Oconto fishing means money

Oconto - Walleye fishing typically means a night of big eats, but in Oconto it means a weekend of big bucks.

"A tournament like this will bring between 400,000 and 500,000 dollars, so we're pretty proud to have it here," says Oconto City Councilman Dick Doeren.

With that, the town rolls out the red carpet for the summer's three fishing tournaments, and the anglers appreciate the treatment.

"It's a great walleye fishery right here. People should take advantage of it because it's right in our backyard," says co-angler Randy Peterson.

Peterson teamed up with Mike Barfnecht for this Pro-Am format Walleye League event.

"We had a perfect relationship," says Barfnecht. "The guy who helped tie up my rods and helped me pre fish I'll have to talk with, because we broke off a real good fish."

The two did manage to get five fish in the box, which the duo was pretty happy with.

"Right around twenty pounds should cash a check," says Barfnecht.

The team did cash a check for a couple hundred dollars, but they were far from the big money, which went to Daniel Woodke and Robert Lampman.

After the paydays were applauded, the city's spokesperson wanted to get in one final message.

"Oconto is probably the finest walleye fishing in the country, bar none," says Doeren.

And, it's putting big money into the town's pocketbook.