Steve Weisman-GNWC
07-25-2004, 08:31 PM
GNWC Teams Display Versatility at Prairie du Chien Tournament
By Steve Weisman
Gander Mountain GNWC Publicity Director
Although fog delayed the start of the Iowa Region's final tournament on the Mississippi River at Prairie du Chien for an hour, that didn't stop the 52 competing teams at the Gander Mountain Grand National Walleye Cup (GNWC) qualifier from putting on quite a show.
Leading the way and taking the first place check of $1800 was the team of Terry Green from Mason City, IA and Steve Templeton from Clear Lake, IA with a four walleye limit weight of 14.09 pounds.
Dave Smithburg from Libertyville, IA and Joel Shaw from Fairfield, IA, last year's Iowa Region Team of the Year, cashed the $900 second place check with a weight of 13.59 pounds. They also took the Berkley Trilene Big Fish Award of $400 in Berkley products for their 6.18 pounder.
Third place and a check for $600 went to Dale Kruger and Art Lehrman with 13.51 pounds.
According to Gander Mountain GNWC Tournament Director Dean Higgins, the teams displayed great versatility. "The river dropped a foot on Friday, and that really destroyed a lot of pre-fishing game plans. However, the top teams adjusted and showed the versatility that we have come to expect on the GNWC circuit."
The key for the top three teams was using Bombers with the firetiger color working the best. Green and Templeton stayed in Pool 10 and went from wing dam to wing dam casting Bombers to catch their fish. Smithburg and Shaw also worked wing dams in the same area. Smithburg and Shaw had a slight scare at the weigh-in, however, when Jamie Wallingford and Don Poole from Farmington, IA weighed a 6.17-pound walleye, only .01 smaller than the one Smithburg and Shaw caught for the Berkley Trilene Big Fish Award.
The team of Randy Mumm and Jim Juhlin from Clear Lake used a 9th place finish at Prairie du Chien to lock up the Iowa Team of the Year. "These two guys were tough all year. They started the year off at Clear Lake with a win and never relinquished the lead," noted Higgins.
Other awards were also presented. The "Yo So Close" award of a Yo Net folding net valued at $80 went to the three teams that placed just out of the money. They went to Bob Henderson from Worthington, MN and Matt Johannes from Harris, IA in 14th place; Steve Johnson from Britt, IA and Chad Miller from Allison, IA in 15th place; and Brian Kemp from Des Moines, IA and George Schaefers from Wadena, IA in 16th place.
Darrelle and Mary Hinderaker from Lake Mills, IA were the winners of the Gander Mountain "Need More Stuff" drawing of $200 for a Gander Mountain Shopping Spree.
For complete results of the Prairie du Chien tournament, check out the Gander Mountain GNWC website at www.walleyecup.com.
Next up on the Iowa Region will be the Iowa State Championship of Walleye Fishing at Big Spirit Lake on September 11-12. "If the action we have seen on the Iowa circuit this year is any indication, I know that the Championships will be quite a show," added Higgins.
Anglers interested in 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. 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. Iowa Regional sponsors include Carlson-Sanderson Real Estate, Motor Inn, Inc., and Triggs Bay Resort.
By Steve Weisman
Gander Mountain GNWC Publicity Director
Although fog delayed the start of the Iowa Region's final tournament on the Mississippi River at Prairie du Chien for an hour, that didn't stop the 52 competing teams at the Gander Mountain Grand National Walleye Cup (GNWC) qualifier from putting on quite a show.
Leading the way and taking the first place check of $1800 was the team of Terry Green from Mason City, IA and Steve Templeton from Clear Lake, IA with a four walleye limit weight of 14.09 pounds.
Dave Smithburg from Libertyville, IA and Joel Shaw from Fairfield, IA, last year's Iowa Region Team of the Year, cashed the $900 second place check with a weight of 13.59 pounds. They also took the Berkley Trilene Big Fish Award of $400 in Berkley products for their 6.18 pounder.
Third place and a check for $600 went to Dale Kruger and Art Lehrman with 13.51 pounds.
According to Gander Mountain GNWC Tournament Director Dean Higgins, the teams displayed great versatility. "The river dropped a foot on Friday, and that really destroyed a lot of pre-fishing game plans. However, the top teams adjusted and showed the versatility that we have come to expect on the GNWC circuit."
The key for the top three teams was using Bombers with the firetiger color working the best. Green and Templeton stayed in Pool 10 and went from wing dam to wing dam casting Bombers to catch their fish. Smithburg and Shaw also worked wing dams in the same area. Smithburg and Shaw had a slight scare at the weigh-in, however, when Jamie Wallingford and Don Poole from Farmington, IA weighed a 6.17-pound walleye, only .01 smaller than the one Smithburg and Shaw caught for the Berkley Trilene Big Fish Award.
The team of Randy Mumm and Jim Juhlin from Clear Lake used a 9th place finish at Prairie du Chien to lock up the Iowa Team of the Year. "These two guys were tough all year. They started the year off at Clear Lake with a win and never relinquished the lead," noted Higgins.
Other awards were also presented. The "Yo So Close" award of a Yo Net folding net valued at $80 went to the three teams that placed just out of the money. They went to Bob Henderson from Worthington, MN and Matt Johannes from Harris, IA in 14th place; Steve Johnson from Britt, IA and Chad Miller from Allison, IA in 15th place; and Brian Kemp from Des Moines, IA and George Schaefers from Wadena, IA in 16th place.
Darrelle and Mary Hinderaker from Lake Mills, IA were the winners of the Gander Mountain "Need More Stuff" drawing of $200 for a Gander Mountain Shopping Spree.
For complete results of the Prairie du Chien tournament, check out the Gander Mountain GNWC website at www.walleyecup.com.
Next up on the Iowa Region will be the Iowa State Championship of Walleye Fishing at Big Spirit Lake on September 11-12. "If the action we have seen on the Iowa circuit this year is any indication, I know that the Championships will be quite a show," added Higgins.
Anglers interested in 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. 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. Iowa Regional sponsors include Carlson-Sanderson Real Estate, Motor Inn, Inc., and Triggs Bay Resort.