Steve Weisman
10-07-2004, 06:09 PM
Booghier, Moulton Take Day I Lead at Gander Mountain Grand National Walleye Cup's National Championship
By Steve Weisman
Gander Mountain GNWC Publicity Director
After singing the National Anthem to kick off the opening festivities at the Gander Mountain Grand National Walleye Cup's (GNWC) National Championship on Lake of the Woods, Larry Booghier from Springfield, OH and his partner Tom Moulton from Cambria, WI took to the waters and brought a six-fish limit weight of 23.77 pounds to take the Day I lead on Wednesday, Oct. 7.
The bite was definitely on as 64 teams brought in six-fish limits and eight teams weighed over 20.25 pounds on the first day of what could become a record-breaking tournament for the GNWC. "What an impressive way to start the National Championship. With two fully rigged Skeeter Boats and an additional $10,000 in cash, we've got a lot of teams in the hunt for the title."
Booghier and Moulton, along with most of the teams, worked the length of the Rainy River system. According to Moulton, the leaders felt confident heading into the second day's action. "Today was like yesterday, and things went like we had planned."
In second place with a six-fish weight of 21.93 pounds, sits the team of Dave Oldakowski from Ham Lake, MN and Sean Westman from Andover, MN.
Dave Smithburg from Libertyville, IA and Joel Shaw from Fairfield, IA hold down third place with a six-fish weight of 21.91 pounds, while the team of Terry and Bruce Sparks from Des Moines, IA is in fourth place with 21.84 pounds.
"These are definitely big-time weights. We weighed in 466 fish! The big thing these teams need to remember is that this is a three-day tournament, and things can change in a heartbeat! All they need to do is pop two big kicker fish, and bang the standings will change," noted Barringer.
Big fish for Day I was a 9.35-pound walleye taken by Tim Hinrichs from Bemidji, MN and Jeff Putnam from Dassel, MN.
Those interested in checking out the standings or simply learning more about the circuit can, as usual, access the Gander Mountain GNWC website at www.walleyecup.com.
However, GNWC fans can also access the Walleye Central Live Leader Board and see the results as they are announced at the weigh-in. "We're also downloading photos of each day's action on the Walleye Central Live Leader Board page." added Barringer. "I'd like to invite the public to come out and witness the action at the weigh-in on both Friday and Saturday. The weigh-ins begin at 3 p.m. each day. These teams are really on a roll, and it's really going to be exciting for the public to see all the action and who will eventually be crowned National Champions."
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 singing the National Anthem to kick off the opening festivities at the Gander Mountain Grand National Walleye Cup's (GNWC) National Championship on Lake of the Woods, Larry Booghier from Springfield, OH and his partner Tom Moulton from Cambria, WI took to the waters and brought a six-fish limit weight of 23.77 pounds to take the Day I lead on Wednesday, Oct. 7.
The bite was definitely on as 64 teams brought in six-fish limits and eight teams weighed over 20.25 pounds on the first day of what could become a record-breaking tournament for the GNWC. "What an impressive way to start the National Championship. With two fully rigged Skeeter Boats and an additional $10,000 in cash, we've got a lot of teams in the hunt for the title."
Booghier and Moulton, along with most of the teams, worked the length of the Rainy River system. According to Moulton, the leaders felt confident heading into the second day's action. "Today was like yesterday, and things went like we had planned."
In second place with a six-fish weight of 21.93 pounds, sits the team of Dave Oldakowski from Ham Lake, MN and Sean Westman from Andover, MN.
Dave Smithburg from Libertyville, IA and Joel Shaw from Fairfield, IA hold down third place with a six-fish weight of 21.91 pounds, while the team of Terry and Bruce Sparks from Des Moines, IA is in fourth place with 21.84 pounds.
"These are definitely big-time weights. We weighed in 466 fish! The big thing these teams need to remember is that this is a three-day tournament, and things can change in a heartbeat! All they need to do is pop two big kicker fish, and bang the standings will change," noted Barringer.
Big fish for Day I was a 9.35-pound walleye taken by Tim Hinrichs from Bemidji, MN and Jeff Putnam from Dassel, MN.
Those interested in checking out the standings or simply learning more about the circuit can, as usual, access the Gander Mountain GNWC website at www.walleyecup.com.
However, GNWC fans can also access the Walleye Central Live Leader Board and see the results as they are announced at the weigh-in. "We're also downloading photos of each day's action on the Walleye Central Live Leader Board page." added Barringer. "I'd like to invite the public to come out and witness the action at the weigh-in on both Friday and Saturday. The weigh-ins begin at 3 p.m. each day. These teams are really on a roll, and it's really going to be exciting for the public to see all the action and who will eventually be crowned National Champions."
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.