One Big Walleye Makes All the Difference 
By Steve Weisman 
GNWC Publiciy Director

Knowing that one big walleye could make the difference at Saturday's (April 26) Fox Chain of Lakes qualifier, the team of John Mannerino of Chicago, IL and Greg Meyer of Elgin, IL connected big time and their 6.59 pounder won the Grand National Walleye Cup's first place prize of $1200.

According to GNWC Executive Director Bernie Barringer, Mannerino and Meyer took a big gamble, and it definitely paid off. "They swung for the home run," said Barringer. "They were the only team that stuck with a trolling bite. They used a #7 Fire Tiger Shad Rap to catch their winning fish."

In addition to winning the tournament, they also won the Abu Garcia Big Fish Award of two ABU Garcia 6500 Linecounter reels. Second place and a check for $600 went to the team of Ted Beskow from Spring Grove, Il and Ed Schuld from Genoa City, IL with four walleyes weighing 6.14 pounds.

Meanwhile, Bob Schine from Crystal Lake, IL and Jasen Schine from Lake Villa, IL took home both the third place check for $350 and the Berkley Family Angler Award worth $250 in Berkley product. Their four fish weighed 5.74 pounds.

With a weight of 5.22 pounds, Jeff Miller from Fox Lake and Dave Zurawski from Plainfield, IL captured fourth place and a check for $300.

Fifth place and a check for $200 went to Robert Galledora from Lakemoor, IL and Kevin Wilhelm from Spring Grove, IL.

"We had great weather and the teams worked hard trying to get a pattern established. Except for the first place team¹s big walleye, the rest of the fish were taken on a jig and minnow. However, it took a lot of running and gunning from place to place for these teams to catch their fish," noted Barringer.

"I really want to thank everybody for welcoming us with such great enthusiasm. We had great help from the Chain Walleye Club at the weigh-in. The GNWC looks forward to coming back in another year."

Next stop on the Illinois Circuit will be at East Dubuque, IL on the Mississippi River Sunday, May 11.

Anglers can call 1-800-890-3474, email the GNWC at info@walleyecup.com or check out the official GNWC website at walleyecup.com for all of the latest in GNWC information.

Major sponsoring partners for the GNWC include Ranger Boats, Mercury Outboards, Berkley, Abu-Garcia, The Sportsman Channel and UpNorthOutdoors.com. For those television viewers who do not have The Sportsman Channel, be sure to call your cable company or satellite television provider and ask them to include it in their package.