Walleye teams on the Iowa Region of the Grand National Walleye Cup are busy making final preparations for the season opener on the Mississippi River at Marquette on Sunday, April 10.
"This is the beginning of a great season for the Iowa teams," said GNWC Executive Director Bernie Barringer. "The Mississippi River around the Marquette area is an excellent walleye fishery. There are big walleyes to be taken."
According to the DNR, the water temperature is currently in the lower 40s with the river slowly rising as the snowpak melts to the north. The walleye bite has been most consistent in the tailwater area with a jig and minnow working the best. However, as the water continues to warm, anglers will begin working the wing dams and trolling crankbaits using three-way rigs.
The tournament director will have the trailer at the Isle of Capri Marina from 6-8 p.m. the evening before the tournament to take late entries and answer questions. Take-off is at 7 a.m. with the weigh-in commencing at
3 p.m. sharp at the Isle of Capri Marina.
"This is a great opportunity for the general public to see what fishing tournaments are all about. I think they will find the weigh-in to be both exciting and informational. We will have a couple of Aqua-Vu underwater cameras set up in our release tanks so that the public can see how they work. The audience will also get to hear from the teams and find out what presentations and tactics worked to trigger the fish. This is a great way to learn about taking walleyes on the Mississippi River," added Barringer.
For those interested in entering, the entry fee remains at $210 per team for each tournament. Openings do still exist for the Marquette qualifier, and Barringer encourages interested anglers to contact him at 1-800-890-FISH (3474), or email the GNWC at [email protected]. "I also encourage people to check out our website at www.walleyecup.com and see what the Grand National Walleye Cup is all about," added Barringer.
Major national sponsors for the GNWC include Skeeter Boats, Yamaha Outboards, Lowrance Electronics, YoNet Folding Nets by AMFYOYO, Aqua-VU, Aqua Innovations, Towtector Shield, VIB"E" Lure Company and UpNorthOutdoors.com. Iowa Region sponsors include Carlson-Sanderson Real Estate, Motor Inn, Inc., and Triggs Bay Resort. |
