Illinois Governors Cup Results - October 28, 2002

Spring Valley Brothers Win

Teams from Indiana, Wisconsin, Iowa and Illinois converged on the city of Ottawa for the second annual Illinois Governors Cup Walleye Tournament. River conditions found the fishermen jigging with minnows, pulling floaters, along with crank baits in below normal water levels, with water clarity good.

John and Gary Dalzot, from Spring Valley Illinois weighed a two day, 10 fish limit, of 19.5 pounds, winning $3600.00 plus a $1000.00 Ranger Boat certificate. John and Gary also captured the big fish for Sunday with a 3 pound 3 ounce sauger, earning them an additional $440.00. Second place honors went to the team of Gary and Bruce Merkel, Spring Valley, Illinois, with a 10 fish limit weighing 16 pounds 13 ounces, paying them $1900.00. The father and son team of Brian and Jerry Ernat from Princeton, Illinois placed third with 16 pounds 1.5 ounces paying them $1450.00. Big fish honors for the tournament went to the team of Mike Actis and Mike Stuckert, Spring Valley, Illinois with a 3 pound 13 ounce sauger caught on Saturday for $440.00.

We would like to thank the following sponsors for their support in this years event: Ottawa Visitors Center, Ottawa Special Events Committee, Ranger Boats, Heartland Outdoors, Outdoor Notebook, Starved Rock Bait and Tackle, Culjan's Bait and Tackle, The Tackle Shack, Riverview Marine, and Ehrhardt Fishing Sticks. The Illinois Walleye Trail's next event will be November 10, 2002 at Barto Landing, Spring Valley, Illinois. If you would like more information, contact Bob Kidd at 309-527-6328 or www.prairielandeyes.com .

Tournament Stats:
River level - Low
Clarity - Excellent
Surface Temp - 52 degrees
Air temp - 50 degrees
Limits of fish (2 days) - 5 teams
Total weight - 347 pounds
Total Fish - 240
Average weight - 1.44 pounds