Steve Weisman-GNWC
07-20-2004, 01:50 PM
Minnesota Teams Prepare for Lake Vermilion
By Steve Weisman
GNWC Publicity Director
A berth in the Championships and Team of the Year honors are at stake for the teams on the Minnesota Region of the Gander Mountain Grand National Walleye Cup (GNWC) as they prepare for the final regular season tournament Sunday, August 1 on Lake Vermilion.
This final tournament will help decide what teams will make the Minnesota State Championship of Walleye Fishing, which will be held on Big Stone Lake, September 18-19.
With its 40,000 acres of water, 365 islands and 313 miles of shoreline, Lake Vermilion stretches 24 miles across the heart of Minnesota's Arrowhead Region and is renowned for its quality walleye fishery. The 2003 DNR creel survey indicates several strong year classes including the 1995, 1997, 1998 and 1999 years. These years account for a large portion of the walleye harvest. There is also a strong class of 17-21 inch walleyes which come from the 1997 and 1998 year classes.
Gander Mountain GNWC Executive Director Bernie Barringer is looking forward to the Vermilion tournament. "Lake Vermilion is a great place to hold the final tournament on the Minnesota Region. It contains structure, hundreds of islands and a good walleye population."
Openings still exist for the Lake Vermilion qualifier and Barringer encourages interested anglers to contact him at 1-800-890-FISH (3474), or email the GNWC at info@walleyecup.com.
According to Barringer, competing teams should be at Timbuktu Marina between 6-6:30 Sunday morning to sign in and participate in mandatory boat inspections. However, the tournament director will have the GNWC trailer at the check-in site from 6-8 p.m. on Saturday evening to answer questions and to take any late registrations.
The tournament hours are 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Weigh-in begins precisely at 3 p.m., with awards to follow. "The Minnesota Region has really grown this year. We've added a lot of new teams, and we have had some tremendous competitions. I think the public will enjoy coming out and seeing what these teams can do. It's also a great opportunity to learn about the techniques used to catch fish," added Barringer.
Heading into the Lake Vermilion tournament, Corey Bjorgaard from Inver Grove Heights, MN and David Domonoski from Waterville, MN are 7 points ahead of their nearest competitors, Tim Hinrichs from Bemidji, MN and Jeff Putnam from Dassel, MN in the race for the Minnesota Region Team of the Year.
Anglers interested in checking out the standings, reading the releases about any of the eight regions or simply learning more about the circuit can access the Gander Mountain GNWC website at www.walleyecup.com.
Title Sponsor for the Gander Mountain GNWC is Gander Mountain with other major national sponsors including Skeeter Boats, Yamaha Outboards, the Sportsman Channel, Berkley, Aqua Innovations, YoNet Folding Nets by AMFYOYO, VIB"E" Lure Company, TowTector Shield and UpNorthOutdoors.com.
By Steve Weisman
GNWC Publicity Director
A berth in the Championships and Team of the Year honors are at stake for the teams on the Minnesota Region of the Gander Mountain Grand National Walleye Cup (GNWC) as they prepare for the final regular season tournament Sunday, August 1 on Lake Vermilion.
This final tournament will help decide what teams will make the Minnesota State Championship of Walleye Fishing, which will be held on Big Stone Lake, September 18-19.
With its 40,000 acres of water, 365 islands and 313 miles of shoreline, Lake Vermilion stretches 24 miles across the heart of Minnesota's Arrowhead Region and is renowned for its quality walleye fishery. The 2003 DNR creel survey indicates several strong year classes including the 1995, 1997, 1998 and 1999 years. These years account for a large portion of the walleye harvest. There is also a strong class of 17-21 inch walleyes which come from the 1997 and 1998 year classes.
Gander Mountain GNWC Executive Director Bernie Barringer is looking forward to the Vermilion tournament. "Lake Vermilion is a great place to hold the final tournament on the Minnesota Region. It contains structure, hundreds of islands and a good walleye population."
Openings still exist for the Lake Vermilion qualifier and Barringer encourages interested anglers to contact him at 1-800-890-FISH (3474), or email the GNWC at info@walleyecup.com.
According to Barringer, competing teams should be at Timbuktu Marina between 6-6:30 Sunday morning to sign in and participate in mandatory boat inspections. However, the tournament director will have the GNWC trailer at the check-in site from 6-8 p.m. on Saturday evening to answer questions and to take any late registrations.
The tournament hours are 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Weigh-in begins precisely at 3 p.m., with awards to follow. "The Minnesota Region has really grown this year. We've added a lot of new teams, and we have had some tremendous competitions. I think the public will enjoy coming out and seeing what these teams can do. It's also a great opportunity to learn about the techniques used to catch fish," added Barringer.
Heading into the Lake Vermilion tournament, Corey Bjorgaard from Inver Grove Heights, MN and David Domonoski from Waterville, MN are 7 points ahead of their nearest competitors, Tim Hinrichs from Bemidji, MN and Jeff Putnam from Dassel, MN in the race for the Minnesota Region Team of the Year.
Anglers interested in checking out the standings, reading the releases about any of the eight regions or simply learning more about the circuit can access the Gander Mountain GNWC website at www.walleyecup.com.
Title Sponsor for the Gander Mountain GNWC is Gander Mountain with other major national sponsors including Skeeter Boats, Yamaha Outboards, the Sportsman Channel, Berkley, Aqua Innovations, YoNet Folding Nets by AMFYOYO, VIB"E" Lure Company, TowTector Shield and UpNorthOutdoors.com.