DECATUR, Ala. (AP) — David Walker won the Bassmaster Elite Series’ Dixie Duel on Sunday at Wheeler Lake, finishing with a catch of 63 pounds, 10 ounces.

Walker, from Sevierville, Tenn., earned $100,000 and a 2012 Bassmaster Classic berth for his first Elite Series victory.

“I’ve fished a lot of them, and I hadn’t won one,” the 46-year-old Walker said. “I always felt like I was good enough to do it, and I feel like I’ve paid my dues. And why not a win? That was my slogan for the whole week: ’Why not me?’ And here I am, talking about a win. I might be a little rusty on that topic.”

Kevin VanDam, from Kalamazoo, Mich., was second — 1 pound, 13 ounces back.

“I just didn’t get the quality bites today,” VanDam said. “I caught a ton of fish today, I fished everything I wanted to, but it was all I could manage. I fished clean this week. I didn’t lose, I got beat.”