For Immediate Release
Osborn, Kasak Take Gander Mountain Grand National Walleye Cup Opener at
Detroit River
By Steve Weisman
Gander Mountain GNWC Publicity Director
Sticking to a traditional Detroit River presentation, the team of Dennis
Osborn from Warren, MI and Kevin Kasak from Sterling Heights, MI weighed a
six-fish limit of 22.47 pounds to take first place at the Gander Mountain
Grand National Walleye Cup’s Michigan Region opener, Sunday, April 25.
According to Gander Mountain GNWC Tournament Director Gary Bowman,
walleyes were caught on the Detroit River tournament in three distinctly
different areas. “We had teams catch walleyes on the American side and the
Canadian side of the Detroit River and even on a portion of Lake Erie.
That’s what is so great about this fishery. We are in close proximity to
such great fishing areas that it allows anglers the privilege of being able
to catch quality fish almost any time of the year.”
Using a chartreuse 5/8-ounce jig and a 3″ Detroit River Rubber Worm,
Osborn and Kasak worked their magic to capture the $1400 first place check.
According to Osborn and Kasak, they worked the south end of the Detroit
River vertical jigging off a drop in 16-30 foot of water. Kasak said, “We
just had a ball, and just caught lots of fish.”
Second place and a check for $700 went to Steve Carlson from Oak Harbor,
OH and Jim Stebke from Wapak, OH with four fish weighing 20.28 pounds.
However, they made a 70-mile round trip run to fish between Lake Erie’s
Lucky Point and Kelly’s Island. “It was definitely a gamble,” noted Bowman,
“but it paid off with four quality fish. I knew that they had been on big
fish during pre-fishing, but last night’s storm shut down their big fish.”
Carlson and Stebke pulled blue/silver, green/silver and red/silver Reef
Runners 35-50 feet behind planer boards. However, the key was to pull the
Reef Runners between .8 and 1.2 mph.
Hand-lining #7, #9 and #11 Rapalas on the Canadian side of the Detroit
River helped the team of Mike Jurik from Saginaw, MI and Paul Curmi from
Belleville, MI weigh a 6-fish limit of 18 and a half pounds to take the
third place $520 check. They used a 30-foot top lead with a 15-foot bottom
lead and worked into the current at less than 1 mph in 18-25 foot of water
to catch their fish.
“Three different presentations in three different areas,” added Bowman.
“That is what makes this area such a great fishery.”
Meanwhile, Bert Murlich and Bret Bremer from Saginaw, MI took the
Berkley Trilene Big Fish Award of $400 in Berkley products for their
7.09-pound walleye taken vertical jigging with a Detroit River Rubber Worm.
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. Tim Brewer and Steven
Slivoski placed 11th; Bert Murlich and Bret Bremer finished 12th; and Ryan
and Robert Lescoe finished in 13th place.
John Fletcher and Frank Madjecke were the winners of the Gander Mountain
“Need More Stuff” drawing of $200 for a Gander Mountain Shopping Spree.
For complete results of the Detroit River tournament, check out the
Gander Mountain GNWC website at http://www.walleyecup.com.
Next up for the Michigan teams will be a trip to Muskegon to fish Lake
Muskegon and the waters of Lake Michigan on Sunday, May 23.
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 [email protected].
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.