BEMIDJI, Minn. – For Ryan Klein and his 8-year-old daughter Kennedy, Father’s Day weekend turned into an unforgettable celebration after the duo took home the $15,000 top prize in the Bemidji Knights of Columbus Walleye Classic.
Launching from the waters of Bemidji Lake and Lake Irving in north-central Minnesota, the pair set off early on June 14 as one of 100 boat teams competing in the catch-and-release event.
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- 1 A Picture-Perfect Day on the Water
- 2 Winning Strategy: Big Fish, Smart Limits
- 3 A Father-Daughter Victory to Remember
Ryan, a seasoned walleye angler from Blackduck, Minnesota, knows these lakes well and entered the tournament with Kennedy just in time to snag one of the final team spots.
A Picture-Perfect Day on the Water
With temperatures in the low 70s, overcast skies, and a light breeze, Ryan relied on his Garmin LiveScope to spot fish in about 8 feet of ultra-clear water over sand grass flats.
“The tournament has a five-fish limit, and only two can be over 20 inches — all fish are released,” Ryan explained.
Using jigs tipped with nightcrawlers, Ryan hooked two impressive walleyes, one weighing 7.49 pounds, the other slightly smaller.
Though Kennedy had her arm in a cast, she played a critical role — expertly netting each fish and taking high-quality photos needed to validate their catch. Since it’s a photo-and-release tournament, detailed images and fish length are vital for scoring.
Winning Strategy: Big Fish, Smart Limits
According to Ryan, it was their three walleyes under the 20-inch limit that truly secured the win.
“Each of those fish weighed over 3 pounds,” he said. “Two were exactly 20 inches, and the third was 19. Without those three, we wouldn’t have won.”
While other teams landed walleyes over 8 pounds, their smaller fish didn’t stack up against the Kleins’ solid under-20-inch catches.
A Father-Daughter Victory to Remember
After the tournament wrapped up at 3:30 p.m., Ryan and Kennedy were awarded the $15,000 prize at a 6 p.m. ceremony. When asked what she planned to do with her winnings, Kennedy gave a smart, no-nonsense answer:
“Nope, I’m putting all that money in my savings account.”
Ryan, who also runs JR’s Corner Access, a winter ice fishing resort on Upper Red Lake, says they may fish another tournament together this year — but they’ll definitely be back for the 2026 Walleye Classic.
“This win was special,” Ryan said. “Fishing with my daughter on Father’s Day and taking the top prize — I couldn’t ask for more.”
