Steve Weisman-GNWC
08-08-2004, 07:05 PM
Lotz, Daughenbaugh Pull Away from the Field to Take the Illinois State Championship of Walleye Fishing Title
By Steve Weisman
Gander Mountain GNWC Publicity Director
After building close to a two pound lead on Day I, Steve Lotz from Lena, IL and Dave Daughenbaugh from McConnell extended that lead Sunday to capture the Gander Mountain Grand National Walleye Cup's Illinois State Championship of Walleye Fishing Tournament held on the Mississippi River at the Quad Cities.
Lotz and Daughenbaugh, who had 12.73 pounds on Saturday, added another 8.67 pounds for a two-day total weight of 21.40 pounds and the winner's check of $2000.
Second place and a check for $1300 went to Scott Roehlk and Jim Bonjour from Davenport, IA with a two-day weight of 18.23 pounds. Roehlk and Bonjour were the only team to bring a limit to the scales each day.
Art and Marie Lehrman from Dubuque, IA took the third place check of $550 with a final two-day weight of 17.67.
"I think we fished about every wing dam there is," said Lotz at Sunday's weigh-in interview. With water levels fluctuating daily, teams found no real consistent pattern emerging so it became a run and gun affair with teams searching to find active fish.
Lotz and Daughenbaugh spent both days going from wing dam to wing dam casting crankbaits. The one pattern that they did discover was that dams that had a break or breach seemed to hold better fish.
Roehlk and Bonjour also worked wing dams, but they spent their time trolling crankbaits across the face of the dams.
"The fluctuating water levels really affected the fish," said Gander Mountain GNWC Executive Director Bernie Barringer. "The river dropped almost 18" today. However, if there is one thing I have learned over the years, it is that these Championship teams figure out a way to catch fish. Even though a lot of presentations are tried, by the end of the tournament the top teams seem to get it all figured out."
Several other special awards were presented at Sunday's weigh-in. The Berkley Big Fish Award of $400 in Berkley product for the largest walleye of the two-day tournament went to Bruce Sparks from Des Moines, IA and Mark Parr, JR from Rock Island, IL for their 3.04 pound-walleye.
The "Yo So Close" award of a Yo Net folding net valued at $80 went to the teams that placed just out of the money. They include Bruce Sparks and Mark Parr, JR in 6th place; Jim Wahl from Eldridge, IA and Ron Mason from Estherville, IA in 7th place; and Mica Killinger from Port Byron, IL and Steve Killinger from Hillsdale, IL.
The VIB"E" Lure award of two six-piece lure sets valued at $40 went to the two teams who finished behind the Yo So Close award. They include Dan Timmons and Brian Votroubek from Davenport, IA in 9th place; and Jeff Fore from Petersburg, IL and Todd Oliver from Springfield, IL in 10th place.
The Towtector Comeback Award of a Towtector boat protector valued at $250 went to the team advancing the most places from day one to day two. This award went to Wahl and Mason, who were shut out on Day I, but came back with five fish and a weight of 8.05 pounds to finish in 7th place overall.
The winner of the Gander Mountain "Need More Stuff" drawing of $200 for a Gander Mountain Shopping Spree went to Rob Roush from Des Moines, IA and Mike Heller from West Des Moines, IA.
The Walleye Wisdom camera crew was also on hand to film footage of the Championship. "The Walleye Wisdom camera crew will be at all of the State Championships to capture the excitement of the tournament action. The highlights of these State Championships and the National Championships, along with some great walleye fishing tips will appear on our 13-week Walleye Wisdom television program," added Barringer.
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
After building close to a two pound lead on Day I, Steve Lotz from Lena, IL and Dave Daughenbaugh from McConnell extended that lead Sunday to capture the Gander Mountain Grand National Walleye Cup's Illinois State Championship of Walleye Fishing Tournament held on the Mississippi River at the Quad Cities.
Lotz and Daughenbaugh, who had 12.73 pounds on Saturday, added another 8.67 pounds for a two-day total weight of 21.40 pounds and the winner's check of $2000.
Second place and a check for $1300 went to Scott Roehlk and Jim Bonjour from Davenport, IA with a two-day weight of 18.23 pounds. Roehlk and Bonjour were the only team to bring a limit to the scales each day.
Art and Marie Lehrman from Dubuque, IA took the third place check of $550 with a final two-day weight of 17.67.
"I think we fished about every wing dam there is," said Lotz at Sunday's weigh-in interview. With water levels fluctuating daily, teams found no real consistent pattern emerging so it became a run and gun affair with teams searching to find active fish.
Lotz and Daughenbaugh spent both days going from wing dam to wing dam casting crankbaits. The one pattern that they did discover was that dams that had a break or breach seemed to hold better fish.
Roehlk and Bonjour also worked wing dams, but they spent their time trolling crankbaits across the face of the dams.
"The fluctuating water levels really affected the fish," said Gander Mountain GNWC Executive Director Bernie Barringer. "The river dropped almost 18" today. However, if there is one thing I have learned over the years, it is that these Championship teams figure out a way to catch fish. Even though a lot of presentations are tried, by the end of the tournament the top teams seem to get it all figured out."
Several other special awards were presented at Sunday's weigh-in. The Berkley Big Fish Award of $400 in Berkley product for the largest walleye of the two-day tournament went to Bruce Sparks from Des Moines, IA and Mark Parr, JR from Rock Island, IL for their 3.04 pound-walleye.
The "Yo So Close" award of a Yo Net folding net valued at $80 went to the teams that placed just out of the money. They include Bruce Sparks and Mark Parr, JR in 6th place; Jim Wahl from Eldridge, IA and Ron Mason from Estherville, IA in 7th place; and Mica Killinger from Port Byron, IL and Steve Killinger from Hillsdale, IL.
The VIB"E" Lure award of two six-piece lure sets valued at $40 went to the two teams who finished behind the Yo So Close award. They include Dan Timmons and Brian Votroubek from Davenport, IA in 9th place; and Jeff Fore from Petersburg, IL and Todd Oliver from Springfield, IL in 10th place.
The Towtector Comeback Award of a Towtector boat protector valued at $250 went to the team advancing the most places from day one to day two. This award went to Wahl and Mason, who were shut out on Day I, but came back with five fish and a weight of 8.05 pounds to finish in 7th place overall.
The winner of the Gander Mountain "Need More Stuff" drawing of $200 for a Gander Mountain Shopping Spree went to Rob Roush from Des Moines, IA and Mike Heller from West Des Moines, IA.
The Walleye Wisdom camera crew was also on hand to film footage of the Championship. "The Walleye Wisdom camera crew will be at all of the State Championships to capture the excitement of the tournament action. The highlights of these State Championships and the National Championships, along with some great walleye fishing tips will appear on our 13-week Walleye Wisdom television program," added Barringer.
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.