The pro-angler, David Dudley is $125,000 richer after winning the Walmart FLW Tournament. Dudley, from Lynchburg, Virginia, had a total weigh-in of 54 pounds and seven ounces.
“My past history played a role in this tournament. I was able to move around and adjust a little bit with decisions and came out with a win," Dudley said.
Dudley will be heading to the next stop in the FLW Tour at the Potomac River in Maryland.
The tournament, which began Thursday, brought fierce competition in both the co-angler division and the pro-division. The final day had the top ten pro-anglers head to head at Beaver Lake.
Last year’s champion, Bryan Thrift, finished in the 30s this year, but said the experience was unforgettable.
“The first two days the weigh-ins at the lake out at Prairie Creek Marina, there was just a crowd of people out there cheering everybody on. It's really a fun family atmosphere," Thrift said.
The FLW Tournament also brought fun free activities for kids and adults. There were games, drawings, prizes and fishing workshops the entire weekend at the John Q. Hammons Center in Rogers.
Fans came from all over to support and meet the anglers.
"We came to get a free fishing pole so we are excited about that and then Casey (daughter) here is excited to meet all the fishermen and take pictures so we are having a really good time," Christina Self.
The co-angler champion is Chad Pipkens who won $25,000.