't more than five fish on the boat. You can't catch, say, eight big fish and save three of them for the second day of competition. You've got to start fresh. After the inspection, the fishermen drive their catch back to Bass Pro Shop in Rossford to be weighed. Now, in most tournaments, there's no driving at all.

He's also checking to make sure that there aren't more than five fish on the boat. You can't catch, say, eight big fish and save three of them for the second day of competition. You've got to start fresh. After the inspection, the fishermen drive their catch back to Bass Pro Shop in Rossford to be weighed. Now, in most tournaments, there's no driving at all.

The fish are weighed right there, near the boat launch. But the roundup is launching their boats from Cullen Park. That's 20 minutes up the highway.

The fish are weighed right there, near the boat launch. But the roundup is launching their boats from Cullen Park. That's 20 minutes up the highway.

Very unhappy walleye.

Very unhappy walleye.

Oh, yeah. A live fish you almost certainly caught that day during the tournament. A dead one? That could be some monster you caught two days ago and kept on ice.