Steve Weisman
05-22-2005, 10:36 PM
Davis, Funk Win Lake Rathbun Tournament
By Steve Weisman
GNWC Publicity Director
The team of Jack Davis and Rob Funk from Mason City, IA strengthed their hold in the race for the "Yamaha Team of the Year" honors on the Iowa Region of the Grand National Walleye Cup (GNWC) with a victory at the Lake Rathbun Tournament held on Sunday, May 22.
Davis and Funk brought a 6-fish limit weight of 15.74 pounds to capture the $1400 first place check. They now hold an 11 point lead over Troy Loeckle from Floyd, IA and Wes Loeckle from Mason City, IA and a 12 point lead over Jesse Roush from Clive, IA and Cory Batterson from Pleasant Hill, IA with only one tournament left.
Second place and a check for $700 went to the team of Bruce and Terry Sparks from Des Moines, IA with a six-fish limit weight of 14.63 pounds.
Mike and Doug Rodwell from Oskaloosa, IA, who won the 2004 Lake Rathbun Tournament, took the third place check for $520 with a six-fish limit weight of 14.51 pounds.
The team of Tony Belken from Spencer, IA and Gregg Foster from Spirit Lake, IA brought home the Cabela's Big Fish Award and a $200 Cabela's shopping spree for their 3.72-pound walleye. They also pocketed $340 in cash for winning the optional Big Fish pot.
According to GNWC Executive Director Bernie Barringer, the combination of sun, wind and warm temperatures triggered the walleyes. "Pre-fishing had really been tough, but we weighed 15 six-fish limits today. I think the combination of wind and 85 degree temperatures activated the food chain, and the fish turned on."
Wind blowing across the points seemed to be the target areas for the competing teams, especially two points on the north side of the lake along Crappie Cove. Most of the fish were taken in three to seven feet of water.
Davis and Funk anchored on one of the points and used a plain hook tipped with a nightcrawler and minnow for bait. Up ahead of the hook they placed two splitshot, cast them out on the bottom and waited for a bite.
Pulling Jr. Thundersticks was the key for the Sparks duo. Bruce noted, "We worked those two key points and found the fish moving in that area, so we worked the contour from point to point."
Their plan was to keep the inside Thundersticks in about three feet of water, while the outer Thundersticks would be in five to six feet. Although they weighed a solid six-fish limit, as Bruce added, "We didn't have that one kicker fish that would have made the difference."
The Rodwell duo drifted in three to seven feet of water with live bait.
The Yo So Close Award, provided by AMFYOYO, manufacturer of the innovative stowable folding landing net, went to the three teams just finishing out of the money. They include Tony Belken from Spencer, IA and Gregg Foster from Spirit Lake, IA in 11th place; Mike Heller and Rob Roush from West Des Moines, IA in 12th place; and John Mason and Brandon Carpenter from Hamilton, IL in 13th place.
The final tournament for the Iowa Region is scheduled for Sunday, June 19 on the Mississippi River at Albany. For those interested in entering, call 1-800-890-FISH (3474), or email the GNWC at info@walleyecup.com.
"I encourage people to check out our website at www.walleyecup.com. We have a lot of exciting tournaments taking place in all seven regions," added Barringer.
Major national sponsors for the GNWC include Skeeter Boats, Yamaha Outboards, Lowrance Electronics, YoNet Folding Nets by AMFYOYO, Aqua-VU, Aqua Innovations, Cabela's and UpNorthOutdoors.com. National championship sponsors are Towtector Shield and the VIB"E" Lure Company, while Iowa Region sponsors include Carlson-Sanderson Real Estate, Motor Inn, Inc., and Triggs Bay Resort.
By Steve Weisman
GNWC Publicity Director
The team of Jack Davis and Rob Funk from Mason City, IA strengthed their hold in the race for the "Yamaha Team of the Year" honors on the Iowa Region of the Grand National Walleye Cup (GNWC) with a victory at the Lake Rathbun Tournament held on Sunday, May 22.
Davis and Funk brought a 6-fish limit weight of 15.74 pounds to capture the $1400 first place check. They now hold an 11 point lead over Troy Loeckle from Floyd, IA and Wes Loeckle from Mason City, IA and a 12 point lead over Jesse Roush from Clive, IA and Cory Batterson from Pleasant Hill, IA with only one tournament left.
Second place and a check for $700 went to the team of Bruce and Terry Sparks from Des Moines, IA with a six-fish limit weight of 14.63 pounds.
Mike and Doug Rodwell from Oskaloosa, IA, who won the 2004 Lake Rathbun Tournament, took the third place check for $520 with a six-fish limit weight of 14.51 pounds.
The team of Tony Belken from Spencer, IA and Gregg Foster from Spirit Lake, IA brought home the Cabela's Big Fish Award and a $200 Cabela's shopping spree for their 3.72-pound walleye. They also pocketed $340 in cash for winning the optional Big Fish pot.
According to GNWC Executive Director Bernie Barringer, the combination of sun, wind and warm temperatures triggered the walleyes. "Pre-fishing had really been tough, but we weighed 15 six-fish limits today. I think the combination of wind and 85 degree temperatures activated the food chain, and the fish turned on."
Wind blowing across the points seemed to be the target areas for the competing teams, especially two points on the north side of the lake along Crappie Cove. Most of the fish were taken in three to seven feet of water.
Davis and Funk anchored on one of the points and used a plain hook tipped with a nightcrawler and minnow for bait. Up ahead of the hook they placed two splitshot, cast them out on the bottom and waited for a bite.
Pulling Jr. Thundersticks was the key for the Sparks duo. Bruce noted, "We worked those two key points and found the fish moving in that area, so we worked the contour from point to point."
Their plan was to keep the inside Thundersticks in about three feet of water, while the outer Thundersticks would be in five to six feet. Although they weighed a solid six-fish limit, as Bruce added, "We didn't have that one kicker fish that would have made the difference."
The Rodwell duo drifted in three to seven feet of water with live bait.
The Yo So Close Award, provided by AMFYOYO, manufacturer of the innovative stowable folding landing net, went to the three teams just finishing out of the money. They include Tony Belken from Spencer, IA and Gregg Foster from Spirit Lake, IA in 11th place; Mike Heller and Rob Roush from West Des Moines, IA in 12th place; and John Mason and Brandon Carpenter from Hamilton, IL in 13th place.
The final tournament for the Iowa Region is scheduled for Sunday, June 19 on the Mississippi River at Albany. For those interested in entering, call 1-800-890-FISH (3474), or email the GNWC at info@walleyecup.com.
"I encourage people to check out our website at www.walleyecup.com. We have a lot of exciting tournaments taking place in all seven regions," added Barringer.
Major national sponsors for the GNWC include Skeeter Boats, Yamaha Outboards, Lowrance Electronics, YoNet Folding Nets by AMFYOYO, Aqua-VU, Aqua Innovations, Cabela's and UpNorthOutdoors.com. National championship sponsors are Towtector Shield and the VIB"E" Lure Company, while Iowa Region sponsors include Carlson-Sanderson Real Estate, Motor Inn, Inc., and Triggs Bay Resort.