After yesterday, NWT pro angler John Hoyer had a target on his back, so to speak.

“We knew we had a good bag with three sisters at 31 inches, we didn’t want to risk any of the fish from dying and getting penalized, that is why we came in early,” Hoyer said. “We really had to run a short distance and only had to use one tank of gas today. The first fish of morning was a 31 inches and I knew it was going to be a good day at that point. Now we just keep it all together again tomorrow.”

Hoyer’s co-angler on Wednesday, Collin Martin, was also sitting in first place on the co-angler side.

With 39.18 going into Day Two, Hoyer felt good but not good enough.

The top-10 teams of two pro anglers and their co-anglers are pictured after the second day of the National Walleye Tour’s 2022 championship in Dunkirk. OBSERVER Photo by Craig Robbins

“Anything can happen during a tournament, especially the NWT Championship,” stated Hoyer before heading out for Day Two.

“We as a City of Dunkirk are excited to host the NWT 2022 Championship,” said Vince DeJoy, City of Dunkirk director of development. “This event was a happening as soon as it started here in Dunkirk several months ago. With the leadership of Mayor Rosas and the team this event wouldn’t be as successful as it already has. The direct economy impact of roughly $300,000 is going to help the City of Dunkirk and all the business in the city and surrounding communities.”

As the weigh-in begun, NWT tournament director Anthony Wright said: “While Mayor Rosas and City of Dunkirk has gone above and beyond for the NWT 2022 Championship, the fishing has been first class, and we are looking forward to another huge day at the scales.”

Repeating his Day One performance, Hoyer, a pro from Wayzata, Minnesota, walked away from the scales at the end of Day Two still in the lead for pro anglers with a total five-fish limit of 30.70 pounds, giving him a two-day total of 70.60 pounds, with an average weight of just over seven pounds so far.

“Today was a little different than yesterday, but we were able to break the 30-pound bag,” Hoyer shared. “Hopefully my fish don’t move too far overnight because I plan on going back and putting a couple big ones that broke off this week.”

Pierre South Dakota pro Duane Hjelm jumped into the top 10 on Day Two with 35.68 pounds. Adam Anderson took third place on Day Two with 26.87 pounds. The fourth slot in the top 10 went to Jason Prezekurat with 28.46 pounds. Max Wilson was in fifth place with 28.25 pounds; Austin Ragotzkie brought 24.41 pounds to the scales; and Alexandria, Minnesota Nitro pro angler Drake Herd had 26.71. NWT touring pro Craig Sleeman from Victor, New York had a five-fish limit of 24.43 pounds to keep himself in the top 10. Veteran walleye pro angler Keith Kavajecz from Deerbrook, Wisconsin jumped to ninth place with his Day Two five-fish bag of 27.85 pounds. Rounding out the top 10 was Bill Shimota with his Day Two of 24.69 pounds.

Day Two wasn’t only good on the pro side, but the co-anglers put together quite the showing with Martin still holding on to first place with 23.37 and a two-day total of 63.18 pounds.

Timothy Berg sits in second place with huge bag on Two Day of 35.66 pounds and a two day total of 61.51; Also on Thursday, Eric Tvedt had 30.79, Koleke Ferguson 28.71, Michael Yarema has a tight grip on fifth place with 25.88, Drake McCarthy walked to the scales with 24.31, Jeff Cortez is in seventh place with his bag of 27.85, Joel Nickel had 24.43 pounds and rounding out the top 10 co-anglers is Troy Cox with a bag of 26.19.

Thursday saw all teams bring fish to the scales, with the heaviest bag turned in by NWT pro Daune Hjelma and his co-angler Timothy Berg, with the largest bag of the tournament weighing at 35.68 pounds for five-fish limit.

The NWT three-day championship will conclude today, with the weigh-in starting at 3 p.m. at Dunkirk Pier.