Doni-Mae B. Rauch
Published March 28, 2005

WESTLAND MI -- After three years on land, the newest fishing tournament in the Upper Midwest was announced in March 2005.

The Great Lakes Walleye Classic (GLWC) will officially launch on July 30-31 out of Hoyle's Marina in Linwood.

GLWC's Summer ShootOut will award a $10,000 cash first prize for the best weight of walleyes taken over the course of the two-day event. Anglers will bring their heftiest five fish to the scales for a weigh-in by former professional angler Mark Schultz of Niagara Wis. and an interview by tournament executive director Gary Bowman of Westland.

"It's time someone put together a tournament where participants have a chance to win a good payday," Bowman said in announcing the prize structure. "Thanks to the support of some great sponsors, we will be able to do that."

Not only will one two-person team be able to collect a $10,000 weekend check, they may also win one of the daily Big Fish Awards of $1,000. Two Humminbird fish finders will be given to the team with the Big Fish Basket of the shootout.

Runners-up will also make a few bucks for their efforts. Second place is $2,500 for the team to share, third is $1,500, fourth will give the team $1,000 and fifth place is $750.

"If the field exceeds 100 boats, more payouts will be made," said Bowman.

Bowman and Schultz are no strangers to the world of professional tournaments.

Bowman was a tournament fisherman for 15 years in various local events, MWT (6 years), Masters Walleye Circuit (2 years) and Professional Walleye Trail (1 year). Last year, he was the Tournament Director for the Grand National Walleye Cup in Michigan and Ohio.

Schultz began walleye fishing in 1984 when he bought a used 14-foot MirroCraft boat and homemade trailer. By 1989 he felt he had learned enough from trial and error to try and compete in tournaments. From 1993-1995 he was a Masters Walleye Circuit championship qualifier ; in his years of the Professional Walleye Trail, he had top ten finishes of Lake Erie, Detroit River and Saginaw Bay. And in 2000, Schultz was an RCL Championship qualifier.

"I hope to see husbands and their wives, parents and their children, grandparents and their grandkids enter this event," Bowman said. "Any family or friend combination is welcome."

A Fall ShootOut will be hosted by Cranberry Creek Marina on Oct. 14-16.

"We are holding two events this year, with plans to have a four-event tournament and a championship ShootOut in 2006," Bowman said. "There are a couple of nice places we want to visit, including Little or Big Bay de Noc in the Upper Peninsula."

The GLWC will offer an angler the chance to experience competitive tournament action. "Our ShootOuts will be the perfect chance for someone to decide if they are ready to move to the next level of competitions, said Mark Schultz. "Hopefully we will be able to pass on some of our knowledge andenjoyment of competitive fishing."

Registration has opened through the organization's website at www.greatlakeswalleyeclassic.com

"The public is more than welcome to come to the blastoff each morning at Hoyle's and Cranberry Creek," Bowman said. "And of course, the real fun will be waiting for the anglers to come to the scales with their walleyes each afternoon."

Major national sponsors for the GLWC include Bert's Tackle, Cranberry Creek Marina, Hoyle's Marina, Humminbird, Minnkota, Supreme Marine, TR-1 Sales of Michigan, Xtreme Scents.


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