Steve Weisman-I.O.W.A.
05-03-2006, 11:47 AM
I.O.W.A. Walleye Tournament Trail Heads to Clear Lake
By Steve Weisman
I.O.W.A. Publicity Director
Riding the crest of a great opener at Prairie du Chien, the I.O.W.A. Walleye Tournament Trail teams are preparing for what promises to be quite a shootout at Clear Lake on Sunday, May 14.
"Clear Lake has a tremendous walleye population," said I.O.W.A. Executive Director Dean Higgins. "Having the tournment in mid-May gives the fish a chance to recover from the spawn. I expect to see some impressive baskets brought to the scales."
According to DNR biologists, the netting was great this spring. Most of the brookstock averaged in the 20 to 26 inch range. Some of the biggest females ran up to 28 inches, and the biggest fish netted was a 30-inch, 10-pound walleye.
The walleye spawn came to an end in late April, so the fish should be recovered and putting on the "feed bag" by mid-May.
Higgins continued, "We had a great opener at Prairie du Chien, and I anticipate a lot of teams getting into the Clear Lake qualifier."
The first place team will be guaranteed $1500. At the same time, the Cabelas 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.
"Entries continue to come in, and I look for some to sign up even the day before," said Higgins. 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.
The tournament director will have the trailer at McIntosh Woods State Park from 6-8 p.m. the evening before the tournament to take late entries and answer questions. Host motel is Budget Inn in Clear Lake, while the host baitshop is Dome Bait.
Take-off is at 7 a.m. with the weigh-in commencing at 3 p.m. sharp
at McIntosh Woods State Park. .
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, Cabelas, 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
Riding the crest of a great opener at Prairie du Chien, the I.O.W.A. Walleye Tournament Trail teams are preparing for what promises to be quite a shootout at Clear Lake on Sunday, May 14.
"Clear Lake has a tremendous walleye population," said I.O.W.A. Executive Director Dean Higgins. "Having the tournment in mid-May gives the fish a chance to recover from the spawn. I expect to see some impressive baskets brought to the scales."
According to DNR biologists, the netting was great this spring. Most of the brookstock averaged in the 20 to 26 inch range. Some of the biggest females ran up to 28 inches, and the biggest fish netted was a 30-inch, 10-pound walleye.
The walleye spawn came to an end in late April, so the fish should be recovered and putting on the "feed bag" by mid-May.
Higgins continued, "We had a great opener at Prairie du Chien, and I anticipate a lot of teams getting into the Clear Lake qualifier."
The first place team will be guaranteed $1500. At the same time, the Cabelas 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.
"Entries continue to come in, and I look for some to sign up even the day before," said Higgins. 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.
The tournament director will have the trailer at McIntosh Woods State Park from 6-8 p.m. the evening before the tournament to take late entries and answer questions. Host motel is Budget Inn in Clear Lake, while the host baitshop is Dome Bait.
Take-off is at 7 a.m. with the weigh-in commencing at 3 p.m. sharp
at McIntosh Woods State Park. .
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, Cabelas, TowTector, StowMaster, Smooth Moves Seats, Mack's Lure, Motor Inn Auto Group, Hooters of Iowa, Fort Dodge Ford and the Iowa Walleye Magazine.