Duane Hjelm Finishes Second, Beau Schilling Claims Third and Extends Progressive AOY Lead
OCONTO, Wis. — Randy Topper capped off one of the most impressive performances of the 2026 National Walleye Tour season by winning Stop No. 4 of the Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s National Walleye Tour presented by Progressive on Green Bay with a two-day total of 92 pounds, 1 ounce. Topper's victory included a massive Day 1 bag of 49 pounds and secured him the coveted Iron Hook trophy on one of North America's premier walleye fisheries.
Making the accomplishment even more impressive, Topper entered the event fighting to qualify for the Championship after a difficult start to the season. After spending a week dissecting a key area of Green Bay, the Minnesota angler unlocked a pattern for giant walleyes that ultimately separated him from one of the strongest fields of the season.
Behind Topper, Rapala Pro Duane Hjelm finished second with 86 pounds, 15 ounces, while Progressive Angler of the Year leader and AFTCO Pro Beau Schilling rounded out the podium in third with 84 pounds, 7 ounces. The event showcased Green Bay at its finest, producing 43 bags over 40 pounds and some of the heaviest weights seen all season.
After an 82nd-place finish at Lake Erie to start the season, Topper found himself battling to climb back into Championship contention. By the time the NWT arrived in Oconto, he had worked his way back into position but knew he needed a strong finish.
Rather than run all over Green Bay, Topper committed to thoroughly learning a specific area and focused on understanding every subtle detail.
"I just need to dissect this area and learn every in and out of this area. And it worked," Topper said.
That commitment paid off in a big way. During practice he consistently produced bags approaching 40 pounds before locating a concentration of giant walleyes that would become the winning fish.
Topper's confidence only grew after finding multiple fish weighing 9 and 10 pounds during practice.
"If I find the winning bag and I think it's there, I'm going for it," Topper said.
His gamble paid off as he brought 92 pounds, 1 ounce to the scales to earn the biggest victory of his NWT career. The win also secured Championship qualification after entering the event outside the projected cut line.
For the victory, Topper earned a Nitro ZV20 powered by a Mercury 250XL Pro XS valued at $76,890, plus $15,000 in cash, bringing his total prize package value to $91,890.
Duane Hjelm – 2nd Place
Rapala Pro Duane Hjelm continued his outstanding 2026 campaign with a runner-up finish after weighing 86 pounds, 15 ounces over two days.
Hjelm entered the week with confidence in the area he had located during practice, believing a mid-30-pound average would likely produce a strong finish. Instead, Green Bay produced one heavyweight bag after another.
"The amount of big bags this week absolutely blew me away," Hjelm said.
After nearly 46 pounds on Day 1, Hjelm knew he was in contention but discovered Topper had posted an even larger weight.
"Yesterday we had almost 46 pounds. I honestly felt like we were going to have a big lead. Then I heard Randy weighed almost 50 pounds," Hjelm said.
Hjelm's primary weapons throughout the tournament was the NEW Rapala Jigging Rap X and the NEW Rapala Echo Hair Jig, two confidence baits he trusts when targeting Green Bay's big walleyes. When fishing the weed-filled areas of the bay, he switched to a 3/16- to 1/4-ounce VMC jig, both tungsten and lead versions, tipped with a crawler, a combination he credited for helping him secure the runner-up finish.
His second-place finish earned $20,596, and he added another $1,000 in Garmin contingency awards, collecting $500 as the highest-finishing angler running a Garmin trolling motor and $500 as the highest-finishing angler utilizing a qualifying Garmin electronics package.
Beau Schilling – 3rd Place
The AFTCO Pro continued one of the most consistent seasons in recent NWT history by finishing third with 84 pounds, 7 ounces, strengthening his grip on the Progressive Angler of the Year race.
Schilling's approach centered around covering massive amounts of water and targeting giant suspended fish.
"I burned two sets of 36-volt batteries down today," Schilling said while describing the miles he covered in pursuit of big walleyes.
Using a VMC tungsten jig tipped with a crawler, Schilling methodically searched for individual fish capable of producing tournament-winning weights.
The finish earned Schilling $15,447 and further expanded his lead in the season-long standings heading into the Championship.
Kristin Meyers – 1st Place Co-Angler Division
Kristin Meyers made National Walleye Tour history on Green Bay, becoming the first female Co-Angler Champion in NWT history while claiming the title with an impressive 92 pounds, 4 ounces over two days of competition.
After competing in every event this season, Meyers credited the experience gained throughout the year for helping prepare her for success.
"This tournament just made me love it even more," Meyers said.
A massive Day 1 bag helped position Meyers for the win and she never looked back, ultimately securing the championship on the final day.
"I was in a little bit of disbelief yesterday when we stepped on the scale," Meyers said.
For the victory, Meyers earned $10,000.
Progressive Angler of the Year Race
With the regular season now complete, AFTCO Pro Beau Schilling heads into the Championship leading the Progressive Angler of the Year race with 789 points. Ranger Pro Eric McQuoid sits second with 764 points, while Isaac Lakich is third with 761 points. Rapala Pro Duane Hjelm moved into fourth with 742 points, and Dylan Nussbaum rounds out the top five with 741 points.
On the Co-Angler side, Michael George leads the standings with 706 points, followed by Ryan Jossart with 688 points and David Yoder with 660 points entering the Championship.
The top 40 pros and co-anglers have officially qualified for the Championship following the completion of the regular season. AFTCO Pro Beau Schilling will enter Lake Sakakawea leading the Progressive Angler of the Year race with 789 points.
Thank You Oconto County Tourism & City of Oconto
A huge THANK YOU to Oconto County Tourism, the City of Oconto, local businesses, volunteers, and community partners for serving as the host of this week's event.
Your support and hospitality help make this tournament possible and create an incredible experience for anglers, families, and fans.
From registration and the rules meeting through daily takeoffs and weigh-ins, Oconto continues to showcase why Green Bay is considered one of the premier walleye fisheries in North America.
We appreciate everything the Oconto community did to welcome the National Walleye Tour.
