For Immediate Release
Illinois GNWC Teams Battle Rising Waters at Fox Chain of Lakes
By Steve Weisman
Gander Mountain GNWC Publicity Director
Sunday’s flood waters brought an early and abrupt end to the Fox Chain
of Lakes tournament at the Gander Mountain Grand National Walleye Cup’s
third qualifier on the Illinois Region. Officials held the start back an
hour and a half and then as the waters continued to rise, called the teams
back for a 1 p.m. weigh-in.
Cashing the first place $1000 check was the team of Marc Dunn from Zion,
IL and Bill Adcock from Burlington, WI with four fish weighing 5.58 pounds.
They also took home the $400 Berkley Big Fish Award in Berkley products for
their 1.96-pound walleye.
Second place and a check for $500 went to Bob Schine from Crystal Lake,
IL and Jasen Schine from Lake Villa, IL with a four-fish basket weight of
5.54 pounds.
Scott Roehk and Jim Bonjour from Davenport, IA took home the third place
check of $420 with four fish weighing 4.87 pounds.
With the tough fishing conditions, the top teams turned to a jig
presentation to catch their fish. According to GNWC Executive Director
Bernie Barringer, the week was a tough one. “This weather really made things
difficult. From mid-week it was almost hour to hour whether we would have
the tournament or not. Then this morning we waited until almost 8:30 because
the word from the officials was we would not be able to have the tournament.
Then they let us go, but then a couple of hours later they returned to tell
us we had to get our teams back because the river had been closed down.”
Barringer continued, “I was able to get the officials to let us wait
until 1 o’clock. However, it was a tough situation all the way around. These
teams deserve a lot of credit for making something positive happen under
very, very tough conditions.”
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 Jim and Brian Wahl in 10th place; Andrew
Krazanik and Chris Desmond in 11th place; and Vincent Rizzo and Tim Shales
in 12th place.
John and Michelle Lass won the Gander Mountain “Need More Stuff” drawing
of $200 for a Gander Mountain Shopping Spree.
With their second place finish, Bob and Jasen Schine have taken the lead
in the race for the Illinois Gander Mountain GNWC Team of the Year. The
final tournament for the Illinois circuit will be on the Mississippi River
at Albany on Sunday, July 11.
Complete results of this tournament or any tournament on the Gander
Mountain GNWC can be found at http://www.walleyecup.com.
Anglers interested in signing up for the final 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. Other major national
sponsors include Skeeter Boats, Yamaha Outboards, the Sportsman Channel,
Berkley, Aqua Innovations, YoNet Folding Nets by AMFYOYO, VIB”E” Lure
Company, TowTector Shield and UpNorthOutdoors.com.