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RICHMOND, Va. (KLTV) - Wills Point native Jeff Sprague finished in second place at the Major League Fishing tournament on the James River in Richmond, Virginia.

Sprague began fishing on Tuesday in the qualifying round. On day one, Sprague caught 21 fish for 41 pounds and nine ounces. On the second day of qualifying, Sprague caught 15 fish for 40 pounds and 11 ounces for a two-day total of 36 fish for 82 pounds and four ounces. Sprague was in sixth after the qualifying rounds.

In the knockout round, Sprague caught 16 fish for 34 pounds and eight ounces for an 8th place finish and advanced to the championship round.

In the championship round, Sprague hauled in 25 fish for 50 pounds and eight ounces which was good enough for a second place finish and a $45,000 payout.

Sprague joined East Texas Now on Monday to discuss the tournament and how much he enjoyed fishing on the James River.

“This is a tidal fishery, basically it’s controlled by the ocean. The water comes in and goes out, swings about three foot every day,” Sprague said. “What a great fishery, what a cool place to visit.”

Not only was the heat in Virginia comparable to the heat in Texas, but a pop up shower on championship Sunday brought even more comparisons to Texas.

“We had one of those East Texas doozies come through there. We got under a dock, you know, severe lightning and severe wind,” said Sprague. “Just a pop up thunderstorm like we have a lot.”

Going into Sunday, Sprague wasn’t sure he even had a shot at winning.

“I didn’t really think I had a chance to win until like the last hour,” Sprague said. “Everybody else kinda stalled out and my fishing picked up.”

Sprague is taking the month of July off from fishing to do some charity work, but he is excited for his next fishing event.

“We head to the St. Lawrence River which is on the Canadian border of upstate New York the first week of August,” said Sprague. “That will be a tremendous fishery as well. Lots of largemouth, lots and lots of small mouth, it’s a gorgeous country up there.”