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| GNWC Teams Display Versatility at Prairie du Chien Tournament |
Although fog delayed the start of the Iowa Region's final tournament on the Mississippi River at Prairie du Chien for an hour, that didn't stop the 52 competing teams at the Gander Mountain Grand National Walleye Cup (GNWC) qualifier from putting on quite a show.
Leading the way and taking the first place check of $1800 was the team of Terry Green from Mason City, IA and Steve Templeton from Clear Lake, IA with a four walleye limit weight of 14.09 pounds.
Dave Smithburg from Libertyville, IA and Joel Shaw from Fairfield, IA, last year's Iowa Region Team of the Year, cashed the $900 second place check with a weight of 13.59 pounds. They also took the Berkley Trilene Big Fish Award of $400 in Berkley products for their 6.18 pounder.
Third place and a check for $600 went to Dale Kruger and Art Lehrman with 13.51 pounds.
According to Gander Mountain GNWC Tournament Director Dean Higgins, the teams displayed great versatility. "The river dropped a foot on Friday, and that really destroyed a lot of pre-fishing game plans. However, the top teams adjusted and showed the versatility that we have come to expect on the GNWC circuit."
The key for the top three teams was using Bombers with the firetiger color working the best. Green and Templeton stayed in Pool 10 and went from wing dam to wing dam casting Bombers to catch their fish. Smithburg and Shaw also worked wing dams in the same area. Smithburg and Shaw had a slight scare at the weigh-in, however, when Jamie Wallingford and Don Poole from Farmington, IA weighed a 6.17-pound walleye, only .01 smaller than the one Smithburg and Shaw caught for the Berkley Trilene Big Fish Award.
The team of Randy Mumm and Jim Juhlin from Clear Lake used a 9th place finish at Prairie du Chien to lock up the Iowa Team of the Year. "These two guys were tough all year. They started the year off at Clear Lake with a win and never relinquished the lead," noted Higgins.
Other awards were also presented. The "Yo So Close" award of a Yo Net folding net valued at $80 went to the three teams that placed just out of the money. They went to Bob Henderson from Worthington, MN and Matt Johannes from Harris, IA in 14th place; Steve Johnson from Britt, IA and Chad Miller from Allison, IA in 15th place; and Brian Kemp from Des Moines, IA and George Schaefers from Wadena, IA in 16th place.
Darrelle and Mary Hinderaker from Lake Mills, IA were the winners of the Gander Mountain "Need More Stuff" drawing of $200 for a Gander Mountain Shopping Spree.
For complete results of the Prairie du Chien tournament, check out the Gander Mountain GNWC website at www.walleyecup.com.
Next up on the Iowa Region will be the Iowa State Championship of Walleye Fishing at Big Spirit Lake on September 11-12. "If the action we have seen on the Iowa circuit this year is any indication, I know that the Championships will be quite a show," added Higgins.
Anglers interested in wanting more information on the GNWC circuit can call 1-800-890-FISH (3474), or they can email the GNWC at [email protected].
Title Sponsor for the GNWC is Gander Mountain. Other major national sponsors include Skeeter Boats, Yamaha Outboards, the Sportsman Channel, Berkley, Aqua Innovations, YoNet Folding Nets by AMFYOYO, VIB"E" Lure Company, TowTector Shield and UpNorthOutdoors.com. Iowa Regional sponsors include Carlson-Sanderson Real Estate, Motor Inn, Inc., and Triggs Bay Resort. |
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| Prairie du Chien Tournament Set for July 25 |
The fourth and final qualifier for the Iowa Region of the Gander Mountain Grand National Walleye Cup (GNWC) is scheduled for Sunday, July 25 on the Mississippi River at Prairie du Chien.
According to GNWC Tournament Director Dean Higgins, the Prairie du Chien tournament had originally scheduled for Sunday, June 20, but there was extreme flooding that week, causing the date to be moved to July 25.
Higgins continued, "Although we have moved the date to Sunday, July 25, everything else remains the same. There is a lot at stake because this will be the final shot for these teams to claim a State Championship berth in mid-September at Spirit Lake and a National Championship berth at Lake of the Woods in October."
