Rough and tough conditions at the Cabela’s, Crown Battery, Sharpnack Direct, Lake Erie Walleye Trail (LEWT) second 2013 tournament hosted by Waldo Peppers Restaurant.
After two straight days of 30 knot winds that caused the postponement of the tournament to Sunday, anglers were greeted with muddy water, cold temperatures, rapidly rising barometric pressure, and brisk east-northeast winds. “What a difference three weeks makes” said LEWT tournament Director Joe Yingling. “The last tournament we had perfect weather with sunny skies and calm winds, the requirement of dealing with these different conditions is what makes walleye tournament fishing such a challenge.”
Despite the tough conditions, the team of Michael Doornick and David Pontius brought home a bag of five fish weighing 36.90 pounds to take the win. Second place went to Dave Frey and Lonnie Hanchosky with five fish and 32.96 pounds, Jerome Doorlock and Todd Miller took the third spot with five fish weighing 29.54 pounds. Randy Eyre and Daniel Woodward brought in a 9.82 pound walleye to win the Big Fish cash award. The team of Bob Barnhart and Eric Van Denk took second place with a 9.55 pound walleye.
Doornink and Pontius also won the Medina Plating Early Bird award that goes to the top finishing team that entered all four events before the Early Bird deadline.
LEWT title sponsor Sharpnack Direct offers a cash prize to the highest finishing LEWT angler who owns a vehicle purchased from Sharpnack. Aaron Humbert came away with the $150 cash award.
The tournament winners used deep diving Reef Runner lures in the area of Middle Bass Island to catch their winning bag. Again, crank baits were reported to catch the majority of the fish, with a couple caught on crawler harnesses. A total of 67 walleye were brought to the scales by 47 teams, with the average weight being 6.21 pounds.
A big “thank you” to Waldo Peppers restaurant in Port Clinton for sponsoring this event. They also provided some excellent food at the weigh in for our anglers, and spectators.
The remaining 2013 LEWT schedule is as follows: May 4th – Sandusky – City Ramp “Hi-Way Bait, Tackle and Lodging LEWT” June 1st and 2nd –Huron- City Ramp – “Erie Outfitters LEWT Championship” The WBSA is a social based club for anglers that fish in the Western and Central Basins of Lake Erie and its tributaries. Membership is open to anyone interested in fishing, no matter their location or skill level. Our goal is to present information in a manner that will help sustain and improve fishing in one of the greatest inland sport fisheries in the world. Scientific information, fishing techniques, locations and presentations are presented at our meetings by expert and
knowledgeable speakers and tournament anglers from our group. These anglers are very open with techniques, and will help any member that is trying to learn new methods.
For more information about the LEWT you can visit www.wbsa.us
Please support our 2013 LEWT sponsors: Sharpnack Direct in Willard, Cabela’s, Crown Battery, Medina Plating, Waldo Peppers Restaurant, Happy Hooker Bait and Tackle, Blue Water Fishing Products, Smooth Moves, Reef Runner Lures, Vic’s Sports Center, Erie Outfitters, Ole Pete’s Tackle, Navionics, Rednek Outfitters, Hi-Way Bait Tackle and Lodging, Hi Tech Custom Painted Baits.
