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| DenHerder, Alverson Win GNWC South Dakota Championship |
$10,000 is quite a payday! That's exactly what the team of Jeff DenHerder from Sioux Falls, SD and Steve Alverson from Chester, SD earned on their way to capturing the South Dakota State Championship of Walleye Fishing title on Sunday, August 28 at Angostura Reservoir.
The South State Championship of Walleye Fishing is the fourth of seven such tournaments on the Grand National Walleye Cup (GNWC) circuit.
DenHerder and Alverson's two-day total weight of 28.31 gave them over a four-pound margin of victory. They pocketed the $4600 first place check, the $4000 Skeeter Boats Award for the top placing team fishing from a Skeeter Boat and for winning the tournament, and the Lowrance "YOU WIN!" award of two Lowrance LMS-332C color sonar/GPS units valued at $1400,
making their total first place winnings worth $10,000.
Second place and a check for $1500 went to the team of Troy Barthel from Tea, SD and Dean Jacobson from Watertown, SD with a two-day weight of 23.67
pounds.
Third place and a check for $800 went to the team of Bryan Gaikowski from Watertown, SD and Mike Dorris from Madison, SD with a two-day weight of
21.23 pounds.
The Cabela's Big Fish Award of a $200 shopping spree and the optional Big Fish Pot of $380 went to the team of Gordon West and Mel Reilching from Watertown, SD.
"The bite this weekend was really a lot better than most people predicted. Pre-fishing was really slow, but we had some really nice fish brought to the scales," said GNWC Tournament Director Greg Liebel. "I really want to thank the community and the Chamber of Commerce in Hot Springs for all that they did for the GNWC."
What a weekend for DenHerder and Alverson, as they took the lead on Saturday with a six-fish limit weight of 19.64 pounds and held it all the way to the end. They pulled plugs in 25 feet of water and found that by using lead core they could get the plugs to hug the bottom and actually bounce off the bottom, which actually helped trigger the fish.
"We started out on Saturday with our limit by 8:30 in the morning. We actually turned back three fish over 20 inches. Our first two fish were over 24 inches," said Alverson.
DenHerder noted that the plug of choice was a Bomber Flat A, but that it was an older model. "It was actually a Specialty Mark Davis color, a green back and a white belly."
Although Sunday was a slower bite, it was still an early one. Alverson said, "We had three in the first hour and a half. Then it went flat calm, and things really shut down."
DenHerder added, "What a weekend. I run a ZX 2050 Skeeter with a 225 hp Yamaha. It's great to win the Championship and the $4000 Skeeter Boats Award."
Barthel and Jacobson also pulled plugs with lead core, but they went with white jointed Shadaps and orange Rip Shads. According to Barthel, the key depth was 20-25 feet of water. "We trolled at 1.5 to 2.0 miles per hour and worked anywhere from 22 to 35 feet of water. Our best bite came between
11 a.m. and 1 p.m."
Gaikowski and Dorris also pulled lead core and crankbaits. However, they felt their bite got better as they downsized and went to #4 and #5 crankbaits. Rip Shads, Tail Dancers and jointed Shad Raps all caught fish.
Dorris said, "There was no one bait that worked best. We caught nine fish on eight different plugs.
Gaikowski added that he tried for suspended fish during pre-fishing. "I would pick one up once in a while, but nothing consistent. It was really a great weekend. It was lots of fun, the weather was good and we're very happy with the way things turned out."
Several other special awards were presented at Sunday's weigh-in.
The "Yo So Close" award of a Yo Net folding net valued at $80 went to the teams that placed just out of the money. They include Dennis Womeldorf from Wall, SD and Shaun Johnson from Pierre, SD in 8th place; Gerald Meyer Carlyle Schliem from Sioux Falls, SD in 9th place; and Doug Iverson from Pierre, SD and Rolfe Behrend from Brookings, SD in 10th place.
The Towtector Comeback Award of a Towtector boat protector valued at over $269 went to the team advancing the most places from the first day to the second day. This award went to the team of Troy Erickson from Rapid City, SD and Ryan Weekly from Pierre, SD, who moved from 12th place on Saturday to 5th place on Sunday. They ended up with a two-day total weight of 12.98 pounds.
The Top Family Angler Award presented by the FoodSource Lure Company of $200 in FoodSource Lures went to Jack and Jim Ellenbecker from Pierre, SD.
Those interested in checking out the standings, reading the releases about any of the seven regions or simply learning more about the circuit can access the GNWC website at www.walleyecup.com.
