SCHILLING BECOMES FIRST ROOKIE TO WIN NWT ANGLER OF THE YEAR
When 19-year-old Beau Schilling opted to fish the 2026 National Walleye Tour season, it looked like a risky proposition. Sure, Schilling had won the 2025 South Dakota Governor’s Cup in record fashion, but that was on Lake Oahe, his home turf where he had been guiding since elementary school. Competing against the best anglers in the world on unknown fisheries is an entirely different animal. Fast forward five months and not only did Schilling hold his own, he became the first rookie to ever claim the most prestigious title in competitive walleye fishing - Angler of the Year.
In Schilling’s corner all year was his father, Chad, a tournament veteran who already has an AOY title of his own. Chad had stepped away from the NWT for a decade to raise Beau and his sister, Sam. With his children now grown and the foundation solidly in place, both Schillings embarked on the 2026 season at Lake Erie. Beau came out early for an extended practice and met fellow 19-year-old Jayden Wendel.
“We had never actually met, but we kind of knew of each other,” said the younger Schilling. “We got each other on Snapchat. He didn’t have anyone on his team, and I was out there at Erie by myself at first. It’s funny; you sign up for this and at first it doesn’t feel intimidating. Then you make the drive to Lake Erie, get to the dock, and go, ‘Wow, this is actually happening.’”
Mooch in the Erie Mud
When Chad arrived, the two young bucks taught the veteran that Erie walleyes could be caught in the warmer mud, the very water tournament pros avoided for decades. Better yet, there was no need to make the long run to the islands and the cans. Winning fish could be found only 10 miles from Monroe. Chad finished the opener third, and Beau took fourth.
“Dad was giving me a hard time after the first one, but it was a great opener. Jayden was the one who figured out the mud. I figured out the darker colors. Most guys were throwing whites. I had the most success with the 4 1/2-inch Mooch Minnow in green pumpkin chartreuse pepper or black. I really like the black, and you don’t see a lot of guys throwing black. That Mooch Minnow on a VMC Redline Tungsten Swimbait Jig is just the deal”
Chad saw something bigger developing.
“I got the best of him at the first one, but I told everybody who would listen to watch out for these two 19-year-olds,” said Chad, who owns and operates Oahe Wings & Walleyes. “These guys are the real deal. They are 100 percent committed and don’t miss a beat. I didn’t know that winning Angler of the Year would necessarily happen this year, but I called it. knew it was only a matter of time. There is no one that is going to out prepare or outwork Beau.”
Late Oahe Rally
The season’s second event brought the Schillings back to familiar territory: Lake Oahe out of Mobridge, S.D. While Oahe is renowned for its giants, it’s also known for relentless prairie winds. This held true during the two-day qualifier as several pros drained trolling motor batteries and couldn’t stay on their best spots. Schilling had no problems adjusting on day one, but he was in serious trouble on day two.
“I had no walleyes in the livewell at 2:30. Everywhere I went, the fish were pretty much gone. At 2:30, I came back to my starting spot. I saw a giant; she chased me, but didn’t bite. I flipped back and ripped the crap out of my Mooch Minnow and made it mad. That was the first time I got that to work all week, and it was a 12-pounder.”
Schilling coaxed one additional over, but never weighed any slot fish. His two-day total weight was 44 pounds, 10 ounces, enough for third place. It was more than just a strong finish. It was a season-defining moment.
“That was the turning point in the season. I could say there was more meat on the bone, but AOY would never have been possible without those two fish in the last hour.”
Green Bay Gold
The next two NWT qualifiers were held on Lake Michigan’s Green Bay. The first took place on the northern end in Michigan waters, and the second was limited to Wisconsin. Schilling had never visited Green Bay before, but he’d heard plenty about its notoriously spooky, boat-shy walleyes. However, the two 19-year-olds dominated in Gladstone with a suspended mayfly pattern. While the water was deep, the walleyes were high and were positioned to pounce on VMC Tungsten Mooneye jigs and crawlers.
Wendel took first and became the youngest to ever win a tour-level walleye tournament and Schilling took fifth. For two teenagers fishing at the highest level, it was a remarkable week.
“It was a special moment,” recalled Schilling. “You’ve got to see it to believe it. At that point, there was a lot of talk about both of us taking home a boat - him being the youngest to win an event and me being the youngest to win AOY.”
Major Risk Bears Major Fruit
With his confidence soaring, Schilling returned to Green Bay only to encounter adversity. Electrical issues shortened his practice, and by the time he finally got on the water, he never dialed a definitive program. Schilling thought he responded with a successful first day - going over 40 pounds, but he had lost ground to AOY leader Eric McQuoid.
On day two, he gambled and made a 45-mile run up towards the boundary near Death’s Door Bluff. This area was loaded with alewives, but also loaded with 8-, 9- and 10-pound walleyes.
“That was the Angler of the Year race right there. Eric is so good. In my mind that was the only way to put myself in position to have a chance at AOY. I talked to the team at night, and everyone agreed that I had to go get 45 pounds. It was super risky, but I believed in myself and it was absolutely the right move.”
By 10:30 on day two, Schilling had four over 9 pounds in the boat. Then the bite slowed considerably. At 12:20, he boxed an 8-pounder, and it proved wise, because it was his last fish of the day. Schilling’s 44-pound second day launched him to third with a cumulative total of 84 pounds, 7 ounces.
“I caught most of them again with the VMC Tungsten Mooneye jig and a crawler. I typically used the 3/16- and 1/4-ounce jigs. All my fish came vertically. I never had success bringing them to the bottom. I would shake it in front of their face and take them vertical.”
Schilling’s secondary program was throwing the 4-inch Crush City Mayor (Albino Pearl) on 1/4-ounce and 3/8-ounce VMC Redline Series Tungsten Swimbait jigs.
“If they were really dormant, if I was getting denied a lot, it was a great backup option. It was about the only artificial option I could get them to go on up near the boundary.”
Consistency Seals the Deal
After McQuoid unexpectedly slipped, Schilling carried a 25-point lead to Lake Sakakawea, the site of the 2026 NWT Championship. The plan each day was to hunt giants for a few hours in the morning, and then readjust as necessary.
“Our program was the best program we had going all year,” said Schilling. “I thought we had a chance to top five and maybe even win. After a great practice up shallow in the mud, I’ve never seen a bite fizzle out like that. All of my spots in 4 to 12 feet - they were just gone. I had to scramble out deep in 25 feet with a 1/4-ounce VMC Tungsten Mooneye jig.”
Once again, Schilling adjusted nicely with a 19-pound, 1-ounce bag and then sealed the deal over the next two days with 12 pounds, 2 ounces and 16 pounds, 2 ounces. He finished the championship 18th, which meant no one could mathematically catch him. Not only is Schilling the first rookie to claim AOY, he’s also the youngest ever. In addition, his 972 points accumulated over five events is the most in NWT history.
“It’s just unbelievable how my season panned out,” Schilling reflected. We made a lot of risky moves, and a lot of them paid off. It was an absolutely blessed season, and I can’t thank all my supporters enough. My dad is my biggest supporter; he’s been the best team player in the world. He always told me I was good enough, and I can’t thank him enough. Spending the entire summer with Jayden was great. He might have me as the youngest to ever win an event, but I’m the youngest to ever win AOY.”