GNWC-National Championship Preview

Lake Erie and Vermilion, Ohio to Host '05 GNWC National Championship

By Steve Weisman
GNWC Publicity Director
Walleye anglers know that Lake Erie in October means trophy walleyes! For the Grand National Walleye Cup (GNWC) teams, Oct. 6-8, 2005 means the National Championship and a date with Lake Erie walleyes. Famous for big walleyes and lots of them, Lake Erie is a mecca for walleye anglers. And the waters just outside of Vermilion, Ohio are the place to be during October.
The 2005 GNWC National Championship presented by Skeeter Boats and Yamaha Outboards brings the top 120 walleye fishing teams from 14 states to the fertile big-walleye waters of Lake Erie.
On the line will be a first place prize of two fully rigged WX 1880 Skeeter boats rigged with Yamaha 4-stroke 150 hp outboards, Minnkota electric trolling motors and batteries, and Lowrance Electronics. With a retail value of $35,000 per rig, this brings the first place purse to $70,000. Additional cash and prizes bring the total to be awarded to more than $150,000.
In addition, a third fully rigged WX 1880 will be given away in a drawing at the National Championship. Each angler who qualified to fish the National Championship will have a chance to win this boat. It will be given away at the tournament in a random drawing, and all contestants that meet eligibility guidelines will have one chance to win. "It is exciting to be able to offer the GNWC teams three fully rigged WX 1880s at the National Championship. Our partnership with this premium boat manufacturer allows us to award an awesome prize to our 2005 National Champions," said GNWC Executive Director Bernie Barringer.
Barringer continued, "We are excited to bring the National Championship to Lake Erie. The folks in Vermilion are really looking forward to our championship teams coming to their town. This is a tremendous fishery, and I know that October and Lake Erie mean big, big walleyes!"
John Hammer, Chairman of the Vermilion Port Authority, shared his excitement about hosting the event. "As Chairman of the VPA and on behalf of the city of Vermilion, I would like to thank the GNWC for giving us the opportunity to host this event. I can assure you that our city will welcome your anglers with open arms. We believe that the city of Vermilion, is the 'Best Kept Secret' on the southern shores of Lake Erie. The waters of Lake Erie just outside of the Vermilion Harbor attract large schools of walleye during the month of October."
One thing is for certain. There are big 'eyes out there for the taking and a first place purse worth $70,000! As Barringer said, "The Vermilion area of Lake Erie is a great opportunity for anglers even in smaller boats to access this terrific fall fishery. Some locals tell me that it will take 40-plus pounds a day to win this event. And there is the distinct possibility that it will take a fish in the teens to win the overall big fish award. To have that kind of a big fish bite within reach of any angler is the reason we have accepted the invitation to hold the national championship at Vermilion, Ohio."
The first day's action begins on Thursday with the exciting weigh-in at 3 p.m. at Red Clay on the River.
The real fun begins at the weigh-ins as the teams begin to bring their baskets of fish to the scales. With two $35,000 top-of-the-line Skeeter boats on the line, there will be electricity in the air. Anyone interested in fishing is invited to come out and enjoy each afternoon's weigh-in.
Friday and Saturday will follow the same format as the opening day, but it will be Saturday's weigh-in that will determine the 2005 GNWC National Champions. "Saturday will be especially exciting," Barringer said. "At Saturday's weigh-in, the teams will share their secrets and tell the spectators the details of how and where the fish were caught."
Special awards will be given out at the Championships including up to $800 to the angler that catches the largest fish each of the three days. The Cabela's Big Fish Award of a $200 shopping spree will be awarded to the team that weighs the largest walleye during the three-day Championships.
Skeeter Boats is offering an additional $3000 above their GNWC winnings to any owner of a Skeeter boat who wins the National Championship while fishing in the Skeeter. In addition, the top-finishing Skeeter owner will receive $1000. This extra $1000 is above the $3000 for winning.
YoNet Folding Nets by AMFYOYO will offer the Yo So Close Award of an $80 folding net to the three teams finishing just out of the money.
TowTector, maker of the premium boat protector for towing vehicles, will offer the Towtector Comeback Award of two Towtector Shields valued at nearly $550 for the team advancing the most places from day one to day three.
The FoodSource Lure Company is sponsoring $200 in FoodSource Lures for the top placing family team.
Teams that do not catch fish will be put in a drawing for $200 in Mack's Lure products in the Mack's Lure Catch More Fish With Mack's Award.
Those interested in learning more about the GNWC circuit can call 1-800-890-FISH (3474) or access the GNWC website at www.walleyecup.com. For those wanting to take a look at the Vermilion area, check out their website at vermilionohio.com.
The GNWC National Championship is presented by Skeeter Boats and Yamaha Outboards. Major national sponsors for the GNWC include Lowrance Electronics, YoNet Folding Nets by AMFYOYO, Aqua-VU, The Oxygenator, Cabela's and UpNorthOutdoors.com. National championship boosters are Towtector Shield, MinnKota, Mack's Lure and the FoodSource Lure Corporation.

