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| I.O.W.A. Teams Make Plans for Storm Lake
By Steve Weisman
I.O.W.A. Publicity Director
Excitement is running high for the I.O.W.A. Team Walleye Tournament teams as they prepare for one of the hottest walleye lakes in the state: Storm Lake. Scheduled for Sunday, May 15, this should be prime time! “Storm Lake is a great walleye fishery,” said Dean Higgins, executive director for the I.O.W.A. trail. “The dredging process and the slot size limit have both helped rejuvenate the lake. Last year we had 27 teams weigh five-fish limits, but with our new catch, measure, photo and release format, I look for even greater things this year!”
Hosted by King’s Pointe Resort, the Storm Lake qualifier is the second of four qualifying tournaments on the I.O.W.A. circuit. The fishing competition itself runs from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. The weigh-in becomes a highlight for each team. “For this tournament, we’ll be holding the weigh-in in the Grand Ballroom at King’s Pointe Resort. By the time the teams arrive, the weigh-in will commence at approximately 3:30 p.m.”
Higgins continued, “This will be a great place for the public to witness the new weigh-in process. At our first tournament at Five Island, we had over 150 people come to the weigh-in at the Wild Rose Casino. We’re hoping to get another great crowd at King’s Pointe.”
Just as at the Five Island weigh-in, this means the opportunity for spectators to sit in comfort at King’s Pointe Resort’s Grand Ballroom. Snapshots of measured fish will be projected on large screens, which will allow the crowd to actually see the six best fish that each team chose to measure. “Each team will get to measure and photo all fish caught and select the best six fish for the weigh-in. Those slot fish and those over-fish can now be counted for the weigh-in. The teams will quickly measure, photo and quickly release the fish safely back in the water. Being able to see these fish makes for one great weigh-in,” added Higgins.
In addition to the usual payout based on entries, there will be several awards on the line.
Lund Boats will offer a $500 Lund Boat Bonus for the highest placing team fishing out of a Lund boat, the Wright County Motors $500 cash bonus and the King’s Point drawing with the winning team getting 2-one-night’s lodging at King’s Pointe Resort. Year-long races include The Humminbird Team of the Year Award and The MinnKota Runner-Up Team of the Year Award.
To learn more about the I.O.W.A. circuit, check out the I.O.W.A. website (www.walleyepromotions.com), which contains all the rules, registration, schedule, special awards, contact information and sponsors. Interested anglers can call (515) 571-1085 or email Dean Higgins at [email protected].
I.O.W.A. corporate sponsors include Lund Boats, MinnKota, Humminbird, Berkley, FCIS Anglers Choice Insurance of Forest City, Brightwells Boathouse, King's Pointe Resort of Storm Lake and Wright County Motors of Belmond and Clarion.
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