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Updated: 04/21/04
Teams Run and Gun on Lake Sharpe at Gander
Mountain Grand National Walleye Cup's South Dakota Opener
By Steve Weisman
Gander Mountain GNWC Publicity Director
It took a run south of Antelope Creek for the husband
and wife team of
Roger and Dora Janssen from Castlewood, SD to capture the Gander Mountain
Grand National Walleye Cup's South Dakota opener at Lake Sharpe on
Sunday,
April 18.
The Janssens brought a six-fish limit weighing 12.78
pounds to the
scales to take the $1200 first place check. They trolled lead core
and clown
colored Walleye Divers and Shad Raps in 12-foot of water to catch their
fish.
They also popped a 6.77-pound walleye to take the
Berkley Trilene Big
Fish Award of $400 in Berkley products.
Second place and a check for $600 went to Doug Iverson
from Pierre, SD
and Barry Sargent from Ft. Pierre, SD for a six-fish limit weighing
9.09
pounds. They ran south to West Bend and pitched jig and minnow combinations
up on a shallow bar, working them back toward the boat in about 10
foot of
water.
Meanwhile, Dennis Womeldorf from Wall, SD and Shaun
Johnson from Pierre,
SD took third place and a check for $550 with five walleyes weighing
7.0
pounds. They headed to Ft. George and worked a 15-17 foot break using
Berkley FireLine to pull #8 Shad Raps. They found that natural colors
worked
better than brighter colors.
According to Gander Mountain GNWC Tournament Director
Greg Liebel, the
bite was tough and it became run and gun time for the 35 teams who
on opened
the South Dakota circuit. "We knew going into this that the bite was
up and
down. Even with the tough conditions, the teams were really up for
the
tournament, had positive attitudes and tried everything they could."
Liebel added that the teams had to make some tough
decisions early. "The
bite was better south, but the forecast was for 40 mph winds. So, the
teams
had to decide just how far they were willing to run. Some chose to
while
others stayed closer to the weigh-in site."
The "Yo So Close" award of a Yo Net folding net
valued at $80 went to
the three teams that placed just out of the money. They include Ken
Johnson
and Mark Pitlick in 9th place; Darold Swank and Flo Swank in 10th place;
Shane Christenson and James Molengraaf in 11th place.
John Coolican and Wade Nelson
from Mason City, IA were the winners
of the Gander Mountain "Need More Stuff" drawing of $200 for a Gander
Mountain Shopping Spree.
Next up for the South Dakota teams will be a trip
east to Big Stone Lake
on Sunday, May 16.
Anglers interested in signing up for a future qualifier
or simply
wanting more information on the GNWC circuit can call 1-800-890-FISH
(3474),
or they can email the GNWC at info@walleyecup.com.
Title Sponsor for the 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 UpNorth Outdoors.com.
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