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04-23-2009, 04:25 PM
I.O.W.A. teams Prepare for Clear Lake
By Steve Weisman
I.O.W.A. Publicity Director
After Sunday’s season opening tournament at Storm Lake, the I.O.W.A. Team Walleye Tournament teams have a short two weeks to prepare for the FCIS “Anglers Choice” Insurance Clear Lake qualifier on Sunday, May 3.
“We had 47 teams compete at Storm Lake, which is nine more than last year,” said I.O.W.A. Director Dean Higgins. “Clear Lake is a great fishery, and I hope we will go over 50 teams at Clear Lake. The fish should be recovered from spawning and the DNR’s gill netting by the first week of May, so I look for a good bite.”
Leading the way will be the winners of the Storm Lake qualifier, Mike Heller from West Des Moines and Jessie Roush from Clive. “Both Mike and Jessie have been part of tournament walleye fishing in this state for years. What is amazing about Jessie is that at age 75, he doesn’t seem to have slowed down a bit. Last year’s Clear Lake winners were Denny Miller from Guttenburg and Rodger Clark from Albert Lea, MN. They finished 13th at Storm Lake, so I am sure they are excited to go back to Clear Lake.”
A big key will be consistent weather to move the water temperatures out of the low 40s. A year ago, 41 teams caught five-fish limits.
FCIS “Anglers Choice” Insurance of Forest City is partnering with the I.O.W.A. circuit as the title sponsor and will provide several opportunities for competing teams. The winner of the event will receive an entry to a future I.O.W.A. event, and so will the team just out of the money and the highest placing rookie team. Plus at the conclusion of the weigh-in, a general drawing will be held with any I.O.W.A. team eligible to win a free entry.
Higgins noted, “This is the third year that FCIS has been a title sponsor. They continue to make a strong commitment to the I.O.W.A. circuit, and I know that the teams greatly appreciate their efforts.”
A mandatory rules meeting and question and answer session will be held on Saturday evening starting at 6:30 p.m. at Rumorz on South Shore Drive in Clear Lake. “These pre-tournament meetings are very important. They give us the chance to go over rules, take-off and weigh-in procedures and simply answer a lot of questions,” Higgins.
Take-off is at 7 a.m. at McIntosh Woods State Park with the weigh-in at 3 p.m. “This is a great place for people to come and witness the weigh-in. If it’s anything like last year, the crowd will be in for quite a treat,” said Higgins. “Last year we had 41 teams bring limits to the scale with the big fish of the tournament at nearly seven pounds.”
All of the latest news on the I.O.W.A. circuit can be found at the I.O.W.A. website (www.walleyepromotions.com). Openings still exist for the Clear Lake qualifier. Anglers interested in learning more about the I.O.W.A circuit can call (515) 571-1085 or they can email the I.O.W.A. staff at walleyepromotions@hotmail.com.
Corporate sponsors for the 2009 season include Lund Boats, Mercury Outboards, ShoreLand'r Trailers, Brightwell’s Boathouse, MinnKota, Humminbird, Berkley, Cabela's, Smooth Move Seat Mounts, FCIS Anglers Choice Insurance of Forest City, King’s Pointe Resort of Storm Lake and Wright County Motors of Belmond and Clarion.
By Steve Weisman
I.O.W.A. Publicity Director
After Sunday’s season opening tournament at Storm Lake, the I.O.W.A. Team Walleye Tournament teams have a short two weeks to prepare for the FCIS “Anglers Choice” Insurance Clear Lake qualifier on Sunday, May 3.
“We had 47 teams compete at Storm Lake, which is nine more than last year,” said I.O.W.A. Director Dean Higgins. “Clear Lake is a great fishery, and I hope we will go over 50 teams at Clear Lake. The fish should be recovered from spawning and the DNR’s gill netting by the first week of May, so I look for a good bite.”
Leading the way will be the winners of the Storm Lake qualifier, Mike Heller from West Des Moines and Jessie Roush from Clive. “Both Mike and Jessie have been part of tournament walleye fishing in this state for years. What is amazing about Jessie is that at age 75, he doesn’t seem to have slowed down a bit. Last year’s Clear Lake winners were Denny Miller from Guttenburg and Rodger Clark from Albert Lea, MN. They finished 13th at Storm Lake, so I am sure they are excited to go back to Clear Lake.”
A big key will be consistent weather to move the water temperatures out of the low 40s. A year ago, 41 teams caught five-fish limits.
FCIS “Anglers Choice” Insurance of Forest City is partnering with the I.O.W.A. circuit as the title sponsor and will provide several opportunities for competing teams. The winner of the event will receive an entry to a future I.O.W.A. event, and so will the team just out of the money and the highest placing rookie team. Plus at the conclusion of the weigh-in, a general drawing will be held with any I.O.W.A. team eligible to win a free entry.
Higgins noted, “This is the third year that FCIS has been a title sponsor. They continue to make a strong commitment to the I.O.W.A. circuit, and I know that the teams greatly appreciate their efforts.”
A mandatory rules meeting and question and answer session will be held on Saturday evening starting at 6:30 p.m. at Rumorz on South Shore Drive in Clear Lake. “These pre-tournament meetings are very important. They give us the chance to go over rules, take-off and weigh-in procedures and simply answer a lot of questions,” Higgins.
Take-off is at 7 a.m. at McIntosh Woods State Park with the weigh-in at 3 p.m. “This is a great place for people to come and witness the weigh-in. If it’s anything like last year, the crowd will be in for quite a treat,” said Higgins. “Last year we had 41 teams bring limits to the scale with the big fish of the tournament at nearly seven pounds.”
All of the latest news on the I.O.W.A. circuit can be found at the I.O.W.A. website (www.walleyepromotions.com). Openings still exist for the Clear Lake qualifier. Anglers interested in learning more about the I.O.W.A circuit can call (515) 571-1085 or they can email the I.O.W.A. staff at walleyepromotions@hotmail.com.
Corporate sponsors for the 2009 season include Lund Boats, Mercury Outboards, ShoreLand'r Trailers, Brightwell’s Boathouse, MinnKota, Humminbird, Berkley, Cabela's, Smooth Move Seat Mounts, FCIS Anglers Choice Insurance of Forest City, King’s Pointe Resort of Storm Lake and Wright County Motors of Belmond and Clarion.