" Happy Hooker" Fenwick Marina LEWT

Huge weights at “Crown Battery”, “Sharpnack Direct” LEWT
“ Happy Hooker” Fenwick Marina season opener

The Western Basin Sportfishing Association (WBSA) and Lake Erie Walleye Trail (LEWT) hosted the first event of the 2012 Crown Battery, Sharpnack Direct tournament series Sunday April 1st at Fenwick Marina. After inclement weather on Saturday led to the event being delayed until Sunday the 50 teams were greeted by calm waters and light southerly winds and comfortable temperatures.

“The fact that we had the same number of teams on the blow date as originally were signed up is a testament to the quality of anglers we have on the LEWT” commented LEWT Tournament Director Aaron Depinet. “With the strong northeast winds on Saturday I would of thought the lake would have been tore up, but after seeing it, I knew that wasn’t the case. I knew there were going to be some big weights brought to the scales.”

Leading the way was the team of Virgil Tent and Bill Miller with the huge weight of 52.29 lbs to secure the win. This was the largest weight ever recorded in LEWT history! They started off at Green Island and made the tournament winning move to east of Niagara Reef. In second place with 46.65 lbs was the team of Charlie Robinson and Todd Rainigh. In third with 45.77 lbs was the team of Francis Ball and Ronald Bradway. Rounding out the top five were Robert Kiamy and Kelly Matthews in fourth and Dave Frey and Lonnie Hanchosky were in fifth.

In the battle for the Big Fish award went to the winning team of Virgil Tent and Bill Miller with the weight of 12.16 lbs. In a close second for the cash payout was a 12.14 lb walleye caught by the sixth place team overall, Bud Wehrly and Matt Miller.

Long time LEWT supporter Medina Plating stepped up again this year to sponsor the Early Bird award. This award went to the top finishing team that entered all four tournaments before the Early Bird deadline. The team of Charlie Robinson and Todd Rainigh cashed this check of $150.00 on top of their prize money.

Sharpnack Direct was also kind enough to offer a $150 contingency to the top finishing team in which at least one of the members having owed a vehicle purchased from Sharpnack Direct. That happened to be the team of Bud Wehrly and Matt Miller.

With what’s turning out to be a great Spring the crankbait bite has been good to great. The teams seemed to be split between deep diving Husky Jerks and Reef Runners; with Reef Runners taking the big fish of the tournament. There were a total of 246 fish caught with an average of 7.8 lbs per fish. Lake Erie is an amazing fishery. A special thanks to our event sponsor: “ Happy Hooker Bait and Tackle” for opening the store early for supplies, door prizes, and food for the anglers as they came to the weigh-ins.

The balance of the 2012 schedule is as follows and openings exist for all except Lakevue:

April 28th - Lakevue Marina “Waldo Peppers Event”
June 2nd – Sandusky – City Ramp “Hi-Way Bait Event”
June 23rd & 24th – Huron- City Ramp “ Erie Outfitters LEWT Championship Event”


The WBSA is a Social based Club for fishermen and women that fish in the Western & Central Basins of Lake Erie and its tributaries. Membership is open to all fisher people no matter what their location. Our goal is to present information in a manner that will help sustain and improve fishing in one of the greatest inland sport fisheries in the world. Scientific information, fishing techniques, locations and presentations will be presented at our monthly meetings by expert and knowledgeable speakers and tournament anglers in our group. These anglers are very open with techniques and methods and will help any member that is trying to learn new methods.

For more information about the LEWT you can visit www.wbsa.us Listed below are the 2012 LEWT sponsors: Tom Sharpnack Chevrolet, Buick in Willard, , Crown Battery, Medina Plating, Waldo Peppers Restaurant, Happy Hooker Bait and Tackle, South Shore Marine, Reef Runner Lures , Vic’s Sports Center, Erie Outfitters, Ole Pete's Tackle, Navionics, Cisco Fishing Systems, Rednek Outfitters, Hi-Way Bait, Contender Lures, Hi Tech Custom painted Baits.