Johnson, Watkins Take Minnesota Region Team of the Year by 1 point
By Steve Weisman
GNWC Publicity Director
What a finish for the Minnesota Region of the Gander Mountain Grand
National Walleye Cup (GNWC)! The fourth qualifier at Lake Vermilion on
Sunday, August 1 settled the Team of the Year honors with only 1 point
separating the top three teams!
Tom Johnson and Stan Watkins from Ottertail, MN used a fifth place
finish at Lake Vermilion to end the season with 37 points and take the Team
of the Year honors. Tied for second with 38 points were the teams of Tim
Hinrichs from Bemidji, MN and Jeff Puttnam from Dassel, MN and Corey
Bjorgaard from Inver Grove, MN and David Domonoske from Waterville, MN.
“It doesn’t get any closer than this. Tom and Stan were 12 points back
heading into Lake Vermilion. It was just plain an unbelievable finish,”
exclaimed Gander Mountain GNWC Executive Director Bernie Barringer.
Winning the Lake Vermilion Tournament itself was the father-son team of
Mike and Johnny Neisen from St. Paul, MN. They weighed a four walleye limit
weight of 13.82 pounds and cashed a check for $1600.
Taking second and a check for $800 was the team of Tony Nigon from
Zumbrota, MN and P J Smith from Tow, MN. Their four fish limit weighed 12.44
pounds.
Joe Panichi from Buyck, MN and Jason Panichi from Cook, MN took third
place and a check for $520 with a weight of 12.22 pounds.
Gene Johnson from Side Lake, MN and Tim Rasch from Hibbing, MN brought
home the Berkley Trilene Big Fish Award of $400 in Berkley products for
their 6.21-pound walleye.
“This was one of those hit and miss tournaments. Lake Vermilion is so
huge that if you didn’t get the fish dialed in during pre-fishing, you knew
it was really going to be tough today,” said Barringer. “Lake Vermilion is
an incredible fishery that gives you a real North Woods feel. I’d like to
thank the community and Timbuktu Resort for welcoming the GNWC anglers to
their community.”
The winning father-son team of Mike and Johnny Neisen found success
fishing 14′ to 20′ water in Big Bay. They fished Lindy Rigs and live bait
while working the rocks and breaklines.
Nigon and Smith, meanwhile, fished a current area between two islands
and drifted slip bobbers and live bait through the current area.
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 Lee Mendenhall from New Richland, MN and
Gary Nordlie from Owatonna, MN in 12th place; Ronald and Brian Swanson from
Osceola, WI in 13th place; and Scott Hale from Stillwater, MN and Dave Hale
from Sommerset, WI in 14th place.
Meanwhile, Tony LeBlanc from St Cloud, MN and Mark Mikota from Breezy
Point, MN won the Gander Mountain “Need More Stuff” drawing of $200 for a
Gander Mountain Shopping Spree.
For complete results of the Lake Vermilion tournament, check out the
Gander Mountain GNWC website at http://www.walleyecup.com.
Next up for the Minnesota Region will be Minnesota State Championship of
Walleye Fishing at Big Stone Lake on September 18-19. “The Minnesota Region
has shown great growth this year. These teams competed extremely hard on
some of the best bodies of water in Minnesota. I look forward to seeing the
top teams in the Minnesota GNWC go after the Minnesota State Championship at
Big Stone,” added Barringer.
Anglers interested in 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.
. Hopefully this is a sign of bigger and better thing to come! Thanks again.
See you guys next year!