I.O.W.A. circuit
09-05-2006, 11:26 AM
Final I.O.W.A. Walleye Tournament Trail Qualifier Set for Big Spirit Lake
By Steve Weisman
I.O.W.A. Publicity Director
It all comes down to this! One final qualifier on the I.O.W.A. Walleye Tournament Trail at Big Spirit Lake on Sunday, September 17 will determine the Humminbird Team of the Year and what teams will qualify for the I.O.W.A. Hooters State Championship on October 14-15 on the Mississippi River at Davenport. Corporate sponsorship for the Spirit Lake tournament is Motor Inn, Inc., with car dealerships in Spirit Lake, Estherville, Spencer, Algona and Webster City. "Motor Inn's sponsorship shows their commitment to the success of the I.O.W.A. circuit. Motor Inn has stepped up to the plate and is providing an additional $500 to the first place team," announced I.O.W.A. Executive Director Dean Higgins.
Spirit Lake is undeniably one of the finest walleye fisheries in the state. According to DNR fisheries biologist Joe Larscheid, Big Spirit's struggle with those huge numbers of 13+ inch walleyes is over. That strong 2001 year class has now been recruited into the 14+ inch fish. "Since last fall, anglers have consistently been catching 14-inch and larger fish. May's creel survey showed it to be the largest on record," noted Larscheid.
Larscheid also noted that there is also a good supply of healthy bigger broodstock, too. "People need to remember that the smaller walleyes are the aggressive ones. For those anglers who change their tactics and go with bigger baits (plugs), have a good chance to catch 20+ inch fish."
Heading into the Spirit Lake tournament, it's a three-team race with Greg Lowenberg and Dale Frederick from Fairfield in first place with 26 points. The team of Terry Green from Mason City and Steve Templeton from Clear Lake follow with 28 points, while Joel Shaw from Fairfield and Dave Smithburg from Libertyville are in third place with 30 points.
The first place team will be guaranteed $2000. At the same time, the Cabela's Big Fish Award, the Berkley Family Angler Award, the Algona Marine and Sport Contingency Award, the Smooth Moves Seat Contingency Award, the StowMaster Net Award, the TowTector Shield Award, and the Need Mack's Lure Award will all be part of the weigh-in excitement.
It becomes a high-stakes shootout if and when somebody catches and weighs in a walleye that exceeds 10.5 pounds. That person will win a new Lund Pro-V, a 150-hp Mercury Optimax and Yacht Club customized Eagle Trailer, provided by Algona Marine and Sports.
The entry fee will be $240 per team for all events with an 80 percent payback. Interested anglers can call (515) 571-8946, or they can email the I.O.W.A. staff at walleyepromotions@hotmail.com.
Saturday evening, the tournament director will have the trailer at Marble Beach from 6-8 p.m. the evening before the tournament to take late entries and answer questions. Host motel is Kabele's Lodge in Spirit Lake, while the host baitshop is Kabele's Trading Post.
Take-off is at 7 a.m. with the weigh-in commencing at 3 p.m. sharp
at Marble Beach Boat Ramp.
Sponsors for the 2006 I.O.W.A Walleye Tournament Trail include Lund Boats, Mercury Outboards, Yacht Club/Eagle Trailers, Algona Marine and Sport, Humminbird, MinnKota, Berkley, Cabela's, TowTector, StowMaster, Smooth Moves Seats, Mack's Lure, Motor Inn Auto Group, Hooters of Iowa, Fort Dodge Ford and the Iowa Walleye Magazine.
By Steve Weisman
I.O.W.A. Publicity Director
It all comes down to this! One final qualifier on the I.O.W.A. Walleye Tournament Trail at Big Spirit Lake on Sunday, September 17 will determine the Humminbird Team of the Year and what teams will qualify for the I.O.W.A. Hooters State Championship on October 14-15 on the Mississippi River at Davenport. Corporate sponsorship for the Spirit Lake tournament is Motor Inn, Inc., with car dealerships in Spirit Lake, Estherville, Spencer, Algona and Webster City. "Motor Inn's sponsorship shows their commitment to the success of the I.O.W.A. circuit. Motor Inn has stepped up to the plate and is providing an additional $500 to the first place team," announced I.O.W.A. Executive Director Dean Higgins.
Spirit Lake is undeniably one of the finest walleye fisheries in the state. According to DNR fisheries biologist Joe Larscheid, Big Spirit's struggle with those huge numbers of 13+ inch walleyes is over. That strong 2001 year class has now been recruited into the 14+ inch fish. "Since last fall, anglers have consistently been catching 14-inch and larger fish. May's creel survey showed it to be the largest on record," noted Larscheid.
Larscheid also noted that there is also a good supply of healthy bigger broodstock, too. "People need to remember that the smaller walleyes are the aggressive ones. For those anglers who change their tactics and go with bigger baits (plugs), have a good chance to catch 20+ inch fish."
Heading into the Spirit Lake tournament, it's a three-team race with Greg Lowenberg and Dale Frederick from Fairfield in first place with 26 points. The team of Terry Green from Mason City and Steve Templeton from Clear Lake follow with 28 points, while Joel Shaw from Fairfield and Dave Smithburg from Libertyville are in third place with 30 points.
The first place team will be guaranteed $2000. At the same time, the Cabela's Big Fish Award, the Berkley Family Angler Award, the Algona Marine and Sport Contingency Award, the Smooth Moves Seat Contingency Award, the StowMaster Net Award, the TowTector Shield Award, and the Need Mack's Lure Award will all be part of the weigh-in excitement.
It becomes a high-stakes shootout if and when somebody catches and weighs in a walleye that exceeds 10.5 pounds. That person will win a new Lund Pro-V, a 150-hp Mercury Optimax and Yacht Club customized Eagle Trailer, provided by Algona Marine and Sports.
The entry fee will be $240 per team for all events with an 80 percent payback. Interested anglers can call (515) 571-8946, or they can email the I.O.W.A. staff at walleyepromotions@hotmail.com.
Saturday evening, the tournament director will have the trailer at Marble Beach from 6-8 p.m. the evening before the tournament to take late entries and answer questions. Host motel is Kabele's Lodge in Spirit Lake, while the host baitshop is Kabele's Trading Post.
Take-off is at 7 a.m. with the weigh-in commencing at 3 p.m. sharp
at Marble Beach Boat Ramp.
Sponsors for the 2006 I.O.W.A Walleye Tournament Trail include Lund Boats, Mercury Outboards, Yacht Club/Eagle Trailers, Algona Marine and Sport, Humminbird, MinnKota, Berkley, Cabela's, TowTector, StowMaster, Smooth Moves Seats, Mack's Lure, Motor Inn Auto Group, Hooters of Iowa, Fort Dodge Ford and the Iowa Walleye Magazine.