Texas Walleye Association
Ute Lake Tournament Story

The Texas Walleye Association’s tournament season began on Saturday, March 27 at Ute Lake, New Mexico. It was the typical tough March bite compounded by unusually clear water and high winds. The result was that only 6 of the 15 teams were able to weigh in a fish.

The team of Brett Mills of Fritch and Bobby Reining of Panhandle won 1st place and $540 with 4 fish weighing 7.57 lbs.

Hank McWilliams of Fritch and John McWilliams of Borger used their mastery of fishing chartreuse grubs to bring in the only 5 fish limit weighing 7.25 lbs to claim 2nd and $315.

Kevin and Kalin Audrain of Fritch used a variety of unorthodox methods to secure 3rd place and $200 with 4 fish weighing 6.10 lbs.

Jim O’Connor of Amarillo and Shane Turner of Dalhart placed 4th and $100 with 2 fish weighing 3.89 lbs on a jig and minnow.

J. D. Carr and Chuck Weston of Fritch grabbed 5th place and $50 by catching a nice 2.36 lb fish in the last 20 minutes of the tournament.

Mr.and Mrs Jim Welch of Fritch took 6th and $50 by jigging up 1 fish weighing 1.15 lbs from 50 ft of water.

Jim O’Connor and Shane Turner won the big fish pot of $ 130 with a 2.69 lb walleye.

All fish were weighed in alive and were milked by the State Fisheries Biologist before being returned to the lake. Special appreciation goes to the Logan / Ute Lake Chamber of Commerce, Ute Lake Marina, Dinghy Dick’s Marine, and Jim Welch for generous donations of money and prizes for the tourney.

The next tournament will be held at Canton Lake, Oklahoma on April 24. Last year, Canton Tournament yielded the heaviest limits of the year. It should be a great tourney!

All anglers are encouraged to participate. For more information, contact J. D. Carr at 857-0084 (CottonTop@aol.com), Kevin Audrain at 857- 2890 or Dan Turner at 935-3176 (dturner@xit.net).