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| Monday Oct 11, 2004 – for immediate release
2nd Annual Huron Athletic Booster Club Fundraiser Walleye Tournament results:
Strong winds forced the tournament to be delayed a day and provided a challenging combination of rough water and a tough bite on the walleye for the 24 teams that braved the conditions on Lake Erie out of Huron, Ohio on Sunday October 10th, 2004. With good weather we expected around 50 teams. The tournament was still a success with $1700 donated to the Huron Schools Athletic Booster Club and $3455 paid out in cash to the contestants thanks to the generous donations of several Huron, Ohio businesses.
Team “Blue Dolphin” brought 5 walleye to the scales with a total weight of 24.80 pounds to claim the first prize of $1069 in cash. The team of Gary Zart, Wayne Jesionowski, and 7 year old Nicholas Zart hails from Hinkley, Ohio and the 4th team member Miguel Valencia is from Westlake, Ohio. The team put together a solid gameplan during prefishing on Thursday and Friday that relied on trolling Reef Runner (www.reefrunner.com) crankbaits deep. The hot colors were “Fruit Loops”, “Orange / Chartruse Prism”, and “Huckleberry.” They fished approximately 14 to 15 miles Northeast of the Huron River near the west side of the Lorain/Vermillion Sandbar in 45 to 47 feet of water. The rough water performance of Gary’s 25 foot Carolina Classic (www.firstclassboats.com) was a key to their success as 3 of the fish the team weighed were caught on their first trolling pass which started when most teams that made the long run to the sandbar area were only about half way to the spot. The ability to troll into the waves using large planar boards instead of pulling their lines in after a downwind troll as a lot of the teams were forced to do also played a factor in the victory as did the ability to maintain speed control using trolling bags. Team Blue Dolphin used Beefy Bags and Planar Boards made in Litchfield, Ohio by Captain Frank Kittrick’s Amish Outfitters (www.amishoutfitters.com).
Tony Gonzalez and Darryl Wood of Sandusky, Ohio teamed up to bring 5 walleye weighing 23.70 pounds to the scales to capture 2nd place and $625 in cash. Tony and Darryl put together a strategy of fishing closer to the Huron river rather than making the long run to the sandbar. They also relied on Reef Runners and their hot lure was “Pink Squirrel.” They fished about 4 miles to the North Northwest of the Huron River just North of the old Huron Dumping Grounds.
Team “Hooked On It” – Brett Flacczynski of Wakeman, Ohio and Jim Wicker of Vermillion, Ohio teamed up to bring 5 walleye weighing 19.60 pounds to the scales to secure 3rd place and $444 in cash. They added another $260 to their winnings by weighing the 2nd biggest fish of the tournament with an 8.60 pound walleye which was sponsored by South Shore Marine Services (www.firstclassboats.com) They made the long run to the West side of the sandbar and had their success pulling spoons behind Dipsey Divers.
Scott Bower of Macedonia, Carl Nawalaniec of Valley View, and Bob Hazlet of Glen Willow, Ohio teamed up to weigh 18.55 pounds with 5 walleye. They won $344 for their catch.
Team “Buck Eyes” – Bruce Trucker, Larry Hilton, and Bruce Shaw also of Ohio secured 5th place and $263. They also caught the Big Fish of the tournament and won and additional $450 with a beautiful walleye weighing 9.80 pounds.
The Big Fish Award was sponsored by Spreaders Bar & Grill located on the Huron River just to the North of the Huron Boat Basin on the West bank of the river. Many of the contestants enjoyed dinner and some celebratory beverages at Spreaders after the tournament discussing fishing locations, techniques and telling fish stories about the ones that got away as well as stories about the boat rides in the rough water.
