For Immediate Release
Big ‘Eyes at Red Wing
By Steve Weisman
GNWC Publicity Director
Led by the team of Tom Diercks from Hager, WI and D. J. Siewart from
Lake City, MN and their six-walleye limit weight of 21.32 pounds, a total of
15 teams weighed six-fish limits at Red Wing on Sunday.
“What a great way for the Gander Mountain Grand National Walleye Cup to
start the Minnesota Region!” exclaimed Executive Director Bernie Barringer.
“You needed to have a 6-pound kicker to be near the top.”
For their efforts, Diercks and Siewart pocketed the $1800 first place
check. Second place and a check for $900 went to Corey Bjorgaard and Mark
Smisek from Waterville, MN for their six-fish limit of 19.88 pounds.
The third place team of Tom Johnson and Stan Watkins from Otter Tail, MN
weighed three fish at 19.80 pounds and also took the Berkley Trilene Big
Fish Award of $400 in Berkley products for their 28″ walleye which weighed
7.63 pounds.
Diercks discussed their strategy and success. “We knew going in that we
had a chance to catch 18-20 inch fish at our first spot, which was off the
main bay channel where the Mississippi opens up into Lake Pepin. But we
thought we might have to run to another spot to get that big kicker fish.
Then we caught the 27 incher which was a real bonus for us.”
Diercks and Hager used their kicker motor to troll three-way rigs and
Phelps floaters tipped with a leech. They worked a sand and gravel point in
7-9′ of water. Diercks added, “Orange was probably the best color, but it
wasn’t fast. We would catch a good fish every 45 minutes or so. It was also
a strange mix with lots of tiny saugers along with the bigger walleyes.”
Bjorgaard and Smisek used crankbaits to catch their fish and found the
bright colored Shad Raps worked the best.
Johnson and Watkins popped their three big fish from a backwater area
using bottom bouncers and spinners. Although they had never fished Red Wing
before, they caught a 28″ fish pre-fishing on Saturday. That led to their
7.63-pound Berkley Big Fish of the tournament on Sunday.
Barringer added, “Teams were spread out all over. They were in the
backwater areas, on the river and on the lake. Plus, there were fish caught
on a variety of presentations. This is a great fishery, and we had a lot of
teams figure them out.”
Special awards include the following. The “Yo So Close” award of a Yo
Net folding net valued at $80 was awarded to the three teams that placed out
of the money. Those teams include Jon and David Beise from Red Wing, MN in
14th place; William and Ryan Quinn from Amherst, WI in 15th place; and Chad
Benson and Joe Edlund from Bemidji, MN in 16th place.
Robert and Nic Branshaw from Chippewa Falls, WI won the Gander Mountain
“Need More Stuff” drawing of $200 for a Gander Mountain Shopping Spree.
For complete results of the Red Wing tournament, check out the Gander
Mountain GNWC website at http://www.walleyecup.com.
Next up for the Minnesota teams will be at Rush Lake on Sunday, June 6.
“I think with the quality of anglers we have, along with the waters and the
dates we have chosen for the Minnesota Region that we are going to have an
outstanding year,” concluded Barringer.
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 Gander Mountain 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 UpNorthOutdoors.com.