URGENT CALL TO ACTION Please Read Carefully, Then ACT!

Walleye Anglers everywhere need to have their voices heard. Let your friends and fishing buddies know, share to social media let’s get the word out.

CONTACT THE NORTH DAKOTA STATE OFFICALS (BELOW) AND LET THEM KNOW YOUR DO NOT APPROVE OF THIS MONEY GRAB, THAT YOU DO NOT SUPPORT IT AND WILL NOT SPEND ANOTHER DIME IN NORTH DAKOTA UNTIL IT THIS NEW RULE IS REMOVED.

WHAT IS GOING ON?

The Walleye Federation (TWF) as the nation’s largest grassroots Fishing, Youth and Conservation organization, works hard to promote fishing, clean water and to work and support DNR’s and Fish and Game agencies in their efforts our TWF affiliated walleye clubs across the nation do even more grassroots work than anyone. TWF and our TWF affiliated circuits, member and clubs has donated more cold hard cash to Walleye Conservation projects locally and nationally than any organization there is totaling Millions of dollars and man hours by TWF clubs and members. MWC and its anglers alone have donated more than $370,000 dollar to walleye conservation.

So it is with great sadness we have to report that North Dakota and the North Dakota Fish and Game has quietly passed new rules with no opportunity for all stakeholder comment or input that will financially prohibit larger tournaments from operating anymore in the state of North Dakota.

For years ND Game and fish has had the very highest (by far) tournament permit fees in the nation bar none.  Nearly every state in the US charges $200 or less for a tournament permit for a large event. However large events and National circuits holding events in North Dakota have been charged up to $5,000 for a tournament permit by ND Fish and Game in the past.

We have now been told that effective immediately there is no limit on permit fees by North Dakota Fish and Game. NO input, NO discussion, just that North Dakota Game and Fish will demand 10% of gross receipts/entry fees to be paid to ND Fish and Game to hold a tournament. Large events would be forced to pay 10K, 20K, 30K and more (there is no limit) as a fee to host a tournament to be paid to ND Fish and Game.

You read that correctly, the ND Game and Fish will require 10% of gross receipts/entry fees of the tournament prize purse to be paid to them in order to secure the event permit. (For all tournaments of any size) and will include side pots, big fish pots etc.

This WILL impact all events but certainly top level events if they were to hold an event in North Dakota in the future. Think about TWF, NTC, MWC, NWT, Governors Cup and many more. For a $100,000 total payout event that is $10,000 that has to come out of the pot and there by the anglers and circuits pockets and go to ND Fish and Game for the privilege of bringing in millions in tourism dollars and TV exposure to North Dakota and funding to ND fish and game.

WHY should we be charged more to catch the same 5 fish anyone else with a fishing licenses can legally catch (and eat) from public waters?

This is highway robbery and it is purely discriminatory in our opinion.

No other use of public waters, or public land or public streets, to our knowledge is required to pay 10% of gross receipts/entry fees from an event to any other state agency. ONLY tournament fisherman and only in North Dakota.

YOUR fishing licenses sales and boat gas and tackle purchases already fund Sport Fish Restoration dollars totaling millions of dollars to the state of North Dakota. For every fishing licenses sold in North Dakota the state gets MORE Sport Fish funding. Anglers are already paying for the Game and Fish and funding most projects that they do.

IN 2020, the North Dakota Game and Fish Department received $12.8 million as its share of excise taxes paid by America’s recreational shooters, hunters, anglers and boaters.

Sport Fish Restoration is guided by the Dingell-Johnson Sport Fish Restoration Act of 1950 and is funded by the collection of excise taxes on sport fishing equipment and electric motors, import duties on fishing tackle and pleasure boats, and a portion of gasoline tax attributable to motorboats and small engines. States use Sport Fish Restoration Program funds to stock fish; acquire and improve sport fish habitat; provide aquatic resource education opportunities; conduct fisheries research; and build boat ramps and fishing opportunities and license sales fund the ND Fish and Game.

Additionally organizations like TWF and MWC and walleye clubs and host communities everywhere have donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to walleye conservations over the years, some of that in North Dakota.

