I.O.W.A. State Championship Slated for Big Spirit and East Okoboji on October 13-14
By Steve Weisman I.O.W.A. Publicity Director A $3500 first place purse is on the line for the 34 qualifiers competing at the Iowa Organization of Walleye Anglers (I.O.W.A.) two-day State Championship to be held on both Big Spirit and East Okoboji on October 13-14.
“The I.O.W.A State Championship will be held on both Big Spirit and East Okoboji. This is something that has never been done in a walleye tournament in this state. Teams can fish both Big Spirit and East Okoboji and its chain of smaller lakes. However, they cannot fish West Okoboji and they must stay on the body of water where they launched that day. This gives the teams more opportunity and choices, but it also increases the gamble of which water to fish for that day,” said I.O.W.A. Executive Director Dean Higgins.
In addition, the winners will receive a pair of $2500 certificates from Algona Marine and Sport toward the purchase of a Lund and Mercury package, along with two Smooth Seat Mounts. If the winners have a StowMaster net, they will win an additional $500.
“The cash and prizes make this an outstanding first place purse,” said Higgins. “A big thanks goes out to all of our year-long sponsors. Their support has helped make this year a truly memorable one!” Other prizes include the Berkley Big Fish Award, the Cabela’s Family Team Award and the Need Mack’s Lure Award.
It’s definitely showdown time for these top 34 teams, and leading the way will be the 2007 I.O.W.A. Humminbird Team of the Year, Mike and Doug Rodwell from Oskaloosa. They put together a solid year highlighted by winning the Storm Lake qualifier.
Higgins looks forward to seeing what the teams can do with this type of split water tournament. “It certainly adds more options for these teams, and it also adds more suspense. Our weigh-in will take place each day at the Highway 9 Bridge Boat Ramp on the shores of East Okoboji. However, teams that want to fish Big Spirit can do so. They will have their boats inspected at the Highway 9 Bridge Boat Ramp and will then have a police escort to Templar Park Boat Ramp on Big Spirit prior to the starting time and then back for the weigh-in each day. There will be I.O.W.A. officials at both sites to ensure an orderly take-off and to make sure that teams are back to their respective launch sites on time.”
Although the tournament competition begins on Saturday, October 13, the activities for the I.O.W.A. teams actually begin on Friday evening with the Championship banquet at the Community Building in Spirit Lake. “We will have social hour from 6 to 7, followed by supper at 7 and the award ceremonies for year-long award winners and the mandatory rules meeting at 8 p.m.,” said Higgins.
“We will also have a drawing for all of the teams that received an insurance quote from FCIS ‘Anglers Choice’ Insurance of Forest City. The winner will receive a free entry for one of next year’s regular tournaments. It is a special evening for these teams that have worked so hard to get here.” The two-day tournament itself begins on Saturday. The Iowa State Championship competition headquarters for take-off and weigh-in will be at the Highway 9 Bridge Boat Ramp. Saturday’s take-off will be 7:30 a.m. a.m. with weigh-in at 3:30 p.m.
According to Higgins, a special “Meet the I.O.W.A. Pros” event will be held at Pioneer Beach Resort on Saturday evening from 6-8 p.m. “We will be roasting a pig, with all of the trimmings,” said Higgins. “We’ll have a big tent up in case of inclement weather. We hope to have a lot of people come out to enjoy the evening and get to know these I.O.W.A. teams. The event will be a free will offering and donation for Jeff Thomas, one of our I.O.W.A. anglers who is battling cancer. On behalf of all of our I.O.W.A. teams, I invite the public to come join this effort.”
Higgins also noted the special walleye seminar open to the public that will also be held Saturday evening. “Terry Green, a very successful I.O.W.A. and FLW leaguer, will give a presentation of using lead core for walleyes, followed by two-time 2007 I.O.W.A. qualifier winner Cory Batterson, who will cover trolling crankbaits and planer boards.”
Sunday follows the same time frame with the weigh-in festivities beginning at 3:30 p.m. Sunday’s weigh-in will determine which team will walk away with the I.O.W.A State Championship title. “We hope to have a good crowd at each day’s weigh-in. It is a great way for the public to witness some great fishing action and to also learn from some of the best,” noted Higgins. “Following Sunday’s weigh-in, we will also draw for the 2006 Arctic Cat Automatic 4×4 ATV, sponsored by J & K Snowmobile Sales in Estherville.”
Raffle tickets will be on sale at $20 per ticket until the end of Sunday’s weigh-in with all proceeds going for the Conservation Fund designed to help improve the fisheries that the I.O.W.A. teams have fished on this year.
All of the latest news on the I.O.W.A. circuit can be found at the I.O.W.A. website (www.walleyepromotions.com). Anglers interested in learning more about the I.O.W.A circuit can call (515) 571-1085 or they can email the I.O.W.A. staff at [email protected].
Corporate sponsors for the 2007 I.O.W.A Team Walleye Tournament Trail include Lund, Mercury Outboards, ShoreLand’r Trailers, Algona Marine and Sport, MinnKota, Humminbird, Berkley, Cabela’s, Mack’s Lure, Smooth Move Seat Mounts, StowMaster, Hooters, FCIS “Anglers Choice” Insurance of Forest City and Dave’s KA-BOOM! Baits.