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October 4, 2009
“Over $10,000 in CASH & Prizes awarded at Walleye Challenge”
Fish Huron Ohio held the first annual Walleye Challenge Saturday October 3. 62 teams with over 200 anglers ventured out on Lake Erie to challenging conditions with winds gusting over 20MPH whipping up 3 to 4 foot waves. There were 160 walleyes brought to the scales during the weigh-in which took place at the Amphitheatre at the Boat Basin weighing in over 775 pounds of walleye. The average weight was nearly 5 pounds per walleye and was highlighted by a 10.53# trophy caught by Frank Zubel from Cleveland earning him $500 cash.
The winning team “HetGotPapa” Steve Borowski, Steve Puruczky, and Scott Geitgey pocketed $2,500 in cash for their 5 fish tournament limit weighing 36.27#. They also won two bonus prizes: $100 from the Western Basin Sportfishing Association and a $50 gift certificate to JnJ Harbor Drive Thru for Traxtech fishing gear for their 8.21# walleye. They boated 24 walleye during the tournament.
Second place went to “ENDTUITION” Rich Benoit, Joe Nadzdam, Jared Meisterics, Gary & Nicholas Zart. Their 5 fish limit of 33.23# paid $1,700 in cash and they also won a $200 bonus from South Shore Marine as the highest placing team fishing on a boat purchased from South Shore Marine, Benoit’s 28’ CAROLINA CLASSIC. They boated over 20 walleye during the tournament.
Third place went to Bo & Ronnie Rhodes and their partner Andy Kuffer with a catch of 30.80# for their 5 walleye earning $1,300 cash.
Fourth place went to the “SCOUT TEAM” of Jay Gullet and partners Robinson & Ludban with 30.41# fising on Gullet’s 20’ SCOUT winning $1,000.
A total of 9 places were paid out with the 9th place team weighing 26.65# for their 5 fish limit. For full results, payouts, photos see www.fishhuronohio.com Additional sponsor awards were presented from the Western Basin Sportfishing Association, Silver Streak Lures, Rednek Trolling Weights, Traxtech & J&J Harbor Drive-thru and Progressive Insurance.
Most of the teams reported fishing from 4 to 8 miles NNE of Huron. Two things common with most of the top placing teams were pulling worm harnesses and fishing the top 15 feet of the water column. Blades from Silver Streak and Ole Pete’s were mentioned by several teams and a few of the teams in the money reported pulling Reef Runner crankbaits.
The event brought over 200 people to Huron – some arriving as early as Wednesday to put together a game-plan for the tournament. The anglers were a boost to local businesses as they bought gas, food, drinks, supplies, and hotel rooms in Huron. South Shore Marine provided food for the anglers Friday night after the Captain’s Meeting at I5’s. On Saturday morning prior to the takeoff Mesenburg Catering & Marconi’s provided coffee and food from Marconi’s new Café’ Piccoli menu. The weigh-in drew a nice crowd from 3 to 4:30 PM while I5’s provided grilled burgers & dogs for the anglers & spectators with the awards ceremony held at 5:30 inside I5’s.
The feedback from the anglers has been outstanding and Fish Huron Ohio is considering both a spring and a fall Walleye Challenge in 2010.