Steve Weisman-GNWC
08-07-2004, 05:21 PM
South Dakota GNWC Teams Compete for State Title at Lake Kampeska
By Steve Weisman
Gander Mountain GNWC Publicity Director
It's showdown time for the top teams on the South Dakota Region of the Gander Mountain Grand National Walleye Cup (GNWC). The South Dakota State Championship of Walleye Fishing will be held at Lake Kampeska on August 21-22.
The teams will be competing for a guaranteed $4000 for first place plus trophies, and with bonus opportunities the winners could take home up to $4500.
Leading the way will be the South Dakota Region Team of the Year Shane Christenson from Bruce, SD and James Molengraaf from White, SD. They ended up 18 points ahead of their nearest competitor.
Lake Kampeska is a fairly shallow lake with a maximum depth of about 11 feet. A year ago in early June, the GNWC hit Kampeska just right with several six-fish limits coming to the scales. Now, however, teams will be looking at a late summer, hot weather bite. "The South Dakota circuit has really been a competitive one this year. I look forward to the show these teams will put on as they compete for the Championship title," said Gander Mountain GNWC Executive Director Bernie Barringer.
Les Rowland, who operates the Northeast South Dakota Guide Service, believes the bite will be a decent one on Kampeska. "The walleyes have actually been hitting fairly well. Kampeksa is one of those basin-type lakes. There is some structure on the south end. I think there will be a lot of 15-16 inch fish caught."
Rowland noted that pulling plugs has been a good late summer strategy, along with some live bait rigging with crawlers and leeches. Rowland added, "I do know one thing. When good fishermen get on the water, they usually find a way to get the fish to bite."
Although the tournament competition begins on Saturday, August 21, the activities for the South Dakota teams actually begin on Friday evening with the Championship banquet at Sunnyside Inn.
The South Dakota Championship competition headquarters for take-off and weigh-in will be at Kampeska Lodge. Saturday's action begins at 7 a.m. with the opening ceremonies and take-off. Weigh-in will be at 3 p.m. Sunday follows the same time frame with the weigh-in festivities beginning at 3 p.m. Sunday's weigh-in will determine who will walk away with the South Dakota State Championship of Walleye Fishing title.
"We hope to have a good crowd at each day's weigh-in. It is a great way for the public to witness some great fishing action," noted Barringer. "Weigh-ins begin at 3 p.m. each day. The first day will be a day of positioning, but the second day will be for the title. Plus, on the second day, we will find out from the top teams what strategies they used to catch their fish."
Saturday evening will be another opportunity for the general public to be part of the Championship activities. "We are having a special get together at Doug's Anchor Marine. There will be free food and drinks, an opportunity to talk with some of the GNWC teams and a chance to look over the new Skeeter boats," added Barringer. "Doug's is now the Skeeter Boats dealer, and we invite people to come out and see some of these great fiberglass fishing boats."
In addition, the Walleye Wisdom television crew will be filming footage of all eight Championships, including the South Dakota Championship, for its popular 13-week television program Walleye Wisdom, which will be aired on the Sportsman Channel, Fox Sports and several regional outlets. "Our goal is to showcase the successes of our walleye teams, share the techniques that the GNWC teams used to catch their fish and to finally give fishing hints that will help our viewers become better walleye anglers themselves," said Barringer.
Special awards will be given out including the Berkley Big Fish Award of $400 in Berkley product for the team that catches the largest walleye during the two-day Championships. In addition, an optional Big Fish Pot will go to the big fish taken during the Championships.
Next, will be the $200 Gander Mountain Shopping Spree. A drawing will be held of teams who do not weigh a fish, and the winner will be able to spend the $200 on gear of their choice at any Gander Mountain Store. If all teams weigh fish, all will be entered in the drawing.
YoNet Folding Nets by AMFYOYO will offer the Yo So Close Award of an $80 folding net to the three teams finishing just out of the money.
The VIB"E" Lure Company will sponsor the VIB"E" Lure award of two six-piece lure sets valued at $40 to the two teams who finish behind the Yo So Close award. Lure sets will also be given away as door prizes at the Championship banquet.
TowTector, maker of the premium boat protector for towing vehicles, will offer the Towtector Comeback Award of a Towtector Shield valued at $250 for the team advancing the most places from day one to day two.
Skeeter Boats is offering any owner of a Skeeter boat who wins the South Dakota State Championship while fishing in the Skeeter an additional $1000 above their GNWC winnings.
Aqua Innovations will give an additional $250 to any team who wins the South Dakota State Championship if their boat's livewell is equipped with the Aqua Innovations oxygen enhancement system. Plus they will be awarding systems to the anglers as door prizes at the Championship banquet.
