Molengraaf, Valentz Win Lake Thompson Tournament
By Steve Weisman
Grand National Walleye Cup Publicity Director
One big walleye made all the difference for the team of Kevin Molengraaf
from White, SD and Lewis Valentz from Volga, SD as they captured the second
tournament on the South Dakota Region of the Grand National Walleye Cup
(GNWC) held Sunday, May 8 at Lake Thompson.
Their lone walleye weighed 5.82 pounds and not only earned them the
$1525 first place check but also the Cabela’s Big Fish Award of a $200
Cabela’s shopping spree.
Second place and a check of $825 went to the team of Craig Salor and
Matt Walters from Madison, SD with one walleye weighing 5.38 pounds.
Bryan Gaikowski from Watertown, SD and Mike Dorris from Madison, SD took
third place and a check for $675 with a three-fish weight of 3.55 pounds.
“This was really a tough tournament. The up and down weather has
definitely had an effect on these fish,” said GNWC Tournament Director Greg
Liebel. “Yesterday, we had gusts up to 60 mph. Today, the temperatures
dropped to the upper 50s with southeast winds at 20 mph. It was just plain a
tough bite. Plus, everybody had to battle slime that would get all over the
baits.”
After casting crankbaits with no success, Molengraaf and Valentz went to
trolling jointed Shad Raps with lead core line and picked up the winning
fish in the early afternoon.
Salor and Walters had one plan in mind and stayed with it the entire
day. During pre-fishing, they found big walleyes moving through an area of
submerged, dead cottonwood trees. So, they tied to a tree and worked jig and
minnow combinations the entire tournament, because they knew that sooner or
later, they would get their opportunity.
The third place team turned to pulling Lindy rigs tipped with either a
minnow or nightcrawler. Knowing that this presentation would be tough
because of the slime, they tied a rubber band on the knot in front of the
hook to keep the bait clean.
The Yo So Close Award, provided by AMFYOYO, manufacturer of the
innovative stowable folding landing net, went to the three teams just
finishing out of the money. They include Darold Swank and Flo Swank from
Pierre, SD; Richard Ness and Phil Schelhaas from Ruthton, MN; Jack
Ellenbecker and Jim Ellenbecker from Pierre, SD.
In the race for the “Yamaha Team of the Year” honors in the South Dakota
Region, Todd Hight from Pierre, SD and Ron Gunn from Ft. Pierre, SD hold a
three point lead over Doug Iverson from Pierre, SD and Rolfe Behrend from
Brookings, SD. Hight and Gunn placed fifth in the first tournament and
fourth at the Lake Thompson Tournament to take the lead.
Next up on the South Dakota Region is the Bitter Lake Tournament on
Sunday, June 12. For those interested in entering this or any of the
remaining qualifiers, call 1-800-890-FISH (3474), or email the GNWC at
[email protected].
GNWC Executive Director Bernie Barringer said, “We welcome folks to
check our website at http://www.walleyecup.com. Results from tournaments in all
seven regions are posted, along with press releases for upcoming
tournaments.”
Major national sponsors for the GNWC include Skeeter Boats, Yamaha
Outboards, Lowrance Electronics, YoNet Folding Nets by AMFYOYO, Aqua-VU,
Aqua Innovations, Cabela’s and UpNorthOutdoors.com. National championship
sponsors are Towtector Shield and the VIB”E” Lure Company.