COLUMBIA, S.C. – John Hoyer wasted no time picking up where he left off in 2023, winning the first tournament of the 2024 season on the National Walleye Tour (NWT) on Lake Erie in Port Clinton, Ohio. A now four time NWT champion, Hoyer capped off a tremendous 2023 season by winning the NWT Championship and Angler of the Year title on Devils Lake, North Dakota, followed by another win to kick off the 2024 season.
In third-place after day one of competition with 34 pounds, 12 ounces, the Iowa pro doubled down with a whopping 35 pounds, 1 ounces on the final day, securing the victory and edging out the competition by over 5 pounds. His two-day total weight of 69 pounds, 13 ounces earned him over $116,926 in cash and prizes, including a new 2024 Ranger 620FS with a Mercury 250hp Pro XS motor.
While many of the other competitors were trolling, Hoyer committed his efforts throughout practice and the two days of competition to casting techniques, and using his electronics to locate bigger fish he found suspended. He rotated between two baits depending on the conditions—a 4-inch Berkley PowerBait Minnow in Magic Man color and a 5-inch Berkley PowerBait Power Jerk Shad in Smokin’ Shad or White Ice colors, both rigged on a ½-ounce orange jig head.
“Going into the event I knew I wanted to try to focus on finding a casting bite and stick to what I am comfortable with,” said Hoyer. “I had been to this area of Lake Erie before and knew I had to cover ground and find clean water during practice. I located about a mile stretch of water in practice and I ended up never having to leave that area during the two days of competition.”
Top-quality gear is essential for competing at the highest level, and Hoyer relies on a complete lineup of Fenwick rods and Abu Garcia reels, in addition to Berkley baits, during competition. The gear gives him the confidence he needs to target and land bigger-than-average fish while competing on the National Walleye Tour.
“I threw both of my main baits on a 7-foot medium Fenwick World Class Rod and Abu Garcia Zenon X 30 size reel with 10-pound Fireline Flame Green to a 12-pound Berkley 100% Fluorocarbon leader,” said Hoyer. “I rotated between lighter and darker colored minnow profiles depending on water clarity and weather conditions. If I couldn’t get a fish to react to one of them, I would show the fish a different setup to try to coax them into biting.”
Added Marc Kempter, VP of Marketing Communications. “John’s ongoing success on the National Walleye Tour is a testament to his dedication and commitment to these tournaments. He has been instrumental in developing many of Berkley’s and Fenwick’s walleye-specific products in recent years. His continued domination underscores his deep involvement in product development and his passion for the sport.”