Those 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 GNWC is Gander Mountain. Other major national sponsors include 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
Gander Mountain GNWC Publicity Director
It's showdown time for the top teams on the South Dakota Region of the Gander Mountain Grand National Walleye Cup (GNWC). The South Dakota State Championship of Walleye Fishing will be held at Lake Kampeska on August 21-22.
The teams will be competing for a guaranteed $4000 for first place plus trophies, and with bonus opportunities the winners could take home up to $4500.
Leading the way will be the South Dakota Region Team of the Year Shane Christenson from Bruce, SD and James Molengraaf from White, SD. They ended up 18 points ahead of their nearest competitor.
Lake Kampeska is a fairly shallow lake with a maximum depth of about 11 feet. A year ago in early June, the GNWC hit Kampeska just right with several six-fish limits coming to the scales. Now, however, teams will be looking at a late summer, hot weather bite. "The South Dakota circuit has really been a competitive one this year. I look forward to the show these teams will put on as they compete for the Championship title," said Gander Mountain GNWC Executive Director Bernie Barringer.
Les Rowland, who operates the Northeast South Dakota Guide Service, believes the bite will be a decent one on Kampeska. "The walleyes have actually been hitting fairly well. Kampeksa is one of those basin-type lakes. There is some structure on the south end. I think there will be a lot of 15-16 inch fish caught."
Rowland noted that pulling plugs has been a good late summer strategy, along with some live bait rigging with crawlers and leeches. Rowland added, "I do know one thing. When good fishermen get on the water, they usually find a way to get the fish to bite."
Although the tournament competition begins on Saturday, August 21, the activities for the South Dakota teams actually begin on Friday evening with the Championship banquet at Sunnyside Inn.
The South Dakota Championship competition headquarters for take-off and weigh-in will be at Kampeska Lodge. Saturday's action begins at 7 a.m. with the opening ceremonies and take-off. Weigh-in will be at 3 p.m. Sunday follows the same time frame with the weigh-in festivities beginning at 3 p.m. Sunday's weigh-in will determine who will walk away with the South Dakota State Championship of Walleye Fishing title.
"We hope to have a good crowd at each day's weigh-in. It is a great way for the public to witness some great fishing action," noted Barringer. "Weigh-ins begin at 3 p.m. each day. The first day will be a day of positioning, but the second day will be for the title. Plus, on the second day, we will find out from the top teams what strategies they used to catch their fish."
Saturday evening will be another opportunity for the general public to be part of the Championship activities. "We are having a special get together at Doug's Anchor Marine. There will be free food and drinks, an opportunity to talk with some of the GNWC teams and a chance to look over the new Skeeter boats," added Barringer. "Doug's is now the Skeeter Boats dealer, and we invite people to come out and see some of these great fiberglass fishing boats."
In addition, the Walleye Wisdom television crew will be filming footage of all eight Championships, including the South Dakota Championship, for its popular 13-week television program Walleye Wisdom, which will be aired on the Sportsman Channel, Fox Sports and several regional outlets. "Our goal is to showcase the successes of our walleye teams, share the techniques that the GNWC teams used to catch their fish and to finally give fishing hints that will help our viewers become better walleye anglers themselves," said Barringer.
Special awards will be given out including the Berkley Big Fish Award of $400 in Berkley product for the team that catches the largest walleye during the two-day Championships. In addition, an optional Big Fish Pot will go to the big fish taken during the Championships.
Next, will be the $200 Gander Mountain Shopping Spree. A drawing will be held of teams who do not weigh a fish, and the winner will be able to spend the $200 on gear of their choice at any Gander Mountain Store. If all teams weigh fish, all will be entered in the drawing.
YoNet Folding Nets by AMFYOYO will offer the Yo So Close Award of an $80 folding net to the three teams finishing just out of the money.
The VIB"E" Lure Company will sponsor the VIB"E" Lure award of two six-piece lure sets valued at $40 to the two teams who finish behind the Yo So Close award. Lure sets will also be given away as door prizes at the Championship banquet.
TowTector, maker of the premium boat protector for towing vehicles, will offer the Towtector Comeback Award of a Towtector Shield valued at $250 for the team advancing the most places from day one to day two.
Skeeter Boats is offering any owner of a Skeeter boat who wins the South Dakota State Championship while fishing in the Skeeter an additional $1000 above their GNWC winnings.
Aqua Innovations will give an additional $250 to any team who wins the South Dakota State Championship if their boat's livewell is equipped with the Aqua Innovations oxygen enhancement system. Plus they will be awarding systems to the anglers as door prizes at the Championship banquet.
Those 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 GNWC is Gander Mountain. Other major national sponsors include Skeeter Boats, Yamaha Outboards, the Sportsman Channel, Berkley, Aqua Innovations, YoNet Folding Nets by AMFYOYO, VIB"E" Lure Company, TowTector Shield and UpNorthOutdoors.com.