As we approached mid-July here in Wisconsin, everyone assumes we are going to be looking at several weeks of upper 80 degree temperatures and some days in the 90’s and water temps pushing upper 70’s on the surface.  That thought gets us Big Fish Walleye Chasers jacked up about finding fish hanging off the deep structures of the northern parts of Green Bay.  This strange year we are having has thrown us many curveballs so far on the water so why would we think that July 20^th for our Tournament out of Little Sturgeon would be anything different.

The scuttlebutt among the ranks was that absolutely nothing was biting to the north and the water was still loaded with Baitfish and cooler temps.   There was a solid bite happening down to the south but we all had to contend with a southern boundary line and hope the active fish stayed north of that line.

Once the boats were checked in and the release was counted off almost everyone turned south around Henderson’s Point and headed for open water.

The one nice break we all caught was that the forecasted stronger south winds held off for the day until all the teams made it back to the weigh in site.

As the SWC has proven many times in the past we all can catch fish no matter what the conditions and this day was no exception with only a couple teams not weighing any fish.  Teams shared reports of fish being caught on both cranks and harnesses as they weighed in their fish. Continue reading

The Nebraska Walleye Association Kids Fishing Clinics Charity, Inc. sponsored four tournaments in 2014.  The first two were held at the Lewis & Clark Reservoir near Crofton, NE. on May 3 & 4.  The last were held at Merritt Reservoir near Valentine, NE. on July 26 & 27.

Two totally different types of fisheries and a change from late spring to summer patterns presented challenges for the tournament teams and on all days the winning teams used different presentations to overcome that.  At Lewis & Clark the team of Jason Hettler and Brandon Shada had a two day total of 27.23 pounds.  At Merritt the team of Mike Means and Chad Warriner had a two day total of 34.63 pounds.

The top three team finishers after this four tournament format are: Mike Means/Chad Warriner, Russ Glassoff/Rich McShane, and Chuck Pavelka/Will Pavelka.  Congratulations to these teams and they will be offered the opportunity to fish in the 2015 NTC at Milford Lake.

This organization is a 501 (c) (3) public charity that promotes fishing education and conservation in Nebraska to over 2000 youth annually.  Fishing is Fun! is the catch phrase used to conduct 15-20 kids fishing clinics across the state.  Each participant receives hands on fishing instruction from state certified volunteers and is given a free rod/reel/tackle box combination to take fishing.  The only entry required to fish in these tournaments is to volunteer at the kids fishing clinic held at the tournament site. At the Lewis & Clark Crofton Clinic 45 kids learned how to fish and one of them Eli Anderson 3 years old won a youth lifetime Nebraska hunting/fishing permit courtesy of the Fishing is Fun! kids’ charity.  At the Merritt Reservoir the kid’s charity partnered with the Nebraska Game & Parks, The Bass Federation, and the Nebraska Walleye Association to sponsor a Family Fishing Event. This allowed families to come and enjoy the sport of fishing as all equipment, bait, and instruction was available free of charge. The Nebraska State HS Bass Fishing Championship and the Nebraska Walleye Association State Championship were both going on during this weekend which provided a unique opportunity and backdrop for this event.

A big thanks to all who make: Fishing is Fun! in Nebraska.

The Nebraska Walleye Association held its last qualifying tournament and state championship of the 2014 season at Merritt Reservoir near Valentine Nebraska on July 26 and 27.  The tournament was held in conjunction with The Bass Federation’s high school state championship on Saturday June 26.  Rules meeting for the event were held at Beed’s Landing on Friday night June 25.  The rules meeting for this weekend included a fish fry, sides and cold beverages for all the participants provided for by the NWA tournament division.

27 teams participated at the tournament on Saturday June 26.  The weather was very stable and the bite for the entire field was very good.  The 1^st place team on Saturday was Green and Anderson with a weight of 25.73 lbs, 2^nd place went to the father/son team of Hankla’s with a weight of 23.53 lbs. and rounding out the top three were the team of Smutny/Smutny with 23 lbs.  Congratulations to these top teams.

Saturday was the last qualifying point’s tournament for the NWA.  This year’s Top Gun winners were the team of Brandon Shada and Jason Hettler.  Jason and Brandon had a fantastic year and barely beat out the father son team of Rick Smutny and Dalton Smutny.  Congratulations, goes out to these fine men.

The second day of the tournament is the NWA’s state championship.   Sunday brought cooler conditions and a slower bite.  The top team on Sunday was the father son team of Rowland/Rowland, who participated in the bass tournament on Saturday.  2^nd place honors went to Chad Warriner and Lane Werner.  Round out the top team were the team of Hankla and Hankla.  Congratulations, goes out to these fine teams.

The first tournament for the 2015 season for the NWA will be held October 5, 2014 at Harlan Reservoir.  Saturday, October 4, at The Beach Bar and Grill will be the rules meeting.

The NWA had a very fun year fishing around the state and nation together but we did have some serious bump in the road.  Two very good friends of the NWA lost their lives this year.  Big prayer for Rick Hesse and Austin Olivier as you both will be missed but never forgotten.  God Bless you two.

DAY 1 RESULTS

DAY 2 RESULTS

The Nebraska Walleye Association and the Colorado Walleye Association joined forces to run a tournament together on the largest reservoir in Nebraska.  The two one day tournaments were held June 28 and 29.  The rules meeting were held at Admiral’s Cove Resort on Friday June 27.  61 of the top teams from Nebraska/Colorado entered the tournaments.

Saturday brought warm weather and a hot bite.  There were a variety of tactics being used to catch the elusive walleye.  Jigging, Trolling and Lindy rigs were all on the docket today.  The top team of Mueller/Mueller brought in a healthy basket of 27.95 lbs., 2^nd place went to father son team of Ericson/Ericson 24.9 lbs, and finishing out the top three were the team of Richardson/Hazen with 23.21lbs.

The fourth place team of Bill McGannon and Brian Hunke had a very nice weight of 22.79lbs.  Bill and Brian were the top qualifying team for the TWF sidepot.  The TWF team wins a guaranteed paid spot into the 2015 NTC being held at Milford Lake.  Congratulations to all the top teams from Saturday.

Sunday brought the same warm weather and a hot bite.  Many of the competitors were chomping at the bit to go fishing after Saturday’s large weights.  The father/son team of Bosard/Bosard brought in the largest basket of the day at 28.88 lbs., the team of Ericson/Ericson came in at 27.68 lbs. and rounding out the top three were the team of Presley/Otte with 23.38lbs.  Congratulations to these fine teams for the impressive weights and professionalism shown.

Sunday sadly didn’t meet the required amount of teams for the TWF Side-pot.  The NWA and CWA would highly recommend that all of the anglers participating in our tournaments to check out The Walleye Federations side pot program and the benefits, it brings to our tournaments.

The weekend spent with old friends and new ones was awesome.  A big thank you to both the NWA and CWA volunteers that made these combined tournaments a wonderful success.  Here is hoping that these combined tournaments can keep growing and working together into the future.

DAY 1 RESULTS

DAY 2 RESULTS

1ST PLACE

2ND PLACE

3RD PLACE