Radio Station K96 Country WKFM 96.1 (www.wkfm.com) was one of the sponsors and donated 4 tickets to the Ringling Brothers Circus at Gund Arena in Cleveland. This prize was presented to 7 year old Nicholas Zart of Team Blue Dolphin as the youngest angler to fish in the tournament. Several teams are trying to recruit Nicholas to join them in the next tournament but so far no one has come up with enough money – but the rumor is that Nicholas likes to go fast in rough water so there is at least one team that thinks they have a chance…
THANK YOU to the following sponsors and supporters of the tournament:
South Shore Marine, Huron Lagoons Marina, Holiday Harbor Marina, Gull Motel, Berardi’s Restaurant, Cranberry Creek Marina, Carl Walski’s Boat Ramp, Spreaders Restaurant, Family Eye Care, Ace Hardware, Latanik Equipment, Katman Graphics, Western Basin Sportfishing Association, Denny Braun’s Sportsman’s Outpost.
To support next year’s tournament / fundraiser contact Steve Noftz at 419-656-3721.
For tournament related questions, contact Tournament Director Steve Carlson 330-283-2155 or [email protected]
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Member
Posts: 2680
Location: Essexville, MI./Saginaw Bay. | Steve.
Excellent report on the tourney. Hope them hogs keep working their way in closer to shore towards Huron. I'm continuing to verbally troll for a partner or two to head over for the last of October or the first week or two in November. My usual Huron partners wife is with child, and looking to give birth right around that same time. I told him to check with me on any further parental/sexual timetable plans.  I have a question for you though. I see in your report the sentence.
"The tournament was still a success with $1700 donated to the Huron Schools Athletic Booster Club and $3455 paid out in cash to the contestants, thanks to the generous donations of several Huron, Ohio businesses."
I know the main reason WC claimed they moved down the road to Vermillion, was because of lac of support from local Huron businesses. So was this true, or was it for other reasons? I know there are a few important business people who frequent the WC boards and live closer to or in Vermillion, than Huron.
The lac of cleaning stations was the only down side I seen in the two years I made the Huron trip. The many motels, resturants and adequate launching sites in Huron seemed perfect for the traveling angler. And the Motel discounts in Huron were great as well. To be fair, I've never fished out of Vermillion, but the relative closeness to the main walleye schools during Late October/early November when going out from Huron (IN MY OPINION & Especially on a Big Lake Like Erie), outweighs the other advantages.
And Steve, I'm Not bringing this up to put you on the spot, or start any trouble here either. Just seems funny the main reason I heard for the move, was lac of business support from Huron. Yet, a small 24 boat tourney gets all the monitary support they can use from these very same people. Were the WC people simply talking to the wrong people/businesses?
Edited by walleye express 10/12/2004 1:07 AM
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| Well in my rush to get the info out - I screwed up the order of finish and names - much like my day of fishing on Sunday was - screwed up - LOL. Anyways here is the corrected version.
Steve Carlson
Monday Oct 11, 2004 – for immediate release
2nd Annual Huron Athletic Booster Club Fundraiser Walleye Tournament results:
Strong winds forced the tournament to be delayed a day and provided a challenging combination of rough water and a tough bite on the walleye for the 24 teams that braved the conditions on Lake Erie out of Huron, Ohio on Sunday October 10th, 2004. With good weather we expected around 50 teams. The tournament was still a success with $1700 donated to the Huron Schools Athletic Booster Club and $3455 paid out in cash to the contestants thanks to the generous donations of several Huron, Ohio businesses.
