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Red Wing, MN .... Several weeks of heavy fishing pressure and widely fluctuating daytime temperatures have forced NAWA anglers to adjust their approach to fishing the famous waters of the Mississippi River here this week during the Cabela^s "Quest Championship".
Under nearly constant fishing pressure, walleyes holding on many of the regular river hotspots have become "tight-lipped" and refuse to take the offerings from anglers. This has sent the field of veteran NAWA anglers in search of new areas containing quality walleye habitat and a virtual untapped walleye resource.
"I^m using traditional river techniques which allow me to keep my live bait near the bottom," said Day One leader Dale Sprouse. "I^m putting the bait on the bottom, putting my rod in the rod holder and using my boat to slowly move along the breakline."
Weighing 16.54 lbs of walleyes, Sprouse, a versatile angler from Blaine, MN, and amateur angler Kelly Hamson, Cushing, MN, weighed one of ten six-fish limits brought to the Day One scales. Sprouse said that color is playing a key role in his success, but refused to reveal further details regarding his presentation."
"As more of the field discover the need to find these "untapped" areas, the weights will continue to improve," predicted Sprouse. "I don^t believe that many people realize just what a wonderful resource they have with this river."
One big key to finding these Mississippi River walleyes, Day One runner-up Dave Hanson said, is get out and search the likely spots using live bait. He said it^s a slow process that can pay big dividends for the angler willing to invest the time. Hanson is also relying on a simple live bait rig.
"I^m relying on a three-way swivel rig that is standard river tackle," he explained. "It^s a very simple approach that has produced plenty of fish thus far."
Hanson of Bemidji, MN, and his amateur partner Dana Delp of Lansing, MI, weighed a six-fish limit totaling 14.89 pounds.
Ending the Day One competition in third place are Garrison, ND, pro Johnnie Candle and amateur Ray Davidson of Webster City, IA, who weighed 14.85 pounds.
"I changed areas today and focused on spots that no one else was fishing," Candle said. "Until today, I had caught very few fish from this river."
Pro anglers in the top 15 spots include:
Dale Sprouse, Blaine, MN, 16.54 lbs
Dave Hanson, Bemidji, MN, 14.89 lbs
Johnnie Candle, Garrison, ND, 14.85 lbs
Wally Luoma, Minneapolis, MN, 12.38 lbs
Rick LaCousre, Oregon, OH, 11.64 lbs
Jim Bell, Blaine, MN, 11.08 lbs
Dan Steir, Pierre, SD, 10.61 lbs
Larry Neau, Union Grove, WI, 10.21 lbs
Todd Riley, Amery, WI, 9.05 lbs
Jim Peterson, Elk River, MN, 8.66 lbs
Rick Olson, Mina Lake, SD, 8.61 lbs
Norb Wallock, Conover, WI, 8.59 lbs
Michael Meyer, Jr., Lindstrom, MN, 8.42 lbs
Mike Livermore, Wyoming, MN, 7.82 lbs
Mike McClelland, Pierre, SD, 6.19 lbs
Chuck Miller, Suamico, WI, 6.19 lbs
Amateur anglers in the top 15 spots include
Kelly Hamson, Cushing, MN, 16.54 lbs
Dana Delp, Lansing, MI, 14.89 lbs
Ray Davidson, Webster City, IA, 14.85 lbs
Greg Schoneck, Minot, ND, 12.38 lbs
John Madson, Cokato, MN, 11.64 lbs
Gene LaMere, Amery, WI, 11.08 lbs
Erwin Marson, Brandon, SD, 10.61 lbs
Rick Erickson, Iron River, MI, 10.21 lbs
Howard Tull, Tingley, IA, 9.05 lbs
Dan Galbincea, Cortland, OH, 8.66 lbs
Al Olson, Britt, IA, 8.61 lbs
Chuck Byrum, Highmore, SD, 8.59 lbs
Ken Olson, Roseville, MN, 8.42 lbs
Frank Crhistianson, Blomkest, MN, 7.82 lbs
Brian Hansche, Roscoe, IL, 6.19 lbs
John Semenchuk, Camden, SC, 6.19 lbs
This event, the last stop on NAWA^s 1999 tournament trail, brings an interesting format to the world of competitive walleye fishing. The entire field of 25 professional and 25 amateur anglers compete on the first day of the event. Following today^s weigh-in, the field was to be pared down to the top 15 pros and amateurs. However, due to a tie for 15th place, a total of 16 Pro/Am teams will take to the water on Day Two. At the end of the Day Two competition, the field is again slashed with only the top five Pros and top five Amateurs taking to the water for the final day of competition on Friday.
Uploaded: 9/23/1999
Uploaded: 9/23/1999