Consistent catches for three straight days led a local team to a 14th-place finish during the United States Fishing Association National Championship Walleye Tournament in Devil's Lake, N.D., Sept. 14-16.
Hills angler Gregg Ebert and his partner, Lakefield's Lon Hohenstein, landed more than 36 pounds of fish to place 14th in a field of 138 teams during the national event.
The anglers were rewarded for their efforts with a $500 prize and individual plaques.
Ebert and Hohenstein, who qualified for the event by placing in the top 10 during the South Dakota Walleye Series during the summer, found a bay that was unfished by tournament anglers during their successful appearance in the national event.
They found the bay during their four days of pre-tournament fishing, and that's where they caught all 36-plus pounds of their walleyes.
Ebert and Hohenstein weighed in more than 13 pounds of fish the first day, which was good for 25th place.
Fishing was tough the second day, but the local team caught six of their 11 pounds of fish late in the afternoon to move into 14th place at day's end.
A 12-pound catch on the final day solidified their 14th-place performance.