Lake Rathbun Preview

For Immediate Release


Third I.O.W.A. Walleye Tournament Trail Qualifier Set for Lake Rathbun

By Steve Weisman
I.O.W.A. Publicity Director
With the season half over, the I.O.W.A. Walleye Tournament Trail teams next head for the Lake Rathbun TowTector Shield Qualifer on Sunday, May 28. "TowTector Shield has really stepped up to the plate and are providing an additional $500 to the first place winnings," announced I.O.W.A. Executive Director Dean Higgins. "This not only shows their great support for the I.O.W.A. teams, but also their commitment to the success of the circuit itself."
Lake Rathbun, a huge reservoir in southern Iowa, is the second largest lake in the Hawkeye state. Known for its crappie population, Lake Rathbun is also home to an excellent walleye population. Last year, a six-fish limit weight of 15.74 pounds won the tournament.
"Rathbun can be hot and cold. Each year is different. Sometimes it is a shallow water live bait bite, while at other times it is a crankbait trolling bite," said Dean Higgins. "But then that's what makes this circuit such a challenge and fun for the teams."
Heading into the Lake Rathbun Tournament, the team of Greg Lowenberg and Dale Frederick from Fairfield have a five point lead over the team of Denny Miller from Fairfax and Rodger Clark from Albert Lea, MN and a six point lead over Terry Green from Mason City and Steve Templeton from Clear Lake. The team that wins the Humminbird Team of the Year wins two Humminbird 937c locators.
Higgins continued, "The Rathbun tournament is critical not only for the team of the year contenders but also for the teams striving to make the state championship in October."
The first place team will be guaranteed $2000. At the same time, the Cabela's 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.
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.
"We've got something special going on that weekend for anybody who is interested in walleye fishing."
On Friday, May 26 at 7 p.m., the I.O.W.A. Walleye Tournament Trail is putting on a walleye seminar at Hooters in Des Moines. It will include a panel of seven walleye anglers that will be addressing techniques and offering the audience an opportunity for a question and answer session. The panel will consist of Alan Wittmus, former Iowa State Champion; Joe and Cathy Kirk, husband and wife team and winners at Clear Lake; David Lampe tournament fisherman; Joe Kalvig, who has cashed checks using practically every technique; Jim Trow, 2005 MWC Champion; and Scott Reed from Pure Fishing. Pure Fishing will be providing door prizes for the first 50 people that attend.
Then on Saturday evening, tournament director will have the trailer at Honey Creek State Park from 6-8 p.m. the evening before the tournament to take late entries and answer questions. Host motel is Indian Hills Inn in Albia, while the host baitshop is J & K Lighthouse at Honey Creek Road.
Take-off is at 7 a.m. with the weigh-in commencing at 3 p.m. sharp
at Honey Creek 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, Cabela's, TowTector, StowMaster, Smooth Moves Seats, Mack's Lure, Motor Inn Auto Group, Hooters of Iowa, Fort Dodge Ford and the Iowa Walleye Magazine.