Team “Blue Dolphin” brought 5 walleye to the scales with a total weight of 24.80 pounds to claim the first prize of $1069 in cash. The team of Gary Zart, Wayne Jesionowski, and 7 year old Nicholas Zart hails from Hinkley, Ohio and the 4th team member Miguel Valencia is from Westlake, Ohio. The team put together a solid gameplan during prefishing on Thursday and Friday that relied on trolling Reef Runner (www.reefrunner.com) crankbaits deep. The hot colors were “Fruit Loops”, “Orange / Chartruse Prism”, and “Huckleberry.” They fished approximately 14 to 15 miles Northeast of the Huron River near the west side of the Lorain/Vermillion Sandbar in 45 to 47 feet of water. The rough water performance of Gary’s 25 foot Carolina Classic (www.firstclassboats.com) was a key to their success as 3 of the fish the team weighed were caught on their first trolling pass which started when most teams that made the long run to the sandbar area were only about half way to the spot. The ability to troll into the waves using large planar boards instead of pulling their lines out of the water and running back up for another pass like drifters have to do after a downwind troll also played a factor in the victory as did the ability to maintain speed control using trolling bags. Team Blue Dolphin used Beefy Bags and Planar Boards made in Litchfield, Ohio by Captain Frank Kittrick’s Amish Outfitters (www.amishoutfitters.com).
Team “Buck Eyes” – Mark Goodwin of Lima, Woody Campbell of Marblehead, Frank Pennington of Grove City, and Duane Scott of Port Clinton, Ohio captured 2nd place with 5 walleye weighing 23.80 pounds to win $625 in cash. They fished the deep water to the West of the Sandbar but they caught 4 of their fish on Dipsey Divers and Michigan Stinger spoons in several colors – the common thing was the spoons all had copper backs. They pulled their biggest fish on a worm harness behind a Dipsey Diver.
Tony Gonzalez and Darryl Wood of Sandusky, Ohio teamed up to bring 5 walleye weighing 23.70 pounds to the scales to take 3rd place and $444 in cash. Tony and Darryl put together a strategy of fishing closer to the Huron river rather than making the long run to the sandbar. They also relied on Reef Runners and their hot lure was “Pink Squirrel.” They fished about 4 miles to the North Northwest of the Huron River just North of the old Huron Dumping Grounds.
Team “Hooked On It” – Brett Flacczynski of Wakeman, Ohio and Jim Wicker of Vermillion, Ohio teamed up to bring 5 walleye weighing 19.60 pounds to the scales to secure 4th place and $344 in cash. They added another $260 to their winnings by weighing the 2nd biggest fish of the tournament with an 8.60 pound walleye which was sponsored by South Shore Marine Services (www.firstclassboats.com) They made the long run to the West side of the sandbar and reported they had their success pulling spoons behind Dipsey Divers.
Scott Bower of Macedonia, Carl Nawalaniec of Valley View, and Bob Hazlet of Glen Willow, Ohio teamed up to weigh 18.55 pounds with 5 walleye. They won $263 for their 5th place catch.
Bruce Trucker and Larry Hilton of Swanton teamed up with Bruce Shane of Delta, Ohio to catch t the Big Fish of the tournament and won $450 with a beautiful walleye weighing 9.80 pounds.
The Big Fish Award was sponsored by Spreaders Bar & Grill located on the Huron River just to the North of the Huron Boat Basin on the West bank of the river. Many of the contestants enjoyed dinner and some celebratory beverages at Spreaders after the tournament discussing fishing locations, techniques and telling fish stories about the ones that got away as well as stories about the boat rides in the rough water. It was a friendly competition to benefit a good cause and there was no controversy reported.
Radio Station K96 Country WKFM 96.1 (www.wkfm.com) was one of the sponsors and donated 4 tickets to the Ringling Brothers Circus at Gund Arena in Cleveland. This prize was presented to 7 year old Nicholas Zart of Team Blue Dolphin as the youngest angler to fish in the tournament. Several teams are trying to recruit Nicholas to join them in the next tournament but so far nobody has come up with enough money to entice him to fish with someone other than his dad Gary – but the rumor is that Nicholas likes to go fast in choppy water so there is at least one team that thinks they have a chance to fish with Nicholas…
THANK YOU to the following sponsors and supporters of the tournament:
South Shore Marine, Huron Lagoons Marina, Holiday Harbor Marina, Gull Motel, Berardi’s Restaurant, Cranberry Creek Marina, Carl Walski’s Boat Ramp, Spreaders Restaurant, Family Eye Care, Ace Hardware, Latanik Equipment, Katman Graphics, Western Basin Sportfishing Association, Denny Braun’s Sportsman’s Outpost, Doug Steinwart Huron Boat Basin.
