For Immediate Release
Lake Bemidji Next Stop for Minnesota Teams
By Steve Weisman
GNWC Publicity Director
The third tournament for the Minnesota Region of the Gander Mountain
Grand National Walleye Cup (GNWC) is set for Sunday, June 27 on Lake
Bemidji.
With over 6400 surface acres and excellent water clarity, Lake Bemidji
promises to be a challenge for the Minnesota teams as they position
themselves to make a run at qualifying for the Minnesota Regional
Championships on Big Stone Lake, September 18-19.
According to DNR officials, Lake Bemidji has had good recruitment every
year through natural reproduction. Two of the stronger year classes are the
1999-year class which is now in the 15-19 inch category, along with the
2001-year class which is in now approaching 13 inches. DNR surveys also show
that Lake Bemidji has good numbers of trophy walleyes.
Gander Mountain GNWC Executive Director Bernie Barringer sees the Lake
Bemidji tournament as a pivotal one for the teams in the Minnesota Region.
“We’re already at the third tournament, so these teams are beginning to
position themselves for a shot at the Minnesota Regional Championship to be
held at Big Stone Lake September 18-19.”
As the teams put their game plan together, they will need to take water
clarity into consideration. A overcast day will most likely allow the
walleyes to come up on the shallower bars, while a bright, sunny day will
most like drive the fish into deeper water.
Openings still exist for the Lake Bemidji qualifier and Barringer
encourages interested anglers to contact him at 1-800-890-FISH (3474), or
email the GNWC at [email protected].
According to Barringer, competing teams should be at Cameron Park
between 6-6:30 Sunday morning to sign in and participate in mandatory boat
inspections. However, the tournament director will have the GNWC trailer at
the check-in site from 6-8 p.m. on Saturday evening to answer questions and
to take any late registrations. Host bait shop will be Gander Mountain.
The tournament hours are 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Weigh-in begins precisely at 3
p.m., with awards to follow. “We’ve got a great circuit going in Minnesota,
and I hope people come out to the weigh-in to see what these teams can do.
The weigh-in is a great time to not only see the fish that come to the
scale, but to also learn what the walleyes are biting on,” added Barringer.
Heading into the Lake Bemidji tournament, Corey Bjorgaard from Inver
Grove Heights, MN and David Domonoski from Waterville, MN are 11 points
ahead of their nearest competitor in the race for the Minnesota Region Team
of the Year.
Anglers interested in checking out the standings, reading the releases
about any of the eight regions or simply learning more about the circuit can
access the Gander Mountain GNWC website at http://www.walleyecup.com.
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.