GNWC Indian Lake

[Bernie]

I would like to welcome everyone to the Indian lake qualifier on the Gander Mountaiin Grand National Walleye Cup this weekend.

To give you some background on the GNWC, it's a series of four qualifiers and a state championship in eight divisions. This is the first year for an Ohio division and it presents some terrific opportunities. This is a walleye circuit built for the weekend warrior with a $210 entry fee so it's affordable. Two person teams per boat, so that's $105 per person. You can fish just the individual tournaments or you can compete in as many as you like. Individual tourneys pay the winner around $1200-$1500. The top 30 get invited to the state championship where the winner will pocket around $4000 or so depending on how many teams fish throughout the season. State and national championships are televised on the Walleye Wisdom TV show.

You must declare at the beginning of the year if you want to be a state team or a national team. It costs you a one time fee of $100 to be a national team and that money goes right into the national pot. THe top 15 national teams from each state are invited to fish in the national championship where the winner will get $56,000 in cash and prizes. This is where the opportunity comes in. Right now we have 11 teams signed up as national teams and we do not have the full field of 30 fishing them all so all you have to do is show up to slam dunk both the state and national championships!

This is an opportunity that won't come along again and if you are at all interested in getting started in walleye tournament fishing this is where you get in!!

If you have more questions about the Gander Mountain GNWC, you can call us at 800-890-3474 or see us online at www.walleyecup.com e-mail me at info@walleyecup.com

Our first event is at Indian Lake April 4 and we an still get you in, give me a call or an e-mail right away. Spectators are welcome to watch the weigh-ins at the Lakeview boat ramp at 3:00 pm on Sunday. See you there!

Bernie Barringer
Tournament director

[Links r Us]

I wish you success in the 1st event for the GNWC Ohio tour...I'm old n' over the hill & don't tourney fish anymore, but became a GNWC member this year to support the sport of Eye-Fishin'

Good Luck!!!:)

[Links r Us]

By Steve Weisman
Gander Mountain GNWC Publicity Director

Up against classic cold front conditions that shut down a good pre-tournament bite, the team of John Clark from Dayton, OH and Marc Colwell from Springfield, OH made the most of their 5.84-pound walleye to win the Ohio Region's first qualifier as the Gander Mountain Grand National Walleye Cup (GNWC) kicked off its 2004 season at Indian Lake on Sunday, April 4.

In addition to cashing the first place $1000 check, Clark and Colwell walleye was also the big fish of the tournament and earned them the Berkley Trilene Big Fish Award of $400 in Berkley products.

Second place and a check for $500 went to Chris and Matt Sands from Union, OH with one fish weighing 2.59 pounds.

Mike and Tom Defibaugh from Bellefountaine, OH took third place and a check for $400 with a weight of 2.54 pounds.

The "Yo So Close" award of a Yo Net folding net valued at $80 went to the team of Charles Hill and John Hill from Exenia, OH for being the team that just finished out of the money.

A special series of awards came from David Calhoun, owner of Boat Boys, the official Ohio Regional Skeeter Boats sponsor. Calhoun handed out $2500 in Skeeter Boats certificates to the top placing teams toward the purchase of a new Skeeter boat or toward accessories. "This is really an exciting opportunity for our Ohio GNWC teams because Boat Boys will be giving out these certificates at all four Ohio qualifying tournaments," said Gander Mountain GNWC Executive Director Bernie Barringer.

Meanwhile, the Gander Mountain "Need More Stuff" drawing of $200 for a Gander Mountain Shopping Spree went to Todd Kunk from St. Henry, OH and Adam Harlament from Cold Water, OH.

"This was a walleye tournament for the hardy!" exclaimed Barringer. "The teams showed great determination to scratch together a few fish under very difficult circumstances. Everybody had a fear that this might happen. Indian Lake is a very good walleye fishery, but it is also a shallow basin and a cold front like we experienced today totally shut the fish down."

With temperatures plummeting into the 30s and strong northwest winds, the teams worked extremely hard to trigger the neutral walleyes. Clark and Colwell felt the need to cover water and trolled Reef Runner Rip Shads, while the Sands duo caught their fish vertical jigging with a chartreuse jig and minnow combination by Orchard Island. The Defibaugh team also used a jig and minnow, but spent their time slowly dragging the bait in 12 foot of water.

The Ohio teams now have two weeks to prepare for their second qualifier, which will be held on Sunday, April 18 Alum Creek.

Anglers interested in signing up for a future qualifier or simply wanting more information on the GNWC circuit can call 1-800-890-FISH (3474), or they can email the GNWC at info@walleyecup.com.


Title Sponsor for the GNWC is Gander Mountain with other major national sponsors including Skeeter Boats, Yamaha Outboards, the Sportsman Channel, Berkley, Aqua Innovations, YoNet, VIB"E" Lure Company, TowTector Shield and UpNorth Outdoors.com. The Ohio Regional Skeeter Boats sponsor is Boat Boys out of Newark, OH.

Cutline: (L to R) Jon Clark and Mark Colwell show their winning fish. At right is "Bo" Bowman, tournament director.

http://www.walleyecup.com/press_release/indianlake1.html

[Bernie]

Here are some pics:
http://www.boatboys.com/walleye4-04-2004.htm