Steve Weisman-GNWC
08-30-2004, 09:20 AM
Iowa Teams Prepare for State Championship of Walleye Fishing on Big Spirit Lake
By Steve Weisman
Gander Mountain GNWC Publicity Director
A $5000 first place purse is on the line for the qualifiers of the Iowa State Championship of Walleye Fishing to be held at Big Spirit Lake on September 11-12.
It's showdown time for these top teams on the Iowa Region of the Gander Mountain Grand National Walleye Cup (GNWC), and leading the way will be the Iowa Region Team of the Year, Randy Mumm and Jim Juhlin from Clear Lake, IA.
They ended up four points ahead of the second place team of Jesse Roush from Clive, IA and Cory Batterson from Pleasant Hill, IA.
Gander Mountain GNWC Executive Director Bernie Barringer looks forward to Spirit Lake. "Spirit Lake has an excellent walleye population, and September is the month that these fish begin to go on feeding sprees. Each year we have had a championship here, we have had excellent weights brought to the scales."
According to DNR fisheries biologists, Big Spirit has a strong year class of 12-14 inch fish coming through the system. So, expect a lot of sorting when it comes to these aggressive fish. However, there is also a good supply of healthy bigger fish including a solid year-class of 18-20+ inch walleyes.
Barringer expects the teams will work all the presentations during pre-fishing. "These guys will definitely be looking for any edge they can get. So, I know they will try everything from live bait rigging to trolling crankbaits."
Although the tournament competition begins on Saturday, September 11, the activities for the Iowa teams actually begin on Friday evening with the Championship banquet at the Spirit Lake Expo Building just north of Hy-Vee. Championship banquet sponsors include Kentucky Fried Chicken of Spencer and Pepsi Americas of Estherville.
The Iowa Championship competition headquarters for take-off and weigh-in will be at Marble Beach Boat Ramp on the west side of Big Spirit Lake. VW Docks will be providing additional docking space to accommodate the teams during the weigh-ins. "We have had a tremendous response from our Iowa sponsors. Triggs Bay Resort, AMFYOYO, Towtector, Carlson-Sanderson Real Estate and Motor Inn, Inc., have been on board all season long, and now we have Kentucky Fried Chicken, Pepsi Americas and VW Docks join us to help make this a tremendous Championship," said Barringer.
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 Iowa 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."
In addition, the Walleye Wisdom television crew will be filming footage of all eight Championships, including the Iowa Championship, for its popular 13-week television program Walleye Wisdom 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 give 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 over $250 for the team advancing the most places from day one to day two.
Triggs Bay Resort is providing the 2004 Iowa Regional Team of the Year a complimentary stay at Triggs Bay Resort during the State Championships September 11-12. In addition, they will also give two vacation packages as door prizes at the Championship banquet on September 10.
Skeeter Boats is offering any owner of a Skeeter boat who wins the Iowa Regional 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 Iowa Regional 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. The Iowa Regional sponsors include Carlson-Sanderson Real Estate, Motor Inn, Inc., and Triggs Bay Resort.
By Steve Weisman
Gander Mountain GNWC Publicity Director
A $5000 first place purse is on the line for the qualifiers of the Iowa State Championship of Walleye Fishing to be held at Big Spirit Lake on September 11-12.
It's showdown time for these top teams on the Iowa Region of the Gander Mountain Grand National Walleye Cup (GNWC), and leading the way will be the Iowa Region Team of the Year, Randy Mumm and Jim Juhlin from Clear Lake, IA.
They ended up four points ahead of the second place team of Jesse Roush from Clive, IA and Cory Batterson from Pleasant Hill, IA.
Gander Mountain GNWC Executive Director Bernie Barringer looks forward to Spirit Lake. "Spirit Lake has an excellent walleye population, and September is the month that these fish begin to go on feeding sprees. Each year we have had a championship here, we have had excellent weights brought to the scales."
According to DNR fisheries biologists, Big Spirit has a strong year class of 12-14 inch fish coming through the system. So, expect a lot of sorting when it comes to these aggressive fish. However, there is also a good supply of healthy bigger fish including a solid year-class of 18-20+ inch walleyes.
Barringer expects the teams will work all the presentations during pre-fishing. "These guys will definitely be looking for any edge they can get. So, I know they will try everything from live bait rigging to trolling crankbaits."
Although the tournament competition begins on Saturday, September 11, the activities for the Iowa teams actually begin on Friday evening with the Championship banquet at the Spirit Lake Expo Building just north of Hy-Vee. Championship banquet sponsors include Kentucky Fried Chicken of Spencer and Pepsi Americas of Estherville.
The Iowa Championship competition headquarters for take-off and weigh-in will be at Marble Beach Boat Ramp on the west side of Big Spirit Lake. VW Docks will be providing additional docking space to accommodate the teams during the weigh-ins. "We have had a tremendous response from our Iowa sponsors. Triggs Bay Resort, AMFYOYO, Towtector, Carlson-Sanderson Real Estate and Motor Inn, Inc., have been on board all season long, and now we have Kentucky Fried Chicken, Pepsi Americas and VW Docks join us to help make this a tremendous Championship," said Barringer.
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 Iowa 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."
In addition, the Walleye Wisdom television crew will be filming footage of all eight Championships, including the Iowa Championship, for its popular 13-week television program Walleye Wisdom 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 give 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 over $250 for the team advancing the most places from day one to day two.
Triggs Bay Resort is providing the 2004 Iowa Regional Team of the Year a complimentary stay at Triggs Bay Resort during the State Championships September 11-12. In addition, they will also give two vacation packages as door prizes at the Championship banquet on September 10.
Skeeter Boats is offering any owner of a Skeeter boat who wins the Iowa Regional 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 Iowa Regional 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. The Iowa Regional sponsors include Carlson-Sanderson Real Estate, Motor Inn, Inc., and Triggs Bay Resort.