I.O.W.A. Circuit
10-02-2006, 04:20 PM
Iowa Teams Prepare for I.O.W.A. Hooters' State Championship
By Steve Weisman
I.O.W.A. Publicity Director
A $5000 first place purse is on the line for the qualifiers of the first I.O.W.A. Hooters' State Championship to be held in Davenport on the Mississippi River, October 13-15. In addition, the winners will receive the $2500 Hooters Bonus award along with a pair of $2000 certificates from Algona Marine and Sport, putting the total first place winnings at $11,500.
"This is quite a purse," said I.O.W.A. director Dean Higgins. "A big thanks goes out to all of our year-long sponsors, but especially at this time to Hooters of Iowa and Algona Marine and Sport. Their support makes this State Championship one of a kind!"
According to Higgins, a total of 25 teams have been invited to participate in this year's I.O.W.A. Hooters State Championship. Second place winners will earn $2000, followed by a $1000 for third place. Payback goes down through six places.
It's showdown time for these top 25 teams, and leading the way will be the I.O.W.A. Humminbird Team of the Year, Terry Green from Mason City and Steve Templeton from Clear Lake. Their win at Spirit Lake on September 17 gave them the title with 29 points. They outdistanced the team of Greg Lowenberg and Dale Frederick from Fairfield, who finished the year with 32 points.
Higgins looks forward to seeing what the teams can do on the Mississippi River. "The Mississippi is quite a fishery," said Higgins. "If fish aren't biting in this pool, the teams can make the decision to lock up or down. However, there is risk involved when you go from one pool to another. That's part of the fun and the challenge."
Although the tournament competition begins on Saturday, October 14, the activities for the I.O.W.A. teams actually begin on Friday evening with the Championship banquet sponsored by Hooters of Davenport. "This is a special evening for these teams that have worked so hard to get here. At 6 p.m., we will recognize the teams and give out special awards, followed by the meal."
The two-day tournament itself begins on Saturday. The Iowa State Championship competition headquarters for take-off and weigh-in will be at the Marquette Street Landing, also known as the Davenport Municipal Ramp.
Saturday's action begins at 6:55 a.m. with the opening ceremonies and National Anthem, followed by the 7 a.m. 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 which team will walk away with the I.O.W.A Hooters' State Championship 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 and to also learn from some of the best," noted Higgins. "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."
Special awards will be give out at the Championships including the Cabelas Big Fish Award, the Berkley Family Angler Award, the Towtector Shield Comeback Award, the Stow Master Net Award, the Smooth Moves Seat Contingency Award and the Need Mack's Lure Award. In addition, an optional Big Fish Pot will go to the team catching the overall big fish during the Championships.
It becomes an even greater high-stakes shootout if 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 I.O.W.A. website (www.walleyepromotions.com) is an excellent source for updated tournament news. "Our message board has been a great place for anglers-both I.O.W.A. members and guests to share thoughts about walleye fishing. It has really become the hub for I.O.W.A. members."
For those interested in learning more about the I.O.W.A. Hooters State Championship or the I.O.W.A. circuit itself, call (515) 571-8946 or they can email the I.O.W.A. staff at walleyepromotions@hotmail.com.
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
A $5000 first place purse is on the line for the qualifiers of the first I.O.W.A. Hooters' State Championship to be held in Davenport on the Mississippi River, October 13-15. In addition, the winners will receive the $2500 Hooters Bonus award along with a pair of $2000 certificates from Algona Marine and Sport, putting the total first place winnings at $11,500.
"This is quite a purse," said I.O.W.A. director Dean Higgins. "A big thanks goes out to all of our year-long sponsors, but especially at this time to Hooters of Iowa and Algona Marine and Sport. Their support makes this State Championship one of a kind!"
According to Higgins, a total of 25 teams have been invited to participate in this year's I.O.W.A. Hooters State Championship. Second place winners will earn $2000, followed by a $1000 for third place. Payback goes down through six places.
It's showdown time for these top 25 teams, and leading the way will be the I.O.W.A. Humminbird Team of the Year, Terry Green from Mason City and Steve Templeton from Clear Lake. Their win at Spirit Lake on September 17 gave them the title with 29 points. They outdistanced the team of Greg Lowenberg and Dale Frederick from Fairfield, who finished the year with 32 points.
Higgins looks forward to seeing what the teams can do on the Mississippi River. "The Mississippi is quite a fishery," said Higgins. "If fish aren't biting in this pool, the teams can make the decision to lock up or down. However, there is risk involved when you go from one pool to another. That's part of the fun and the challenge."
Although the tournament competition begins on Saturday, October 14, the activities for the I.O.W.A. teams actually begin on Friday evening with the Championship banquet sponsored by Hooters of Davenport. "This is a special evening for these teams that have worked so hard to get here. At 6 p.m., we will recognize the teams and give out special awards, followed by the meal."
The two-day tournament itself begins on Saturday. The Iowa State Championship competition headquarters for take-off and weigh-in will be at the Marquette Street Landing, also known as the Davenport Municipal Ramp.
Saturday's action begins at 6:55 a.m. with the opening ceremonies and National Anthem, followed by the 7 a.m. 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 which team will walk away with the I.O.W.A Hooters' State Championship 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 and to also learn from some of the best," noted Higgins. "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."
Special awards will be give out at the Championships including the Cabelas Big Fish Award, the Berkley Family Angler Award, the Towtector Shield Comeback Award, the Stow Master Net Award, the Smooth Moves Seat Contingency Award and the Need Mack's Lure Award. In addition, an optional Big Fish Pot will go to the team catching the overall big fish during the Championships.
It becomes an even greater high-stakes shootout if 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 I.O.W.A. website (www.walleyepromotions.com) is an excellent source for updated tournament news. "Our message board has been a great place for anglers-both I.O.W.A. members and guests to share thoughts about walleye fishing. It has really become the hub for I.O.W.A. members."
For those interested in learning more about the I.O.W.A. Hooters State Championship or the I.O.W.A. circuit itself, call (515) 571-8946 or they can email the I.O.W.A. staff at walleyepromotions@hotmail.com.
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.