TWF and our affiliates have held hooked on fishing not on drugs seminars in North Dakota to train young anglers in ND schools and ND school teachers about getting started in fishing.  TWF has donated funds to dock & ramp projects and to fish cleaning stations and fund raisers and conservation projects with local communities that host tournaments in North Dakota.  TWF affiliated clubs and members in ND have done even more.  We want to do our part and we want to promote and ensure good fishing nationwide.

Every DNR & Game and Fish in most states are primarily (and in many states like ND) fully funded BY ANGLERS, their license sales and their fishing expenses. WE as anglers are already funding the ND fish and game as they received no general fund revenue. WE do our part and them some. So this is targeted and punitive fees in our opinion. It was put into place quietly and without discussion or input from those stakeholders that it impacts.

SO THE WAY TO GET THIER ATTENTION, is buy hitting in the pocket book and reducing their tax base and their tourism dollars to the state BY NOT GOING TO NORTH DAKOTA AND reducing fish and game funding by simply NOT buying any North Dakota hunting or fishing licenses AND by contacting the elected officials there TO GET THIS CHANGED.

This new rule will effectively kill all large tournaments in the state of North Dakota as every major circuit already pays back more than $100 of entry fees to the anglers each year and cannot afford to pay these excessive fees. Now even after paying THE HIGHEST permit fees in the nation for years to ND Game and Fish they want MORE and we WILL NOT pay it.  It is a pure money grab.

Most states recruit tourism and out of state dollars, they want it, most DNR’s and fish and game folks WANT people to use the resources, apparently this is no longer the case in North Dakota who simply wants to penalize tournament anglers for the privilege of coming to the state and spending millions each year  on tourism. This will negatively impact anglers, communities, tourism both local and state and interstate commerce.

Anglers cannot stand by quietly on this issue, these are public waters. TWF will NOT hold any events in ND in the future and take these kind of funds away from our events and we urge all others NOT to hold any in ND until this new rule is changed. We also ask all of you to CONTACT North Dakota officials and let them know you want it changed.

We ask all TWF members and all clubs, all walleye anglers everywhere, all resort owners and host communities you have every stayed at to contact North Dakota officials, governor’s office, state legislators and ND fish and game. Let them know this WILL negatively impact them and let your voices be heard that competitive anglers who spend big dollars to support them are tired of being taken advantage of.

YOU have the same right to go catch your legal limit of fish as anyone else with a license tournament or not. YOU helped pay for those public ramps and parking lots and fish stockings much of which was built with FEDERAL funds as well AND YOU help fund the ND Game and Fish as much as anyone. We all already paying more than our fair share which we are happy to do for our sport, but this is too much.

This could very well impact any or all of you, don’t assume that it is not happening in your state YET. If this punitive fee structure is allowed to stand how long before it comes to YOUR state? IF there was ever a issue that should unite anglers everywhere this is it.


CONTACT THE NORTH DAKOTA STATE OFFICALS AND LET THEM KNOW YOUR DO NOT APPROVE OF THIS MONEY GRAB AND WILL NOT SUPPORT IT.

Office of Governor State of North Dakota

600 East Boulevard Avenue, Bismarck ND, 58505-0001

Phone Number: (701) 328-2200, Fax: (701) 328-2205
Contact – https://www.governor.nd.gov/contact

CLICK here to go to North Dakota Legistators contact page

North Dakota Fish & Game,

100 N. Bismarck Expressway, Bismarck, ND 58501-5095

Director’s Office: 701-328-6305
email – ndgf@nd.gov

  • Terry Steinwand, Director
  • Fish Chief Greg Powers 701-328-6323

Contact ND Fish and Game here

CLICK HERE TO GO TO NDFG facebook page

The Walleye Federation, Inc.
www.walleyefederation.com
support@walleyefederation.com
580-765-9031

Schine, Mikeska win at 2020 Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s National Team Championship on Lake Winnebago

Oshkosh, Wisc. —Sept 30, 2020—Weighing the tournament’s largest bag of fish on day-2 set Jason Schine (Antioch, IL) and Bradley Mikeska (Genoa City, WI) on a course to win nearly $101,000 in cash and prizes and the Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s National team Championship, September 24-26th on Wisconsin’s Lake Winnebago.