Major national sponsors for the GNWC include Skeeter Boats, Yamaha Outboards, Lowrance Electronics, YoNet Folding Nets by AMFYOYO, Aqua-VU, Aqua Innovations, Cabela's and UpNorthOutdoors.com. National championship sponsors are Towtector Shield and the FoodSource Lure Corporation. |
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| South Dakota GNWC Teams Compete for Title at Angostura Reservoir |
The top 30 teams on the South Dakota Region of the Grand National Walleye Cup (GNWC) are making final preparations for the South Dakota State Championship of Walleye Fishing which will be held at Angostura Reservoir on August 27-28.
The teams will be competing for a guaranteed $5000 for first place, plus trophies. In addition, the winners will receive the Lowrance "YOU WIN!"
award of two Lowrance LMS-332C color sonar/GPS units valued at $1400, making the total first place purse worth $6400.
Leading the way will be the Yamaha Outboards South Dakota Region Team of the Year Doug Iverson from Pierre, SD and Rolfe Behrend from Brookings, SD.
They ended up 14 points ahead of their nearest competitor.
Angostura is a huge holding reservoir for the Cheyenne River," said GNWC Executive Director Bernie Barringer. "It is an excellent walleye fishery, and I expect to see some quality fish brought to the scales."
Located 10 miles southeast of Hot Springs, Angostura's water levels fluctuate throughout the summer months because it is also used for irrigation purposes. With 36 miles of shoreline, a maximum depth of 75 feet at full capacity, Angostura offers anglers a variety of underwater structures, vast flats, sandy and rocky shorelines.
According to Dave Longacre of Hot Springs, an Angostura regular, who fishes local walleye tournaments each year, Angostura will pose several challenges for the teams.
"Angostura is a great fishing lake. It is low, though, because they are drawing water out for irrigation. However, there is still 50-60 feet of water by the dam and 30 feet off the shale banks. What the teams will have to overcome right now is the incredibly clear water and the fact that Angostura is loaded with shad."
Longacre continued, "The walleyes are there, and they are in great shape. They have plenty of food. It's going to be a matter of figuring out what presentation will match the baitfish. I really think that there will be some big fish brought in."
Although the tournament competition begins on Saturday, August 27, the activities for the South Dakota teams actually begin on Friday evening with the Championship banquet at the Scotty's Roundup.
The South Dakota Championship competition headquarters for take-off and weigh-in will be at the marina at the north end of the lake. Saturday's action begins at 7 a.m. with the opening ceremonies and take-off. Weigh-in will be at 3 p.m. Sunday follows the same time frame with the weigh-in festivities beginning at 3 p.m. Sunday's weigh-in will determine who will walk away with the South Dakota State Championship of Walleye Fishing title.
"We hope to have a good crowd at each day's weigh-in. It is a great way for the public to witness some great fishing action," noted Barringer.
"Weigh-ins begin at 3 p.m. each day. The first day will be a day of positioning, but the second day will be for the title. Plus, on the second day, we will find out from the top teams what strategies they used to catch their fish."
Special awards will be give out at the Championships including the Cabelas Big Fish Award of a $200 shopping spree for the team that catches the largest walleye during the two-day Championships. In addition, an optional Big Fish Pot will go to the team catching the overall big fish during the Championships.
Skeeter Boats is offering an additional $3000 above their GNWC winnings to any owner of a Skeeter boat who wins the Great Plains Championship of Walleye Fishing while fishing in the Skeeter. In addition, the top-finishing Skeeter owner will receive $1000. This extra $1000 is above the $3000 for winning.
YoNet Folding Nets by AMFYOYO will offer the Yo So Close Award of an $80 folding net to the three teams finishing just out of the money.
TowTector, maker of the premium boat protector for towing vehicles, will offer the Towtector Comeback Award of a Towtector Shield valued at $269 for the team advancing the most places from day one to day two.
The FoodSource Lure Company is sponsoring $200 in FoodSource Lures for the top placing family team.
Those interested in checking out the standings, reading the releases about any of the seven regions or simply learning more about the circuit can access the GNWC website at www.walleyecup.com.
Major national sponsors for the GNWC include Skeeter Boats, Yamaha Outboards, Lowrance Electronics, YoNet Folding Nets by AMFYOYO, Aqua-VU, Aqua Innovations, Cabela's and UpNorthOutdoors.com. National championship sponsors are Towtector Shield and the FoodSource Lure Corporation. |
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