[Raybob]

This should be a great NC tourney to follow. The I-Guys from across the many GNWC states have 3 days to fan out in the Western/Central basins to hopefully bring in some big bags if the mother load has arrived from out East -or- come up with some new twists to drop the hammer on the tight-lipped resident Hawg Eyes! :)

Hang-a-Hog!!!

Its going to be a one day tourney. Whoever is in first after today will win!

[Raybob]

I guess it would not be the 1st time that mother nature got her panties in a twist in the midst of a tourney on Erie :)

The witch has been in MN for 24 hrs, and coming your way - Use you heads out there or you will pay. Strong winds in the system.

[Raybob]

-forecast...

THIS AFTERNOON
SOUTH WINDS 10 TO 20 KNOTS BECOMING SOUTHWEST.
A SLIGHT CHANCE OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS THIS AFTERNOON.
WAVES 1 TO 3 FEET BUILDING TO 2 TO 4 FEET.

TONIGHT
SOUTHWEST WINDS 5 TO 15 KNOTS BECOMING NORTHWEST.
A CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS THROUGH EARLY EVENING. A CHANCE OF
SHOWERS THROUGH THE NIGHT. WAVES 2 TO 4 FEET BUILDING TO 3 TO 5
FEET.

FRIDAY
NORTHWEST WINDS 10 TO 20 KNOTS BECOMING NORTH. A CHANCE
OF SHOWERS. WAVES 4 TO 6 FEET.

FRIDAY NIGHT
NORTH WINDS TO 30 KNOTS BECOMING NORTHEAST.
A CHANCE OF SHOWERS IN THE EVENING. WAVES BUILDING TO 7 TO 9 FEET.

SATURDAY
NORTHEAST WINDS TO 30 KNOTS. WAVES 7 TO 9 FEET.

http://weather.noaa.gov/cgi-bin/fmtb...3EU.S.+Portion

Does anyone remember how many prizes there were in the gnwc contest, the post has been changed and it dosent list the GNWC prizes?

That is the risk you take with tourneys on Erie, they can be a tourney directors dream or nightmare. Lets hope for better weather for next weekends tourney! Just glad i didnt waste monies on entry fees in the Ohio division tourney just so i could fish the championship looking back on it. if the weather was good right now i would be kicking myself!
It looks like it is setting up perfect for next weekend but we all know how quickly that can change.

Great weather today, wind is out of the south and pretty bouncy but they got out on time and the weather is like summer here. The big fish are not here yet as the water temp is still 70 degrees. Some of the teams are making a gamble and making some long runs to try and get a few big fish. They'll be heros or zeros. Weather forecast is changing by the hour and it's a toss-up if we will get out tomorrow or saturday. Hoping for Friday at least.

One thing is for sure, someone will win and if you didn't fish the GNWC to qualify and get here you can't win the over $70,000 first place.

Congratulations to Rodger Clark of Albert Lea, MN who won the $35,000 Skeeter/Yamaha/Minnkota/Lowrance package last night in the drawing.

We will be giving away two more boat packages for fist place and about $33,000 cash to the top 27 places.