Lots of five fish limits at the Cabela’s, Crown Battery, Sharpnack Direct, Lake Erie Walleye Trail Sandusky tournament. (LEWT) The third tournament of the 2014 season was hosted by Hi-Way Bait, Tackle & Lodging.
After days of rain and unstable weather conditions, tournament morning was more of the same with chilly temperatures and of course, more rain. “I’m very happy to have our third straight sold out tournament this season” commented LEWT tournament Director Joe Yingling. “We have a great group of competitors; some of the best sticks on Lake Erie are here fishing with us today.”
Scott Geitgey and Jason Kopf brought a monster bag of five fish to the scales weighing 44.98 pounds for the win. Second place went to Dustin Clark and Adam Williams with five fish weighing in at 36.13 pounds, Cody Feathers and Aaron Depinet took the third position with five fish weighing 35.68 pounds.
Phil Ames and Hal Cassidy caught a huge 10.83 pound walleye to win the Big Fish cash award. Geitgey and Kopf collected the second place cash with a 9.83 pound walleye.
Dustin Clark and Adam Williams 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. Randy Cline took home the $150 cash award.
Jason Kopf will also receive $500 from Ranger Boats for winning a LEWT tournament under the Ranger Cup rewards program.
Team #24, James Moes and David Gahn took home the $100 cash for the Don “Ole Pete” Peterson Memorial Award. Eric and Freddie Wampler won the $50 J&J Roofing loyalty cash.
Finally, a huge thank you to tournament host Hi-Way Bait, Tackle and Lodging for providing dozens of pizzas for our anglers and spectators at the weigh in!
Geitgey and Kopf used crawler harness rigs east of Kelley’s Island to pull their winning fish.. Most of the teams that cashed checks reported using crawler harnesses, with a couple using deep diving crankbaits. A total of 241 walleye were brought to the scales by 50 teams, with the average weight being 5.47 pounds.
The remaining 2014 LEWT schedule is as follows: June 7th and 8th –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 2014 LEWT sponsors: Cabela’s, Crown Battery Systems, Sharpnack Direct in Willard, Magee East Campground and Marina, Medina Plating, Ranger Boats, Waldo Peppers Restaurant, Smooth Moves, Worldwide Marine Underwriters, Reef Runner Lures, Vic’s Sports Center, Erie Outfitters, Navionics, Rednek Outfitters, Hi-Way Bait Tackle and Lodging.
