Good Sauger Bite at GNWC's Opener at Spring Valley

By Steve Weisman
GNWC Publicity Director

The team of Ron Brake and Jeff Fore from Petersburg, IL won the Illinois Circuit's first qualifier as the Grand National Walleye Cup (GNWC) kicked off its 2003 season at Spring Valley on Sunday, March 30.

Brake and Fore, who took home a check for $1000, brought in a six-sauger limit that weighed 13.86 pounds. Taking second place was the team of Adam and Steve Sandor from Ottawa, IL, with a six-sauger limit that tipped the scales at 12.84 pounds. For their efforts, the Sandor duo pocketed $500 and also won $250 in Berkley products for being the top Berkley Family Angler team. 

Third place with a weight of 10.81 pounds and a check for $300 went to Scott Roehik and Dan Timmons from Davenport, IA, while Doug Larsen and Vince Raimoni from Addison, IL took fourth place and a check for $200 with 10.61 pounds. 

The Abu Garcia Big Fish Award went to Dan Palmer and Dave Gustin for their 5.63 pound sauger. They each received an ABU Garcia 6500 Linecounter reel.

According to GNWC Director Bernie Barringer, the teams were able to overcome Saturday's blustery and snowy pre-fishing, along with 23 degree temperatures at Sunday morning's takeoff to bring in several six-fish limits during the tournament. 

"This is a terrific sauger fishery in both size and quantity. As a matter of fact, all of the fish weighed were sauger. Quite a few of our teams caught and released several additional fish. We had 2/3 of our teams weigh six-fish limits, and the 5.63 pounder taken by Palmer and Gustin is one of the largest sauger I have ever seen. It's always good to start off the season with a good bite," said Barringer.

A variety of presentations were used as sauger were taken up and down the river: working 3-way rigs, vertical jigging and trolling all took fish with the big fish taken by Palmer and Gustin while trolling the clam beds. 

Barringer noted that the Illinois teams now take almost a month off. "Our next qualifier on the Illinois circuit will be the Fox Chain of Lakes on Saturday, April 26. I'm looking forward to a good turnout for this second qualifier. It will be a great opportunity for anglers to experience what we have to offer with the Grand National Walleye Cup."

Interested 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 and UpNorthOutdoors.com.