Mumm, Voigts Take Clear Lake Title
By Steve Weisman GNWC Publicity Director
Battling the effects of a strong cold front, the team of Randy
Mumm from Clear Lake, IA and Jason Voigts from Hanlontown, IA,
used a 4.97-pound kicker fish to outdistance the other 54 teams
on the Grand National Walleye Cup's (GNWC) Iowa Region held
at Clear Lake, Sunday, April 24. Mumm and Voigts, who brought
a five-fish limit weight of 13.15 pounds to the scales, pocketed
$2000 for first place. The win was especially emotional for
Mumm as his 2004 partner Jim Juhlin, who had been sidelined
earlier in the year with a heart attack, watched from the crowd.
Second place and a check for $1000 went to the team of Jesse
Roush from Clive, IA and Cory Batterson from Pleasant Hill,
IA with a five-fish limit weight of 12.84 pounds. They also
brought home the Cabela's Big Fish Award and a $200 Cabela's
shopping spree for their 7.64-pound walleye. They also pocketed
$420 in cash for winning the optional Big Fish pot. Kevin Kuiper
from Dayton, IA and Steve Hansen from Ft. Dodge, IA also weighed
a five-fish limit tipping the scales at 10.69 pounds, giving
them third place and a check of $610. Jack Davis and Rob Funk
from Mason City, IA matched their 4th place finish at the first
tournament on the Mississippi River two weeks ago with another
4th place finish at Clear Lake. Their 5-fish weight of 9.96
pounds was worth $460 and earned them the lead in the race for
the "Yamaha Team of the Year Award", which goes to the team
in each of the seven regions that finishes with the fewest points
after completing all four qualifiers. A similar strategy emerged
as the top three teams talked of their day on the water. Instead
of fishing the big lake, the top teams stayed on the little
lake and trolled crankbaits. For the Iowa teams, the recently
passed "no cull" rule has changed the traditional strategy of
upgrading. Now, once a walleye is in the livewell, it stays
in the livewell. For Mum and Voigts that meant their day was
over by noon! Using orange colored stick baits, they varied
their speed from 2.2 to 2.5 mph. Their two big fish, one a 4.97
pounder came using boards to help get the plugs away from the
boat. "We found a pod of fish straight off the dock in front
of the weigh-in," Mumm noted. "We found quality fish during
pre-fishing, and they were still there today." Roush and Batterson
also worked cranks but, according to Batterson, with a slightly
different twist. "We didn't mess with boards. Instead, we used
12' rods for the outside lines." They found firetiger jointed
Rapalas to be their key bait. With a laugh, Roush added that
even though they finished in second place, "We stubbed our toe
today, because we lost a 20-inch walleye at the boat. We had
it right at the boat and fumbled around and lost it." Kuiper
and Hansen also pulled firetiger crankbaits in the same area
but caught three of their fish toward the end of the day. 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 Ron Mason and
Arnold Zerke from Estherville, IA in 14th place; Bryan Paul
from Buffalo Center, IA and Kevan Paul from Clear Lake, IA in
15th place; and Roger Murray and Paula Griggs from Milo, IA
in 16th place. GNWC Executive Director Bernie Barringer felt
the teams did well considering the cold front and wind conditions.
"The weather definitely made things tougher. However, we still
had 16 teams weigh limits. Clear Lake proved again that it is
a quality fishery. Things will really get exciting now as we
head into the second half of the season with the third tournament
at Lake Rathbun." The Lake Rathbun tournament is scheduled for
Sunday, May 22. For those interested in entering this or any
of the remaining qualifiers, call 1-800-890-FISH (3474), or
email the GNWC at info@walleyecup.com. "Now that the tournaments
are underway, I encourage people to check out our website at
www.walleyecup.com. I think they will find it extremely interesting
to see how the teams do in each of the seven regions," added
Barringer. 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, while Iowa Region sponsors include Carlson-Sanderson
Real Estate, Motor Inn, Inc., and Triggs Bay Resort. Cutline:
The top three teams at the Clear Lake Tournament. (L to R) Randy
Mumm and Jason Voigts, first place; Cory Batterson and Jesse
Roush, second place; Steve hansen and Kevin Kuiper, third place
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