Steve Weisman
06-14-2005, 04:13 PM
Great Plains Teams Take on Big Mac
By Steve Weisman
GNWC Publicity Director
The teams on Great Plains Region of the Grand National Walleye Cup (GNWC) are champing at the bit for their next competition because they will be heading for "Big Mac"! That's right, Lake McConaughy, Nebraska's largest reservoir at 35,700 acres, is the site for the third tournament on the Great Plains circuit.
Scheduled for Sunday, June 26, the Lake McConaughy qualifier is a crucial one for the teams battling for the Great Plains Yamaha Outboards Team of the Year honors and those vying for a berth in the Great Plains Region Championship at Eldorado, KS on August 13-14.
Heading into this third tournament, the team of Doug Duncan and Tim Brockman from Wichita, KS has an eight point lead over their nearest competitor.
A year ago, it took over a four pound average to win the Lake McConaughy Tournament, and GNWC Executive Director Bernie Barringer expects 2005 to be no different. "McConaughy definitely is known for its big walleyes. Each year a lot of trophy walleyes up to 29 inches are taken. Nebraska DNR officials look at Lake McConaughy as the best walleye fishery in the state. Right now the water is really clear, and recent rains have brought the water level up about two feet." The GNWC is teaming up with the Colorado Walleye Association to combine the two tournaments so that competing teams can fish both tournaments on Sunday simultaneously.
Although it is known for its night bite, McConaughy's daytime bite can also be good. Weather, of course, will play a big part in the equation. According to Tim Hudson, who works at the bait shop at Kingsley Lodge, "When we get three or four days of good, consistent weather, the fish go crazy. We've weighed several big fish in the 8, 9 and 10 pound category. In early June, we weighed a 10.75-pound walleye."
Storms have been rumbling through, however, and when that happens, the bite becomes inconsistent. "One day the fish will be in 4 feet of water, in 10 feet the next and maybe 30 feet the next. That's the tough part, when there is inconsistent weather, locating the fish."
Hudson added, "There is an excellent fish population. I was talking to the fishery biologist last fall, and he estimated that there were 750,000 legal walleyes in Lake McConaughy."
The tournament director will have the trailer at Martin Bay from 6-8 p.m. the evening before the tournament to take late entries and answer questions. Take-off is at 7 a.m. with the weigh-in commencing at 3 p.m. sharp at Martin Bay.
"I encourage the general public to come to Saturday's weigh-in. There is no cost to attend, and it is a great opportunity for folks to get a glimpse at what tournament fishing is all about. The audience will also get to hear from the teams and find out what presentations and tactics worked to trigger the fish. This is a great way to learn about taking walleyes on this huge body of water. It will also be fun because we will have a couple of Aqua-Vu underwater cameras set up in our release tanks so that the public can see how they work," added Barringer.
For those interested in entering, the entry fee remains at $210 per team for each tournament. Openings do still exist for the Lake McConaughy qualifier, and Barringer encourages interested anglers to contact him at 1-800-890-FISH (3474), or email the GNWC at info@walleyecup.com. "I also encourage people to check out our website at www.walleyecup.com and see what is happening 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 FoodSource Lure Corporation.
By Steve Weisman
GNWC Publicity Director
The teams on Great Plains Region of the Grand National Walleye Cup (GNWC) are champing at the bit for their next competition because they will be heading for "Big Mac"! That's right, Lake McConaughy, Nebraska's largest reservoir at 35,700 acres, is the site for the third tournament on the Great Plains circuit.
Scheduled for Sunday, June 26, the Lake McConaughy qualifier is a crucial one for the teams battling for the Great Plains Yamaha Outboards Team of the Year honors and those vying for a berth in the Great Plains Region Championship at Eldorado, KS on August 13-14.
Heading into this third tournament, the team of Doug Duncan and Tim Brockman from Wichita, KS has an eight point lead over their nearest competitor.
A year ago, it took over a four pound average to win the Lake McConaughy Tournament, and GNWC Executive Director Bernie Barringer expects 2005 to be no different. "McConaughy definitely is known for its big walleyes. Each year a lot of trophy walleyes up to 29 inches are taken. Nebraska DNR officials look at Lake McConaughy as the best walleye fishery in the state. Right now the water is really clear, and recent rains have brought the water level up about two feet." The GNWC is teaming up with the Colorado Walleye Association to combine the two tournaments so that competing teams can fish both tournaments on Sunday simultaneously.
Although it is known for its night bite, McConaughy's daytime bite can also be good. Weather, of course, will play a big part in the equation. According to Tim Hudson, who works at the bait shop at Kingsley Lodge, "When we get three or four days of good, consistent weather, the fish go crazy. We've weighed several big fish in the 8, 9 and 10 pound category. In early June, we weighed a 10.75-pound walleye."
Storms have been rumbling through, however, and when that happens, the bite becomes inconsistent. "One day the fish will be in 4 feet of water, in 10 feet the next and maybe 30 feet the next. That's the tough part, when there is inconsistent weather, locating the fish."
Hudson added, "There is an excellent fish population. I was talking to the fishery biologist last fall, and he estimated that there were 750,000 legal walleyes in Lake McConaughy."
The tournament director will have the trailer at Martin Bay from 6-8 p.m. the evening before the tournament to take late entries and answer questions. Take-off is at 7 a.m. with the weigh-in commencing at 3 p.m. sharp at Martin Bay.
"I encourage the general public to come to Saturday's weigh-in. There is no cost to attend, and it is a great opportunity for folks to get a glimpse at what tournament fishing is all about. The audience will also get to hear from the teams and find out what presentations and tactics worked to trigger the fish. This is a great way to learn about taking walleyes on this huge body of water. It will also be fun because we will have a couple of Aqua-Vu underwater cameras set up in our release tanks so that the public can see how they work," added Barringer.
For those interested in entering, the entry fee remains at $210 per team for each tournament. Openings do still exist for the Lake McConaughy qualifier, and Barringer encourages interested anglers to contact him at 1-800-890-FISH (3474), or email the GNWC at info@walleyecup.com. "I also encourage people to check out our website at www.walleyecup.com and see what is happening 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 FoodSource Lure Corporation.