Ranger pro Ross Grothe shows off his first-place check for $100,000. - Photo by Brett Carlson

The FLW Walleye Tour visited the Detroit River on April 5-8, 2006.  A full field of 150 pros and 150 co-anglers took on the Detroit River for their share of a $503,300 purse, including as much as $100,000 for the winning pro and $18,000 for the winning co-angler. 

Frequently, there were 100 boats fishing off the Humbug Marsh Unit of the Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge. Detroit River and western Lake Erie are known as the "Walleye Capital of the World."  Over 10 million walleye migrate through the Detroit River corridor each spring. 

Coverage of the FLW Walleye Tour opener on the Detroit River will be broadcast to 81 million FSN (Fox Sports Net) subscribers in the United States on May 21 as part of the "FLW Outdoors" television program. "FLW Outdoors" airs Sunday mornings at 11 Eastern time. 

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has partnered on building a spawning reef in the river, implementing 22 soft engineering demonstration projects that provide critical nursery habitat, and protection of key coastal wetlands like Humbug Marsh, Mud Island, Calf Island, and more.  Walleye fishing alone brings in more than $1 million to the local economy each spring.