For Immediate Release
Prefishing Pays Off for Clear Lake Duo
By Steve Weisman
Gander Mountain GNWC Publicity Director
Six days of prefishing were definitely worth the effort for the team of
Randy Mumm and Jim Juhlin as they took the Iowa Region opener of the Gander
Mountain Grand National Walleye Cup on Sunday, April 25 at Clear Lake.
Although they only boated four walleyes, their weight of 8.72 pounds
earned them the $1800 winner’s check and the Clear Lake tournament
championship plaques. Their kicker fish weighing 4.04 pounds gave them the
Berkley Trilene Big Fish Award of $400 in Berkley products and separated
them from the rest of the field.
Earning the second place check of $900 with a six-fish limit weighing
7.71 pounds was the team of Denny Miller from Fairfax, IA and Steve Miller
from Cedar Rapids, IA.
Third place went to Jamee Wallingford and Don Poole from Farmington.
Their five walleyes weighed 7.49 pounds good for a $600 check.
With rain until mid-morning and winds increasing to 20 mph out of the
northwest, you would have thought that the teams would try to get out of the
wind. Just the opposite! The best bite was at the east end of the lake where
3-4 foot waves were rolling into the shoreline.
For the winners, it came down to locations gleaned from six days of
prefishing and using an 1/8-ounce jig tipped with a minnow. “We prefished
six days and had six spots to fish,” said Randy. His partner Jim continued,
“When one place died out, we just kept moving.”
The second and third place teams fished in the waves but instead of jig
fishing, they pulled crankbaits. The Millers cranked “the windiest corner of
the lake,” according to Steve. They worked their plugs in 2-5 foot of water
using Shad Raps and Berkley Frenzeys in the lighter, natural color. “It was
funny,” added Steve. “When the crankbaits got into water shallower than two
foot, muskies would hit the cranks. We actually caught three muskies.”
Wallingford and Poole found color made a difference with their
crankbaits. Don noted, “When it was cloudy, the darker colored Shad Raps
worked better, but when the sun came out, the chrome worked better.”
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. The went to Joe and Kathy
Kirk in 13th place; Jesse Rouse and Cory Batterson in 14th place; and Dan
Schnetzler and Ben Thoresen in 15th place.
Al Wittmus and Mike Clarke were the winners of the Gander Mountain “Need
More Stuff” drawing of $200 for a Gander Mountain Shopping Spree.
Gander Mountain GNWC Tournament Director Dean Higgins felt the weather
had an impact on the teams. “The front and the rain definitely changed
things. However, we still had six teams weigh in six-fish limits. What I
thought was really great was the number of family teams. We had 14 family
teams fishing this first tournament of the Iowa Region. That is one of the
many strengths of the Gander Mountain GNWC.”
For complete results of the Clear Lake tournament, check out the Gander
Mountain GNWC website at http://www.walleyecup.com.
Next up for the Iowa teams will be a trip to the Okoboji Chain of Lakes
on Sunday, May 9.
Anglers interested in signing up for a future qualifier or simply
wanting more information on the GNWC circuit can
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 Folding Nets by AMFYOYO, VIB”E” Lure
Company, TowTector Shield and UpNorth Outdoors.com. Iowa Regional sponsors
include Carlson-Sanderson Real Estate, Motor Inn, Inc., and Triggs Bay
Resort.