Steve Weisman-GNWC
08-12-2004, 04:38 PM
Michigan Teams Prepare for Michigan State Championship of Walleye Fishing
By Steve Weisman
Gander Mountain GNWC Publicity Director
The top teams on the Michigan Region of the Gander Mountain Grand National Walleye Cup (GNWC) are making final plans for the Michigan State Championship of Walleye Fishing, which will be held at Lake Leelanau near Traverse City, MI on August 28-29. 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 Michigan Region Team of the Year, Bert Murlick and Bret Bremer from Saginaw, MI.
Shaped in the form of two basins, the north and south, Lake Leelanau offers walleye anglers two very different lakes: South Lake Leelanau and North Lake Leelanau. The two basins are connected by a natural channel.
South Lake Leelanau is the shallower of the two basins. Over 11 million walleyes have been stocked in South Lake Leelanau in the past five years. For the most part the bottom is a mix of sand and gravel.
North Lake Leelanau, meanwhile, has depths of over 120'. Known for its trophy brown trout, North Lake Leelanau also provides good walleye fishing.
Pre-fishing will be important for the teams vying for the Michigan title, as they cover as much water as possible while trying to put together their game plan for the two-day tournament. "This is going to be a great tournament. We have the top teams on the Michigan circuit and a body of water that poses a lot of opportunities and options," said Gander Mountain GNWC Executive Director Bernie Barringer.
Although the tournament competition begins on Saturday, August 28, the activities for the Michigan teams actually begin on Friday evening with the Championship banquet at the Eagle's Ridge Conference Center adjacent to Leelanau Sands Resort and Casino. "The Leelanau Sands Resort and Casino really stepped forward to welcome our Championship teams and sponsor the Championship banquet," noted Barringer.
The Michigan Championship competition headquarters for take-off and weigh-in will be at the Leelanau East Boat Ramp just off of Bingham road. 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 take home the Michigan State Championship of Walleye Fishing title. "I encourage the public to come to these weigh-ins. Saturday's weigh-in will give us the first day's leaders and set up for what will be an exciting climax to the two-day tournament at Sunday's weigh-in. On Sunday, the top teams will share where they fished and the presentation they used to catch their fish," added Barringer.
Saturday evening's activities include a free walleye fishing seminar for the general public at the Gander Mountain Store in Traverse City. "This will be a special opportunity for fishing enthusiasts to learn more about walleye fishing and to meet some of the Championship teams," said Barringer.
In addition, the Walleye Wisdom television crew will be filming footage of all eight Championships, including the Michigan State Championship, for its popular 13-week television program Walleye Wisdom that airs 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. I know the Michigan Championships will be a super event with lots of media coverage and excitement surrounding all of the activities," added Barringer.
Special awards will be give out at the Championships 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 Michigan 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 Michigan 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
By Steve Weisman
Gander Mountain GNWC Publicity Director
The top teams on the Michigan Region of the Gander Mountain Grand National Walleye Cup (GNWC) are making final plans for the Michigan State Championship of Walleye Fishing, which will be held at Lake Leelanau near Traverse City, MI on August 28-29. 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 Michigan Region Team of the Year, Bert Murlick and Bret Bremer from Saginaw, MI.
Shaped in the form of two basins, the north and south, Lake Leelanau offers walleye anglers two very different lakes: South Lake Leelanau and North Lake Leelanau. The two basins are connected by a natural channel.
South Lake Leelanau is the shallower of the two basins. Over 11 million walleyes have been stocked in South Lake Leelanau in the past five years. For the most part the bottom is a mix of sand and gravel.
North Lake Leelanau, meanwhile, has depths of over 120'. Known for its trophy brown trout, North Lake Leelanau also provides good walleye fishing.
Pre-fishing will be important for the teams vying for the Michigan title, as they cover as much water as possible while trying to put together their game plan for the two-day tournament. "This is going to be a great tournament. We have the top teams on the Michigan circuit and a body of water that poses a lot of opportunities and options," said Gander Mountain GNWC Executive Director Bernie Barringer.
Although the tournament competition begins on Saturday, August 28, the activities for the Michigan teams actually begin on Friday evening with the Championship banquet at the Eagle's Ridge Conference Center adjacent to Leelanau Sands Resort and Casino. "The Leelanau Sands Resort and Casino really stepped forward to welcome our Championship teams and sponsor the Championship banquet," noted Barringer.
The Michigan Championship competition headquarters for take-off and weigh-in will be at the Leelanau East Boat Ramp just off of Bingham road. 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 take home the Michigan State Championship of Walleye Fishing title. "I encourage the public to come to these weigh-ins. Saturday's weigh-in will give us the first day's leaders and set up for what will be an exciting climax to the two-day tournament at Sunday's weigh-in. On Sunday, the top teams will share where they fished and the presentation they used to catch their fish," added Barringer.
Saturday evening's activities include a free walleye fishing seminar for the general public at the Gander Mountain Store in Traverse City. "This will be a special opportunity for fishing enthusiasts to learn more about walleye fishing and to meet some of the Championship teams," said Barringer.
In addition, the Walleye Wisdom television crew will be filming footage of all eight Championships, including the Michigan State Championship, for its popular 13-week television program Walleye Wisdom that airs 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. I know the Michigan Championships will be a super event with lots of media coverage and excitement surrounding all of the activities," added Barringer.
Special awards will be give out at the Championships 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 Michigan 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 Michigan 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