To support next year’s tournament / fundraiser contact Steve Noftz at 419-656-3721.
For tournament related questions, contact Tournament Director Steve Carlson 330-283-2155 or [email protected]
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| Dan,
In a nutshell rather than characterize things as a lack of interest / support from Huron that caused the move from what I know (and some of it I just found out this weekend) it was really an overwhelming offer from the city of Vermillion that lead to the move. It was really an offer that was too good to turn down. Vermillion was able to recruit some of my good friends that are some of the most well known Charter Captains on Lake Erie to move their fall operation from Huron to Vermillion and it has been a win win scenario for my Captain buddies and for the city of Vermillion, so the city decided to recruit the Get Together and made an awesome offer.
And in reality the last couple years the fall fishing has been better closer to Vermillion than Huron - or certainly no farther as it was really pretty centrally located and that should be true with the Get Together being earlier in the year this year.
This probally isn't the place to discuss this - but shoot me an email if you want more info and my completely unofficial opinion.
Steve Carlson | |
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Member
Posts: 2680
Location: Essexville, MI./Saginaw Bay. | Good enough response Steve.
But I know that the 22 walleyes we caught in the short 1 1/2 days last year, a mere mile out and two miles West of the Huron River mouth, was a lot safer and closer to Huron than Vermillion. It was nice catching fish in close on that second days brisk South Off-shore wind as well, knowing full well she was rough out deep and down shore. But like on all big bodies of water, I know conditions and the walleyes migration habbits/patterns/timetables vary from year to year. Heck, it's happening on the Saginaw Bay the last two years, with the West side being the hot spot versus the East side like it was in 2000 and 2001. But it sure was nice for guys in medium sized rigs, to be able to stay closer to shore and catch fish going out from Huron. Personally, I'm sticking with the City of Huron and their immediate area bite, win loose or draw.
And good luck in the fun tourney this year Steve....
Edited by walleye express 10/12/2004 9:14 AM
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| Dan
My two cents,First thing I have been to several W.C. outings in the past and will be at this one.As to the move,I have nothing to say about it because I refuse to play Monday Morning Quarterback.If the people in charge tell me it's in the outings best interest to move to Vermillion then that's where I will go,If I don't like It I will tell them so and then volunteer to help find a better location.As to the fishing during the outings,I have fished from West of Huron to East of Vermillion out far to in close.An example was this last weekend on Friday Val and I located fish N/E of the sandbar and it was a 14 mile run back to Vermillion.On Sunday things changed so we started in close 2 miles East of Huron to well past the Castle with no luck.After the lake laid down a bit we made the run to Fridays spot.Guess what the fish moved.Late in the day we found them again but it was a 15 plus mile run back to Huron.But we will do that if thats what it takes to find fish.If you decide to come on out look me up,I would be happy to share any info I have on fish location and what we are using.FYI a hot lure this weekend was the chart/org prism Reef Runner.Paul | |
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| I agree with Paul. Its going to be a great event again.
Dan, I dont understand why you arent going to attend after that article you wrote about what a great time you had last year that appears on the WC page that has the get together info. Sounds like you really enjoyed yourself. | |
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Member
Posts: 2680
Location: Essexville, MI./Saginaw Bay. | Atendee/Paul.
I did enjoy myself last year, met some great people who would do anything for you at both the get-together as well as the fishing experience the preceding two days, and would not retract a single thing I wrote about the experience or the people on that sites board on the whole thing. And thats a big part of why I'm staying in Huron. And I kinda figured I might be drawing a bulls-eye on my chest, for simply asking this simple question about Hurons City sponsorship of said events. But I thought I explained well enough on my post, that it wasn't a troll for angry words or a reason to knock the decision to move, but just to quantify (in my mind) the reason for doing so.
