Table of Contents
 

• Pro Results
• Amateur Results
• 1999 sponsors
• Press Release Day 1
• Press Release Day 2
• Press Release Day Three
• Team Results Day 1
• Team Results Day 2
• Big Fish Award Pro
• Big Fish Award Amateur
• Big Fish Award Team

Day 1 Press Release
North American Walleye Anglers 

May 13, 1999

     Experience Prevails during Day one of
/ "Hawkeye Quest"

     Veteran NAWA Pro Norb Wallock
Holds early lead after first day of competition

     Okoboji Iowa: 

     Twenty five years of guiding experience on similar waters has helped veteran NAWA
Norb Wallock of Conover Wisconsin and his amateur partner Tony Belken of Spencer
     Iowa capture the early lead in the / "Hawkeye Quest" 

     This lake is almost identical to those I fish in Wisconsin, " Wallock said "The waters I'm
     fishing here in West Okoboji are clear, cold and deep and the techniques have worked
     so well for me in the past are producing the bigger fish" 

     Weighting 13.99 lbs. of walleyes, Wallock and Belken weighted one of only five six fish
     limits brought to the day one scales. Wallock said the bigger fish are in West Okoboji
     and the majority of the field is currently fishing in East Okoboji. 

     "T he gusting north winds have made it impossible to use a finesse type of approach"
     said Wallock "Still, I've incorporated live bait into my program and it is currently
     producing results. 

     One big key to fishing these larger Lake Okoboji walleyes, day one runner up Jim Bell
     said, is to be on a certain spot on a specific type of structure, Bell said the larger
     walleyes are actually holding in tight groups on a confined area on the spots he is fishing. 

     "This is only my second trip to this lake, so I had to do my homework, he explained. "I
     checked with the local fisheries experts, local fisherman, studied creel data, and the
     research is now paying off." 

     Bell of Blaine Minnesota and his amateur partner Dana Delp of Lansing Michigan
     weighted a six fish limit totaling 11.52 lbs. Starting the day two of competition in third
     place are Harris Minnesota pro Mark courts and amateur Blane Brown of Lincoln
     Nebraska. Who weighted 7.06 lbs. of walleyes. 

     Minnesota pro Mark St Martin of circle Pine and his amateur partner Chester Martin of
     Terril Iowa caught the day one Winnebago whopper $500 big fish award. The team
     weighted a 3.84 lb. walleye the biggest fish of the day. 

     This event the second on NAWA'a 1999 tournament trail, and the second of four
     "Quest Series " events leading up to Cabelas "Quest championship," September 22-24
     in Red wing Minnesota, bring an interesting format to the world of competitive walleye
     fishing. The entire field of professional and amateur anglers compete during the first two
     days of the event. 

     Following tomorrows, day two weight in the field will be pared down to the top 15 pros
     and amateurs for the final day of competition on Friday. All of the top 15 anglers from
     both divisions will cash checks or receive prizes. And though not competing on day
     three, pro and amateur anglers finishing 16th through 25th place after the day tow
     competition will also qualify for cash or prizes. 

     Tournament anglers will return to the water tomorrow for day two of the "Hawkeye
     Quest" 

     The action gets under way tomorrow at 7:00 a.m. Weight in activities begins at 3:45
     p.m. here at Okobojis Arnolds Park. In addition to seeing some great catches,
     spectators can also attend a free mini outdoor sports show featuring products and hands
     on demonstrations from factory experts representing NAWA sponsors. 

     In addition to this world class fishing competition fishing fans can attend the Fishbone
     blues Fest beginning here on Friday. The event features live blues bands on the roof
     Garden Stage, a gigantic fireworks display sponsored by Cabelas and Zorts fireworks, a
     sampling of fine foods from local restaurants, a kids fishing contest, displays of arts and
     crafts, as well as seminars on fishing and other outdoor topics. 

Pro big Fish Pot

Day	Name	City	State	Weight	Winnings/ Split with Partner
1	Mark St Martin	Circle Pine	Minnesota	3.84	$500
2	Todd Riley  Boat for sale	Amery	Wisconsin	5.73	$500
3	Norb Wallock  New Articles	Conover	Wisconsin	2.78	$500

Amateur Big Fish Pot

Day	Name	City	State	Weight	Winnings/ Split with Partner
1	Chester Martin	Terril	Iowa	3.84	$500
2	Howard Tull	Tingley	Iowa	5.73	$500
3	Chuck Dube	Brooklyn Park	Minnesota	2.78	$500

Day 2 Press Release
Date  May 12 

Okoboji Iowa

NAWA Pro Jim bell Leads All Star fishing field After Day two of
/ "Hawkeye Quest"

Okoboji Iowa After two days of intense angling competition, veteran NAWA pro Jim Bell leads an all star field going into the final day of the OTG/W.L.Gore “Hawkeye Quest” a world class event held here at Okoboji’s Arnolds Park 

Bell who captured the first NAWA tournament and has finished in the money in the majority of the NAWA event s, will be the first angler to depart from the dock in tomorrows final showdown where the top 15 finishers out of the original field will fish off for the events top prize.  His strategy of jigging the reefs for the lakes population of tight lipped larger walleyes paid off big with two consecutive catches of quality walleyes weighting a total of 17 lbs.  Bells day two basket of walleyes weighting 5.48 lbs. combined with yesterday’s catch earned him the pole position in tomorrow’s competition. 

