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03-30-2010, 12:57 PM
Clear Lake Up First for I.O.W.A. Team Walleye Tournament Trail
By Steve Weisman
I.O.W.A. Publicity Director
Two weeks and counting! Sunday, April 11 marks the first qualifier on the Iowa Organization of Walleye Anglers (I.O.W.A.) Team Walleye Tournament Trail for the 2010 season. Hosted by FCIS Anglers Choice Insurance of Forest City, this is the first of four tournaments on the I.O.W.A circuit.
Designed as a team tournament circuit for the weekend warrior, the I.O.W.A. trail will feature four regular season tournaments highlighted by the State Championship, October 2-3 at Rathbun Reservoir.
“Although it’s early in the season, after a winter like this past one, I know the teams can hardly wait to get on the water, “ said Dean Higgins, who along with his wife, Chris, owns and directs the I.O.W.A. circuit. In case of late ice conditions, Sunday, April 18 has been set as the make-up date.
Clear Lake is a traditional walleye hotspot in the Hawkeye state, and it appears as if the population is rebounding after a couple of tough fishing years. This past winter, for instance, walleye fishing remained pretty consistent throughout the ice fishing season. Creek surveys showed most of the keeper fish running in the 15-16 inch range with an occasional 20-inch or larger fish taken. That is a marked improvement from a year ago.
That definitely brings a smile to the director’s face. “Our anglers like coming to Clear Lake. It is great to see that the walleye fishing is coming back!”
Higgins added, “We look for 2010 to be a great year. Once again, we have a nice mix of returning I.O.W.A. veteran teams along with some new teams. We certainly welcome them aboard and think the circuit can be a great learning experience for all walleye anglers.”
A mandatory rules meeting and question and answer session will be held on Saturday starting at 6:30 p.m. at Rumors on South Shore Drive in Clear Lake. “These pre-tournament meetings have proven to be very productive. We can answer a lot of questions, go over all the rules and also the way we want to run our take-off and weigh-in procedures,” Higgins.
Take-off is at 7 a.m. at McIntosh Woods State Park and weigh-in starts at 3 p.m. sharp. “We encourage people to come out to our weigh-in. It’s an opportunity to not only see the fish the teams bring in but to also hear what they did to catch their fish. Plus, it is exciting to see the fish caught and the suspense of which teams will earn cash and prizes.” said Higgins.
Host bait shop is the Crazy Minnow.
In addition to the typical 80 percent payback based on number of entries, sponsorships this year will continue to help provide additional cash and prizes at all events. “We are really proud to be able to offer our teams the awards we do, and it all comes down to our sponsors,” said Higgins.
Lund Boats will offer a $250 Lund Boat Bonus for the highest placing team fishing out of a Lund boat at each qualifier. Several other corporate sponsors are offering special awards: The Humminbird Team of the Year, MinnKota Family Team of the Year, the Wright County Motors $500 cash bonus and the King’s Point drawing for two-night’s lodging at King’s Pointe Resort of Storm Lake.
Higgins also shared great news for the I.O.W.A. Circuit. “We continue to be a qualifying event for the Cabela’s NTC National Team Championship with five invitations going out to the top four team of the year finishers and the state championship winner.”
I.O.W.A. corporate sponsors include Lund Boats, Mercury Outboards, ShoreLand'r Trailers, Brightwell’s Boathouse, MinnKota, Humminbird, Berkley, Cabela's, FCIS Anglers Choice Insurance of Forest City, King’s Pointe Resort of Storm Lake and Wright County Motors of Belmond and Clarion.
The entry fee will be $240 per team for all events with an 80 percent payback plus additional prizes and awards.
The I.O.W.A. website (www.walleyepromotions.com) contains all the rules, registration, schedule, special awards, contact information and sponsors. "We also have our message board as the on-line communication link. It's a great place to ask questions or simply post a fishing idea. It is the hub for I.O.W.A. members.