Everything I personally read or heard about why they were moving the event down the lake, was because the City of Huron didn't seem to care or offer more incentives to stay. I take Steves response and his judgment as the truth and at it's face value, and truly believe Vermillion will treat the boys better monitarily. But I'm forced to fall back on what I have learned personally about the Huron area from two years of fishing it. I simply do not want to make the (longer) drive from my home in Essexville, start over launching from a new area I'm unfamilliar with, when the Huron area has treated me so good (Fish-Wise) in the past, and that's all. Nothing personal... Not fishing for an argument... Not knocking the decision... Just simply wondering about the true/actual motives for moving, thats it.
Edited by walleye express 10/12/2004 3:45 PM
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| It shouldn't be a big deal - the reality is that in the last couple of years people have launched and docked in multiple marinas in the Huron river, at Cranberry Creek which is in between Vermillion and Huron, and at multiple marinas in the Vermillion river. For what it is worth - my boat is still docked at the Huron Boat Basin and I'm staying at The River's Edge motel as I always do (it is basically my Thurs, Fri, Sat night home in the fall). Essentially two things different - the Dinner / Raffle location is going to be in Vermillion and so is the weighin for the bragging rights tournament which just like in years past will allow people to bring fish there in a cooler so if you ramp / dock in Huron you can take the 12 minute drive on route 6 to Vermillion just like the people that have docked / ramped in Vermillion have done for the last couple years. You might very well see me fishing 2 miles WNW of the Huron river next weekend as well. Oh yeah one other thing - JP's Downunder is no longer in business...something about paying taxes, BUT a new place opened up on the river just North of the River's Edge called Spreaders - I highly recommend the food, the beverages and the scenery!
See ya next week!
Steve | |
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Member
Posts: 2680
Location: Essexville, MI./Saginaw Bay. | Steve.
Now that is genuine bad news. JP's had the Biggest/Juicyest/Best tasting Prime Rib I've ever personally made masticating love to.
Edited by walleye express 10/12/2004 7:38 PM
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| Dan
Cool so let's go fishing.By land Vermillion is Maybe 10-15min. from Huron with Cranberry in the middle.I would suggest you take a ride on over, a very nice town and the best part Dens shop is at the other end. Worth the trip just to go there.Was in Spreaders with Steve on Sat.and Sunday and it has my vote great food and drink it will remind you of the Down Under.It's on the North side of the Hotel thats on the Huron basin on the river.But Steve great scenery??Don't tell you fell for that line ( I'm in Pre-Med but I'm taking this semester off) Did the new band ever show up and did they play FreeByrd?Will be in town next Wed.Let's meet for a cold one.Paul | |
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Member
Posts: 2680
Location: Essexville, MI./Saginaw Bay. | Paul.
I've been to dens place last year. My bud Ron took advantage of his 3 for $10.00 Reef Runner sale and dropped a small bundle. Hooked up just today with a new partner and his 2004 22' Lund. Shooting for the 3rd, 4th, 5th of November, with either weather or bad fishing reports being the spoiler. And if so, shooting for the fallowing Wed, Thrus, Fri. He's a police officer and gets those three middle days off each week. Actually kinda nice for highway travel and avoiding fishing crowds.
And Steve, I'd Like to keep in touch with you (if thats O.K.) for some recent reports out front. Was yours the last Ph.# and e-mail address on your report?
Edited by walleye express 10/13/2004 10:12 PM
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| Dan
We have the 5-6-7 on the calendar also and like you we will be looking at the weather.It's getting bad when the people in the toll plaza call you by your first name.Paul | |
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Member
Posts: 2680
Location: Essexville, MI./Saginaw Bay. | Paul/Steve.
If it becomes a go...we'll be at the Rivers Edge as well. And will probably be in the new Spreders Bar each night (if it passes the test) for food and drink. Check with the Motel clerk for a room number and come on up/down/over to chew the (fishing skinny) fat if you'd like. | |
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Huron, Ohio Booster Club Tournament RESULTS