IWT results 4/14/07

The Illinois Walleye Trail’s fourth tournament of the 2007 season was held on Saturday April 14, 2007 in Spring Valley Illinois.

Teams from Indiana and Illinois found the Illinois River had approached the flood stage again this spring on Saturday but the water clarity had remained fairly good (8-10 inches) with very little trash in the river. Surface water temps were 47 degrees with north northeast winds.

The brother team of Gary Merkel and Bruce Merkel from Spring Valley found active fish on the St Bede flats with crank baits on three ways. Their six fish limit of 10.13 pounds earned them a check for 995.00. Placing second from Melrose Park, Illinois was Jason Wrosch and partner Anthony Loresch with 9.42 pounds earning them a check for 610.00. Third place honors from Lansing Illinois was Dan Grapethien and partner Joe Goetz, Crown Point, Indiana with 8.78 pounds for 455.00. The Lund Bonus winners for this tournament was Mark Actis and Mark Actis Jr. from Spring Valley as the first Lund Boat owners in the money for a 100.00, Certificate compliments of Hennepin Marine. Big Fish honors went to the team of John Mannerino of Chicago and Mark Michael of Spring Valley with a 3.02 pound Sauger. We would like to Thank our fine Sponsors Lund Boats, Hennepin Marine, Mercury Marine, and Cabelas for all there support.

Complete results can be located at http://www.prairielandeyes.com
Upcoming Adult Youth Walleye Tournament on June 3, 2007 information can be found at http://www.hennepinmarine.com or http://www.prairielandeyes.com entry fees due in by May 15, 2007

Thanks Bob. Man that Illinois River has seen several floods this spring. Does it normally flood that many times each spring?
Thanks, Bill

Bill,
This has been a tough year and differnt. Normally in the fall we have low water and no current. This year we flooded in Dec. and never recovered from that. About the time it would get down to be fishable Mother Nature would dump on us again. The silver lining in the cloud is when we have high water in the spring we get a good spawn and the hatch gets plenty of cover for survial. This should make the river great in the future years.
Thanks Bob

Yes it certainly should be a good spawn this spring. And you guys definately paid your dues so to speak to get it. A few years down the road and you will reap the benefits. What is the main forage on the river there?
Thanks, Bill