The 3rd Annual Sharpe Showdown has concluded, proving to be a thrilling conclusion to the weekend of fishing that followed the National Walleye Tour (NWT) event held earlier in the week. The competition showcased the remarkable skill of the anglers as they battled against challenging weather conditions.
Ryan Thompson and Matt Lyon emerged as champions with a striking total of 19.14 pounds, which included a notable 5.16-pound walleye from Day One. Close behind them were Kevin Merrill and Tim Agenda, who weighed in at 17.35 pounds, and Brad Saathoff alongside Josh Spies, who finished third with 17.09 pounds.
The first day posed significant challenges for the competitors, with high winds and rain that heavily influenced the fishing conditions. Day Two brought a relief from the rain, but the winds persisted. “I grabbed myself a Cold Snap CS One suit literally at the rules meeting on Friday night and let me say I field tested it quite well,” joked Nick Harrington, Owner of Lip Ripper Fishing. “Between the rain, wind, and waves we were taking it was the most comfortable and dry I’ve been in those conditions, and I was quite impressed!” Harrington noted that despite the tough conditions, he managed to stay relatively dry and comfortable.
As the tournament progressed, the influence of changing weather patterns became clear, particularly on fish behavior. “The biggest takeaway to me was seeing how dependent we are as anglers on consistent weather patterns and winds,” stated Tom Sieburg of Tom Tom’s Guide Service. “It was interesting to see how much fish behavior and movement was dictated on wind conditions.”
Adding to the complexity of the competition was the timing of the spawn. Harrington pointed out that the event coincided with significant spawning activity. “We literally hit the middle of the spawn with this event,” he explained. “Friday we had two spawned out or ‘spent’ saugers, and four walleyes that were still holding eggs. Sunday I literally had a 19 ¾ inch sauger dropping eggs in my hand.” This dynamic certainly changed the fishing landscape.
Despite the challenges, many anglers had no problem catching fish, but landing the right size remained difficult. Harrington observed, “We have had so many fish in the boat the last nine days, and there are so many shorts and fish between 15-17 inches. Finding those right fish was a challenge, and then once you did they’d move on you yet again.”
The week was especially grueling for those participating in their first trip to Lake Sharpe, as they grappled with the demanding nature of the fishery. “Lake Sharpe is a numbers factory, and it’s a great place to come and test your abilities on both patterning fish, and most importantly, mental fortitude,” Sieburg added. “This waterbody can grind on some of the toughest anglers on planet Earth.”
For Harrington and Sieburg, the competition was relentless, with a total of 13.38 pounds brought to the scales. Although their efforts yielded consistent results, they couldn’t secure that game-changing larger fish. “Each day we had our five fish relatively early and dedicated the rest of the time to targeting one of those fish that can propel a bag up the leaderboard,” Harrington remarked. “Unfortunately, we never got that big bite, but to have a limit of fish in the box and the opportunity to take that gamble is all you can ask for on Lake Sharpe.”
The Sharpe Showdown results reflect the fierce competition among anglers:
- 10th Place: Max Sheets/Tyson Keller 16.26 pounds - 9th Place: Ryan Weekly/Travor Diegel 16.40 pounds - 8th Place: Kenny Edgmon/Steve Fahey 16.42 pounds - 7th Place: Chase Suiter/Barry Seyer 16.45 pounds - 6th Place: Harry Decker/Dalton Decker 16.47 pounds - 5th Place: Lorin Skipper/Justin Skipper 16.79 pounds - 4th Place: Josh Freeseman/Justin Cole 16.98 pounds - 3rd Place: Brad Saathoff/Josh Spies 17.09 pounds - 2nd Place: Kevin Merrill/Tim Agenda 17.35 pounds - 1st Place: Ryan Thompson/Matt Lyon 19.14 pounds
For those looking for complete tournament details and results, additional information will be available through The Fishing Crew in the coming week. The excitement of Lake Sharpe continues, promising new stories and competitive spirit as the fishing season unfolds.
