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Great Plains Teams Take on Big Mac
By Steve Weisman GNWC Publicity Director
The teams on Great Plains Region of the Grand National Walleye
Cup (GNWC) are champing at the bit for their next competition
because they will be heading for "Big Mac"! That's right, Lake
McConaughy, Nebraska's largest reservoir at 35,700 acres, is
the site for the third tournament on the Great Plains circuit.
Scheduled for Sunday, June 26, the Lake McConaughy qualifier
is a crucial one for the teams battling for the Great Plains
Yamaha Outboards Team of the Yeahonors and those vying for a
berth in the Great Plains Region Championship at Eldorado, KS
on August 13-14. Heading into this third tournament, the team
of Doug Duncan and Tim Brockman from Wichita, KS has an eight
point lead over their nearest competitor. A year ago, it took
over a four pound average to win the Lake McConaughy Tournament,
and GNWC Executive Director Bernie Barringer expects 2005 to
be no different. "McConaughy definitely is known for its big
walleyes. Each year a lot of trophy walleyes up to 29 inches
are taken. Nebraska DNR officials look at Lake McConaughy as
the best walleye fishery in the state." Although it is known
for its night bite, McConaughy's daytime bite can also be good.
Weather, of course, will play a big part in the equation. According
to Tim Hudson, who works at the bait shop at Kingsley Lodge,
"When we get three or four days of good, consistent weather,
the fish go crazy. We've weighed several big fish in the 8,
9 and 10 pound category. In early June, we weighed a 10.75-pound
walleye." Storms have been rumbling through, however, and when
that happens, the bite becomes inconsistent. "One day the fish
will be in 4 feet of water, in 10 feet the next and maybe 30
feet the next. That's the tough part, when there is inconsistent
weather, locating the fish." Hudson added, "There is an excellent
fish population. I was talking to the fishery biologist last
fall, and he estimated that there were 750,000 legal walleyes
in Lake McConaughy." The tournament director will have the trailer
at Martin Bay from 6-8 p.m. the evening before the tournament
to take late entries and answer questions. Take-off is at 7
a.m. with the weigh-in commencing at 3 p.m. sharp at Martin
Bay. "I encourage the general public to come to Saturday's weigh-in.
There is no cost to attend, and it is a great opportunity for
folks to get a glimpse at what tournament fishing is all about.
The audience will also get to hear from the teams and find out
what presentations and tactics worked to trigger the fish. This
is a great way to learn about taking walleyes on this huge body
of water. It will also be fun because we will have a couple
of Aqua-Vu underwater cameras set up in our release tanks so
that the public can see how they work," added Barringer. For
those interested in entering, the entry fee remains at $210
per team for each tournament. Openings do still exist for the
Lake McConaughy qualifier, and Barringer encourages interested
anglers to contact him at 1-800-890-FISH (3474), or email the
GNWC at info@walleyecup.com. "I also encourage people to check
out our website at www.walleyecup.com and see what is happening
in all 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 FoodSource Lure Corporation
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