Steve Weisman - GNWC
04-18-2004, 09:27 PM
Teamwork Makes the Difference at Alum Creek
By Steve Weisman
Gander Mountain GNWC Publicity Director
Building on their third place finish at Indian Lake, the team of Mike Defibaugh and Tom Defibaugh from Bellefontaine, OH captured the Alum Creek tournament on the Gander Mountain Grand National Walleye Cup's second stop of the Ohio Region on Sunday, April 18.
The Defibaughs brought in five fish weighing 6.43 pounds to take home the $1000 first place check. With winds gusting out of the south, it took total teamwork for the winning team. Tom Defibaugh said of his partner, "Mike basically controlled the boat on these two points so that we could vertical jig." They worked chartreuse and orange jigs tipped with minnows on two points at the south end of the lake and found their fish along the rocky bottom in 15-20 foot of water.
"That's what teamwork is all about," said Gander Mountain GNWC Tournament Director Gary Bowman, as he talked about the winning effort. "If Mike wouldn't have done that, it would have been tough for them to catch their fish."
Bowman continued, "Most of the teams worked the south end of the lake because it was clearer. Torrential rains muddied the reservoir, and that really changed the bite. Most of the fish taken were saugeyes."
Todd Kunk from St. Henry, OH and Adam Harlamert from Cold Water, OH took second place and a $500 check with a two-fish weight of 5.28 pounds. They also captured The Berkley Trilene Big Fish Award of $400 in Berkley products for their 3.42-pound saugeye. Their presentation was also a jig and minnow, but they worked 30-foot edges.
The team of Gary Schiller from Fairview, PA and Rick Winkleman from Erie, PA cashed the $200 third place check for a three-fish weight of 4.59 pounds. They also vertical jigged with a minnow in 15-20 feet of water.
The "Yo So Close" award of a Yo Net folding net valued at $80 went to the team that placed just out of the money. That team was Kevin Vernon from Westerville, OH and Phillip Ames from Reynoldsburg, OH.
Matt Sands from Union, OH was the winner of the Gander Mountain "Need More Stuff" drawing of $200 for a Gander Mountain Shopping Spree.
A series of special awards came from David Calhoun, owner of Boat Boys, the official Ohio Regional Skeeter Boats sponsor. Calhoun handed out $2500 in Skeeter Boats certificates to the top placing teams toward the purchase of a new Skeeter boat or toward accessories.
For complete results, check out the Gander Mountain GNWC wwebsite at www.walleyecup.com.
With half of the qualifiers now in the books, Mike Defibaugh and Tom Defibaugh hold the lead for the Ohio Region Team of the Year honors.
The Ohio teams now head to Port Clinton on Sunday, May 2 where they continue their quest for a berth in the Ohio Gander Mountain GNWC Regional Championships.
Anglers interested in signing up for a future qualifier or simply wanting more information on the GNWC circuit can call 1-800-890-FISH (3474), or they can email the GNWC at info@walleyecup.com.
Title Sponsor for the GNWC is Gander Mountain with other major national sponsors including Skeeter Boats, Yamaha Outboards, the Sportsman Channel, Berkley, Aqua Innovations, YoNet Folding Nets by AMFYOYO, VIB"E" Lure Company, TowTector Shield and UpNorth Outdoors.com. The Ohio Regional Skeeter Boats sponsor is Boat Boys out of Newark, OH.
By Steve Weisman
Gander Mountain GNWC Publicity Director
Building on their third place finish at Indian Lake, the team of Mike Defibaugh and Tom Defibaugh from Bellefontaine, OH captured the Alum Creek tournament on the Gander Mountain Grand National Walleye Cup's second stop of the Ohio Region on Sunday, April 18.
The Defibaughs brought in five fish weighing 6.43 pounds to take home the $1000 first place check. With winds gusting out of the south, it took total teamwork for the winning team. Tom Defibaugh said of his partner, "Mike basically controlled the boat on these two points so that we could vertical jig." They worked chartreuse and orange jigs tipped with minnows on two points at the south end of the lake and found their fish along the rocky bottom in 15-20 foot of water.
"That's what teamwork is all about," said Gander Mountain GNWC Tournament Director Gary Bowman, as he talked about the winning effort. "If Mike wouldn't have done that, it would have been tough for them to catch their fish."
Bowman continued, "Most of the teams worked the south end of the lake because it was clearer. Torrential rains muddied the reservoir, and that really changed the bite. Most of the fish taken were saugeyes."
Todd Kunk from St. Henry, OH and Adam Harlamert from Cold Water, OH took second place and a $500 check with a two-fish weight of 5.28 pounds. They also captured The Berkley Trilene Big Fish Award of $400 in Berkley products for their 3.42-pound saugeye. Their presentation was also a jig and minnow, but they worked 30-foot edges.
The team of Gary Schiller from Fairview, PA and Rick Winkleman from Erie, PA cashed the $200 third place check for a three-fish weight of 4.59 pounds. They also vertical jigged with a minnow in 15-20 feet of water.
The "Yo So Close" award of a Yo Net folding net valued at $80 went to the team that placed just out of the money. That team was Kevin Vernon from Westerville, OH and Phillip Ames from Reynoldsburg, OH.
Matt Sands from Union, OH was the winner of the Gander Mountain "Need More Stuff" drawing of $200 for a Gander Mountain Shopping Spree.
A series of special awards came from David Calhoun, owner of Boat Boys, the official Ohio Regional Skeeter Boats sponsor. Calhoun handed out $2500 in Skeeter Boats certificates to the top placing teams toward the purchase of a new Skeeter boat or toward accessories.
For complete results, check out the Gander Mountain GNWC wwebsite at www.walleyecup.com.
With half of the qualifiers now in the books, Mike Defibaugh and Tom Defibaugh hold the lead for the Ohio Region Team of the Year honors.
The Ohio teams now head to Port Clinton on Sunday, May 2 where they continue their quest for a berth in the Ohio Gander Mountain GNWC Regional Championships.
Anglers interested in signing up for a future qualifier or simply wanting more information on the GNWC circuit can call 1-800-890-FISH (3474), or they can email the GNWC at info@walleyecup.com.
Title Sponsor for the GNWC is Gander Mountain with other major national sponsors including Skeeter Boats, Yamaha Outboards, the Sportsman Channel, Berkley, Aqua Innovations, YoNet Folding Nets by AMFYOYO, VIB"E" Lure Company, TowTector Shield and UpNorth Outdoors.com. The Ohio Regional Skeeter Boats sponsor is Boat Boys out of Newark, OH.