Also on the line is the title of Iowa Region Team of the Year. Currently, Randy Mumm and Jim Juhlin from Clear Lake, IA hold a 9 point lead over their nearest competitors Jesse Roush from Clive, IA and Cory Batterson from Pleasant Hill, IA.
Pre-fishing will most likely find the teams locking up and down to different pools and working the wing dams. Another key will be the stability of the water levels. "The possibility for big baskets of fish coming to the scales are very real," said Higgins.
Openings still exist for the Prairie du Chien qualifier, and interested anglers are encouraged to 1-800-890-FISH (3474), or email the GNWC at [email protected]. The tournament director will have the trailer at Villa Louis Park from 6-8 p.m. the evening before the tournament (July 24) to take late entries and answer questions.
Teams are to meet at Villa Louis Park between 6-6:30 the morning of the tournament for registration and mandatory boat check.
Take-off is at 7 a.m. with the weigh-in commencing at 3 p.m. sharp. "It will be interesting seeing what happens at this final qualifier. There is a lot of competition for one of the 30 slots in the State Championship. This will also be a great opportunity for the public to see and hear what worked for these teams during the competition," added Higgins.
Anglers interested in checking out the standings, reading the releases about any of the eight regions or simply learning more about the circuit can access the Gander Mountain GNWC website at www.walleyecup.com.
Title Sponsor for the GNWC is Gander Mountain. Other major national sponsors include Skeeter Boats, Yamaha Outboards, the Sportsman Channel, Berkley, Aqua Innovations, YoNet Folding Nets by AMFYOYO, VIB"E" Lure Company, TowTector Shield and UpNorthOutdoors.com. Iowa Regional sponsors include Carlson-Sanderson Real Estate, Motor Inn, Inc., and Triggs Bay Resort. |
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| Prairie du Chien Tournament Rescheduled for July 25 |
The fourth and final qualifier for the Iowa Region of the Gander Mountain Grand National Walleye Cup (GNWC) originally scheduled for Sunday, June 20 at Prairie du Chien has been postponed until Sunday, July 25.
According to GNWC Tournament Director Dean Higgins, recent flooding has put most of the boat access areas under water, and DNR officials expect them all to be under water by Saturday. "I have been monitoring the flood level of the Mississippi River very closely," said Higgins. "The river is already higher than they originally predicted, and it is not a good situation for tournament conditions. We wanted to let the teams know as soon as possible so that they can adjust their own schedules."
Higgins continued, "Although we have moved the date to Sunday, July 25, everything else remains the same. There is a lot at stake because this will be the final shot for these teams to claim a Regional Championship berth in mid-September at Spirit Lake and a National Championship berth at Lake of the Woods in October."
Also on the line is the title of Iowa Region Team of the Year. Currently, Randy Mumm and Jim Juhlin from Clear Lake, IA hold a 9 point lead over their nearest competitors Jesse Rousch from Clive, IA and Cory Batterson from Pleasant Hill, IA.
Openings still exist for the Prairie du Chien qualifier, and interested anglers are encouraged to 1-800-890-FISH (3474), or email the GNWC at [email protected]. As always, the tournament director will have the trailer at Villa Louis Park from 6-8 p.m. the evening before the tournament (July 24) to take late entries and answer questions.
Teams are to meet at Villa Louis Park between 6-6:30 the morning of the tournament for registration and mandatory boat check.
Take-off is at 7 a.m. with the weigh-in commencing at 3 p.m. sharp. Anglers interested in checking out the standings, reading the releases about any of the eight regions or simply learning more about the circuit can access the Gander Mountain GNWC website at www.walleyecup.com.
Title Sponsor for the GNWC is Gander Mountain. Other major national sponsors include Skeeter Boats, Yamaha Outboards, the Sportsman Channel, Berkley, Aqua Innovations, YoNet Folding Nets by AMFYOYO, VIB"E" Lure Company, TowTector Shield and UpNorthOutdoors.com. Iowa Regional sponsors include Carlson-Sanderson Real Estate, Motor Inn, Inc., and Triggs Bay Resort. |
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