 |  |  | MWC Photo Hollingsworth and Navis pull some hogs at Henderson Harbor, NY |
Henderson Harbor, NY - New Yorkers Bob Hollingsworth (Kenmore) and Jim Navis (Grand Island) weighed an amazing eight walleye catch totaling 67.26 lbs., an 8.40-lb. average, to win the Cabela's Masters Walleye Circuit East Division opener. They collected $6,800 for their first MWC victory. The North American Fishing Club titled event was held on Lake Ontario at Henderson Harbor, NY, May 22-23. It was the first visit by a major professional team walleye circuit to the eastern United States.
Hollingsworth explained, "We caught only two walleyes in five days of pre-fishing. The air and water temperatures were going up and down like a yo-yo. It was the same for the wind and it rained off and on every day. It wasn't much better during the tournament. It was tough out there but we located some walleyes holding under a huge pod of baitfish on a reef in Chaumont Bay."
"You just had to keep working them because they had all they could eat right in front of them. We trolled stick baits from in-line planer boards in 22 to 25 feet of water but the fish we caught were just eight feet below the surface. Because the water was so clear, the outside boards were let out 200 to 230 feet and the inside boards at 160 to 180 feet with the lures up to 150 feet behind the boards. Six of the fish came on the outside boards." Navis continued, "Our trolling speed was about 1� miles per hour. We used different lure colors-perch, black/purple and a glow pattern tied to ten-pound test mono line. We added a nightcrawler to the rear treble hooks, which gave the lures a little different action and odor. I believe the key to our win was the wide spread of our boards. The water was clear and the walleyes were high in the water column. When our boat passed over the fish, they flared to the sides and into our lures."
Second place finishers were Steve Gould (Watertown, NY) and Chris Monica (Adams, NY) with four fish weighing 31.46 lbs. worth $3,720. Tim Waltz (Williamsport, PA) and Ed Engler (Salladasburg, PA) pocketed $2,240 for their third place finish. Paul Kemery (Russell, PA) and Alan Baumgardner (White Hall, MD) were fourth at 18.86 lbs. picking up $1,490. Fifth place and $750 went to George Landsberger (East Palastine, OH) and William Burns (Salineville, OH). All of these teams used similar techniques as the winners. The top 5 teams shared the $15,000 cash purse.
An additional $1,200 was paid in big fish prize money. Paul Kemery and Alan Baumgardner took day one honors and $600 for their 10.49 lb.walleye, while Ernie Brown (Werners, NY) and John Delap (Bridgeport, NY) earned the same amount the second day with the largest fish of the tournament, an 11.21 pounder. Mike Kalafut (Uniontown, PA), fishing with Dave Show (Hopwood, PA) won $1,000 for the highest finishing Ranger Boat owner in the Ranger Cup series. They finished seventh with 16.22 lbs.
Teams donated $465 to the MWC Conservation Fund which will be used for fishery related projects in states where MWC tournaments are held.
Tournament Statistics
Number of teams: 31
Number of fish: 40
Total cash and prizes: $17,200
Total weight: 304.88 lbs.
Water temp: 59 to 63 degrees
Big fish: 11.21 lbs.
Water level: Normal
Winning pattern: Trolling crankbaits
Water clarity: To ten feet
Inside tip: Wide spread of boards
Excitement was evident from the new East Division anglers for continued Masters Walleye Circuit tournaments in their region. Openings exist in the remaining 2004 MWC tournaments. Entry fee is $600 per team. Further tournament information can be obtained at www.masterswalleyecircuit.com, or by calling the MWC toll-free at 877-893-7947. |
