Liebel, Hill walleye derby winners
Liebel, Hill walleye derby winners
By STU MERRY
A little bit of luck and being in the right place at the right time was the key to success for this year’s North Dakota Governor’s Walleye Cup Tournament champions.
Winning the 36th annual event was the team of Matt Liebel of Williston and Tory Hill of Minot.
The two said they are familiar with the area. Hill even has local ties to Garrison. His father Jim (now of Makoti) grew up west of White Shield. His grandparents are Bev and the late Reid Hill of Garrison. Bev now lives in Bismarck.
Liebel and Hill aren’t strangers to Governor’s Cup tournament activities. The two cut their teeth participating in the youth derby.
“We never caught anything,” Hill said of the pair’s luck at the junior event.
The wait was worth it. A few years later, and the pair are Walleye Cup tournament champions.
The two prefished for a week prior to the tournament. Hill said some days were good, while others were not.
“You’ve got to eliminate the water where the walleye aren’t, too,” added Liebel.
The two said they played the game of follow the fish.