Presented by Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s and hosted by the Oshkosh CVB, the three-day championship showcased over 440 of North America’s finest walleye anglers competing in two-person teams that qualified for the event through local walleye tournaments organized by clubs and circuits sanctioned by The Walleye Federation.

After a sunny and calm day one, Schine and Mikeska found themselves with 6-12 and in 16th place. It was day two that set them apart from the rest of the field.

The second day of competition saw breezy conditions across the Lake Winnebago system that included the Fox and Wolf rivers and upper lakes of Poygan and Butt des Morts. Jason and Brad rode out the wind and waves on the main lake securing the events largest 5-fish weight of 10-04. With at total weight of 17-00 headed into the final day, the team had a near 3-pound advantage over 2nd place, Robert Claus (Green Bay, WI) and Jason Noworatzky (Fond Du Lac, WI).

Claus and Noworatzky had strong outings in both of the first two days of the tournament securing 14-04 after two days of fishing. Loaded with local knowledge of the waters and consistent weights, they once again gave no room for error at the final weigh-in, placing 9-01 on the scale for total weight of 23-05.

As Schine and Mikeska walked up to the stage for the final time they needed their basket of 5 fish to weigh at least 6-06. The team eclipsed the mark weighing 7-01 for a total weight of 24-01 and solidifying their names forever as National Team Champions.

For the hard-earned win, Schine and Mikeska took home over $100,995 in winnings, including the $25,000 first-place cash paycheck, a brand-new Mercury 250-powered Ranger 621 valued at $75,995 and the $250 Day Two Mercury Big Basket Award.

Robert Claus and Jason Noworatzky finished the weekend in second place with 23-05. They earned $10,000 cash for their efforts.

Rounding out the top five were:

3rd: Nicholas Kotowski and Zachariah Workman, 22-03, $8,000 cash, Ranger Cup Bonus Ranger 620/Mercury 250 $75,995, $250 Day One Ranger Big Basket

4th: Jesse Proffitt and Ron Turner, 20-04, $6,000 cash

5th: Josh and Don Wiesner, 20-03, $5,000 cash

 

The Bass Pro Shop and Cabela’s NTC offers a lucrative payback of more than 425% of entry fees. Teams shared $256,492 in cash and prizes, plus 50 custom Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s All-American rings, trophies, plaques and more.

Another $1,000 in Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s gift cards were awarded for big fish and big basket honors. Joseph Jennings and Marlon Trible took home Big Fish honors on day one with a 5-02 Winnebago walleye while as mentioned before Nicholas Kotowski and Zachariah Workman won for Big Basket. On day two as noted above winners Jason Schine and Bradley Mikeska had the Big Basket but bringing in a respectable 5-03 fish was Chantry Cunning and Aaron Rachel earning them the $250 Walleye Federation Big Fish award.

A total of 649 walleyes weighing 973-06 graced the scales in Oshkosh, WI at beautiful Menominee Park.

The 2020 event marked the 19th edition of the prestigious Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s NTC, which annually draws hundreds of avid walleye anglers from across the U.S. and Canada.

Adding to the excitement, weigh-ins were streamed live online at walleyefederation.com and facebook.com/thewalleyefederation. The action was also filmed for national television airing on “Americana Outdoors” and the Pursuit Channel. Dates and airtimes will be announced at walleyefederation.com.

Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s NTC sponsors include Cabela’s, Bass Pro Shops, Ranger Boats, Mercury and TWF.

Based in Ponca City, Oklahoma, The Walleye Federation manages the qualifying process and co-produces the event alongside the Bass Pro Shops Cabela’s Corporate Brand Partnership Team. Qualifying for the 2021 Bass Pro Shop and Cabela’s NTC is now under way. For details, visit walleyefederation.com, or call (580) 765-9031.

New Indiana Walleye Club and Tournament Series, Crossroads Walleye Trail, has its first ever event at Brookville Lake!

New Indiana Walleye Club and Tournament Series, Crossroads Walleye Trail, has its first ever event at Brookville Lake!