Interested anglers can call (515) 571-1085.
By Steve Weisman
I.O.W.A. Publicity Director
Two weeks and counting! Sunday, April 11 marks the first qualifier on the Iowa Organization of Walleye Anglers (I.O.W.A.) Team Walleye Tournament Trail for the 2010 season. Hosted by FCIS Anglers Choice Insurance of Forest City, this is the first of four tournaments on the I.O.W.A circuit.
Designed as a team tournament circuit for the weekend warrior, the I.O.W.A. trail will feature four regular season tournaments highlighted by the State Championship, October 2-3 at Rathbun Reservoir.
“Although it’s early in the season, after a winter like this past one, I know the teams can hardly wait to get on the water, “ said Dean Higgins, who along with his wife, Chris, owns and directs the I.O.W.A. circuit. In case of late ice conditions, Sunday, April 18 has been set as the make-up date.
Clear Lake is a traditional walleye hotspot in the Hawkeye state, and it appears as if the population is rebounding after a couple of tough fishing years. This past winter, for instance, walleye fishing remained pretty consistent throughout the ice fishing season. Creek surveys showed most of the keeper fish running in the 15-16 inch range with an occasional 20-inch or larger fish taken. That is a marked improvement from a year ago.
That definitely brings a smile to the director’s face. “Our anglers like coming to Clear Lake. It is great to see that the walleye fishing is coming back!”
Higgins added, “We look for 2010 to be a great year. Once again, we have a nice mix of returning I.O.W.A. veteran teams along with some new teams. We certainly welcome them aboard and think the circuit can be a great learning experience for all walleye anglers.”
A mandatory rules meeting and question and answer session will be held on Saturday starting at 6:30 p.m. at Rumors on South Shore Drive in Clear Lake. “These pre-tournament meetings have proven to be very productive. We can answer a lot of questions, go over all the rules and also the way we want to run our take-off and weigh-in procedures,” Higgins.
Take-off is at 7 a.m. at McIntosh Woods State Park and weigh-in starts at 3 p.m. sharp. “We encourage people to come out to our weigh-in. It’s an opportunity to not only see the fish the teams bring in but to also hear what they did to catch their fish. Plus, it is exciting to see the fish caught and the suspense of which teams will earn cash and prizes.” said Higgins.
Host bait shop is the Crazy Minnow.
In addition to the typical 80 percent payback based on number of entries, sponsorships this year will continue to help provide additional cash and prizes at all events. “We are really proud to be able to offer our teams the awards we do, and it all comes down to our sponsors,” said Higgins.
Lund Boats will offer a $250 Lund Boat Bonus for the highest placing team fishing out of a Lund boat at each qualifier. Several other corporate sponsors are offering special awards: The Humminbird Team of the Year, MinnKota Family Team of the Year, the Wright County Motors $500 cash bonus and the King’s Point drawing for two-night’s lodging at King’s Pointe Resort of Storm Lake.
Higgins also shared great news for the I.O.W.A. Circuit. “We continue to be a qualifying event for the Cabela’s NTC National Team Championship with five invitations going out to the top four team of the year finishers and the state championship winner.”
I.O.W.A. corporate sponsors include Lund Boats, Mercury Outboards, ShoreLand'r Trailers, Brightwell’s Boathouse, MinnKota, Humminbird, Berkley, Cabela's, FCIS Anglers Choice Insurance of Forest City, King’s Pointe Resort of Storm Lake and Wright County Motors of Belmond and Clarion.
The entry fee will be $240 per team for all events with an 80 percent payback plus additional prizes and awards.
The I.O.W.A. website (www.walleyepromotions.com) contains all the rules, registration, schedule, special awards, contact information and sponsors. "We also have our message board as the on-line communication link. It's a great place to ask questions or simply post a fishing idea. It is the hub for I.O.W.A. members.
Interested anglers can call (515) 571-1085.