Recap of the Event 

Press Release

ALS Fishing Tournament Breaks Fundraising Record

June 5, 2022  / Duluth, MN 

The 27th annual Kolar Toyota ALS Fishing Tournament broke their annual fundraising record this weekend. $265,000 was raised, breaking the previous record of $244,000, set in 2017.

Organizers are excited and grateful with the tournament results and appreciate support from anglers, sponsors, volunteers and donors. Tournament chair Blake Kolquist said, “With the success of this year’s record-breaking event, over $4 million has been raised in the fight against ALS since we started this tournament in 1996. Funds raised continue to support people living with ALS and we’ve now been able to expand our funding into leading research efforts giving patients access to the latest and greatest ALS treatment trials right here in Duluth. Thank you to everyone that supports our cause as it’s truly making a difference in the lives of those living with ALS.”Brian Johnson and his son Andrew took first place in the walleye category on Island Lake. 

The Johnson team, of Superior, caught six walleyes measuring in at 94.5 inches. Doug Pirila (Proctor, MN) and Greg Poetz (Winsted, MN) caught the longest stringer of five bass for a total of 92.75 inches. Wade Aamodt, of Duluth, pulled in the day’s longest walleye, measuring in at 22.5 inches to win the tournament’s Big Walleye Bonanza. Doug Pirila snagged the longest bass of the day at 20.25 inches. 

This event again hosted a virtual tournament for anglers not able to come to Duluth. Scott Monson of Perham, MN had the longest bass (15.75 inches). The longest northern pike (28.5 inches) was caught by Jack Evens, of Cold Spring, MN Wayne Johnson of Perham caught the longest crappie (12.75 inches). The longest walleye (29.25 inches) was caught by Calvin Boecker, of Lakeville, MN.

Former UMD hockey star Jim Johnson, two-time Minnesota Twins world champion Kent Hrbek, and three-time All-Star player plus the 1988 All-Star Game MVP, Terry Steinbach again hosted the event. All three men were participants in the tournament and helped with the awards ceremony and live auction. Most importantly, all three have been personally touched by ALS.

Over the tournament’s 27 years, the event has raised $4 million in the quest to Fund the Fight Against ALS, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. Kolar Toyota became title sponsor of the event in 2007 and the dealership is actively involved with the year-round planning of the tournament.  

Tournament Results