Brookville Lake – August 9, 2020 – Crossroads Walleye Trail (www.crossroadswalleye.com) embarked on their first ever Brookville Lake walleye tournament this past Sunday. The event drew 24 teams of walleye anglers from all over Indiana and Ohio, some traveling from as far away as the IN / IL border! However, it was Connorsville, IN father and son team Luke & Mark Isaacs that were crowned the champions of the August 9th event. Luke and Mark weighed in 3 of 5 walleye for 12.38lbs! They also won the “big fish” prize with a 5.51 Brookville Lake walleye! Luke & Mark made a clean sweep of the event and also earned a sidepot bid at the Bass Pro Shops / Cabela’s National Team Championship in 2021. Second place went to Rushville, IN brother team Mike & Bobby Chandler who brought in 6.88lbs. Third place was captured by Brookville, IN team Leroy Arvin & Matt Brennan. See the full results below.

Founded in 2019, Crossroads Walleye Trail, LLC (CWT) is a sanctioned club member of national organization The Walleye Federation. Wanting to build something fresh with a focus on its club members and state level walleye biology, CWT’s founding members set out to create a club that offers a new option to anglers throughout Indiana and the Midwest region. “We are dedicated to professionalism, great camaraderie, and exceptional competition,” says PR Director, Joey Buttram. The organization aims to help bridge the gap between area anglers and the Indiana Department of Natural Resources. In their first year this series has averaged 21 boats per event, and have registered over 70 members from 4 states to their club.

CWT has completed its regular season leading up to the August 9th Brookville event with tournaments at Prairie Creek Reservoir – Muncie, IN on May 31st, Winona Lake – Warsaw, IN on June 14th, and Summit Lake – New Castle, IN on July 19th. You can visit their website at crossroadswalleye.com to see those results.

The next CWT event is their 2-day championship at Brookville Lake on October 10th & 11th, which is an invitational only event. The championship will have a live weigh in on Facebook, but the series encourages interested parties to come be a part of the festivities. Weigh times and more information can be found on their website.

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you are interested in joining CWT or learning more about their organization, please send a message to crossroadswalleyetrail@gmail.com, or visit their website at crossroadswalleye.com

Contact Info: Crossroads Walleye Trail, LLC, Attn: Joey Buttram, PR Director, 317.691.3470, crossroadswalleyetrail@gmail.com, www.crossroadswalleye.com 

Nebraska Walleye Association, McConaughy Reservoir Open, Lemoyne, NE

Nebraska Walleye Association

McConaughy Reservoir Open

Lemoyne, NE July 18-19, 2020

McConaughy came with its own challenges as the weather was projected to be extremely hot, but overall, the heat stayed away, and some great fishing occurred. The trees were hungry as well as they ate a lot of bait the past weekend. I think they are sponsored by a lot of bait shops and do a great job helping them out.

A total of 137 walleye were caught for a total weight of 465.21 lbs. for this tournament. On Saturday, Marie Wadas and Curt Baker landed a nice fish of 7.17 lbs. to win the big fish prize. Sunday’s big fish was 8.55 lbs. caught by Randy Stamp and Tom Sammons.

For this tournament we paid five positions. In fifth place, Rick and Richard Waldron had 31.81 lbs. with 8 fish. Fourth place team Jim Knaggs and Chris Colindres had 33.54 lbs. with ten fish. Third place team Adam Miller and Timothy Bartz had 34.86 lbs. with nine fish. Second place team Jeff Shilousky and Jeremy Palacz had 36.72 lbs. with ten fish. Winning the tournament was Damon Allbee and his wife Julie. They caught ten fish for a total weight of 39.07 lbs.!

A lot of the fish were caught on the west end of the lake across from Sandy point near Cedar View. Number 4 Salmo hornets were highly effective as well as flicker shads. A few of the fish were also caught pulling spinners through the trees at approximately two miles per hour.

Thanks for all the help at the scale and the anglers for helping abide by the extra rules in place because of the covid requirements. We would not be able to do this without your help.

Tournament Directors Nate Stender D.C. Dave Nadgwick