South Dakota's Duane Hjelm the best walleye angler in the nation again

['Luke Hagen Was Promoted To Editor Of The Mitchell Republic In He Has Worked For The Newspaper Since', 'Has Covered Sports', 'Outdoors', 'Education', 'Features', 'Breaking News. He Can Be Reached At Lhagen Mitchellrepublic.Com.'] Mitchell Daily Republic | Mitchell, South Dakota 2025-09-09 20:52:33

— Seconds into the morning’s competition, Duane Hjelm hooked into a solid walleye while tossing live bait near a spillway. It was one of the most memorable moments of the year for Hjelm, who last week wrapped up his second NWT Pro Angler of the Year title. Hjelm won the Angler of the Year title in 2022, his first year of full-time professional fishing. He’s looking forward to the 2026 NWT season, which includes a stop at his favorite body of water, Lake Oahe, at Mobridge, on May 20-21. As Hjelm seeks a third Angler of the Year title, next year’s tour begins April 9-10 on Lake Erie in Monroe, Michigan.