“There a lots of walleyes on the reefs, but the key is to entice the larger fish to bite, Bell said during the day two press conference.  “To catch fish today, required a lot of finesse.”
 Unlike many of the anglers Bell is fishing West Okoboji, a deep and very glacial lake.  “Due to the very clear waters, I’m using a new prototype fishing line ( Vanish a fluorocarbon monofiliament line) that virtually disappears under the water,"”he revealed.  "“In addition the  Weed Weasel jig is allowing me to fish the moss, where the larger fish are holding, with very little problem." 

In second place going into Friday’s final day is Conover Wisconsin pro  Norb Wallock another veteran who is capable of winning the event.  Wallock with a two-day catch of 16.23 lbs. is also fishing West Lake Okoboji and using similar techniques. 

“I’m praying for wind tomorrow,” said Wallock.  “The wind is pushing the fish into shallower water where they seem to be more aggressive, today with the lighter breezes, the fish slipped into the deeper waters and became more difficult to catch. 

In third place is NAWA veteran Robert Eberhardt of Bemidji Minnesota.  Eberhardt a versatile angler who weighted more fish than any other pro in this event so far.  He has weighted a six fish limit today totaling 7.35 lbs. for a total of 13.85 lbs. 

In general the most productive patterns being pursued are jig fishing.  However many anglers continue to rely on trolling techniques.  The majority of the field is struggling to develop a productive pattern for catching larger walleyes. 

Under the NAWA Quest series format only the top 15 pros and top 15 amateurs return to the water tomorrow for the final day of fishing.  Though more than six pounds separate the first and fifteenth place finishers this will have no affect on the final outcome. 

The remaining contestants start from scratch on day three the final round of this high stakes shootout at Okoboji’s Arnold Park 

Though not competing on day three pro and amateur anglers finishing 16th through 25th place after today’s competition also qualify for cash and prizes 

Amery Wisconsin pro  Todd Riley and his amateur partner Howard Tull of Tingley Iowa captured the $500 “ Whopper for their 5.73 LB walleye.
 

North American Walleye Anglers

Okoboji Iowa
A former UPS driver turned walleye pro delivered a timely package of lively Lake Okoboji walleyes weighting 11.81 lbs. to capture the highly coveted pro title here today in the OTG/W.L.Gore “Hawkeye Quest” at Arnold park.  Wallock outdistanced an elite field of the nations top professional anglers by weighting the heaviest six fish limit brought to the scales during the day three competition on this famous Iowa Lake. 

Like many of the anglers finishing on the top of this event, Wallock was fishing the crystal clear waters of West Lake Okoboji an area that seemed to produce many of the larger fish caught during this world class competition.  Here he refined his approach today to catch bigger walleyes- those needed to win the events top prize. 

“I’ve been doing what I am best at, jig fishing” Wallock told the press contingent.  “ As a bit of insurance, I’ve also been doing some bobber fishing, and I’m glad I paid those premiums because they really paid off”. 

During the final day of competition, Wallock maintained the same game plan he used earlier in the week.  However lighter winds on day 2 forced him to move to a new location and change strategies for only one day. 

Wallocks day three weight was 11.81 lbs., earning him theThe top Pro prize, valued at nearly $22,000, includes a new 1800 Pro-V Tournament Series boat, 150 horsepower XRI  motor and trailer. Amateur anglers will be fishing for a top prize of a new Lund 1700 Angler SS boat, 90 horsepower Mercury motor and trailer valued at $14,000. 

Finishing in the runner up spot was veteran NAWA pro Jim Bell of Blaine Minnesota; Bell who also fished West Lake Okoboji stayed in the top two spots the entire event. 

“
Because of clear water and unstable weather conditions this was a total finesse bite, “ Bell said at the press conference “ I stuck with the same strategy throughout the event”. 

Like Wallock Bell was using a new state of the art fluorocarbon fishing line.  This along with the  Weed Weasel jig, he felt played a key role in his fishing success this week. 

“The line is virtually invisible once it is under the water,” Bell explained “ This new  Vanish line is definitely going to make a difference on clear lakes like Okoboji. 

Bells day three catch of 9.48 lbs. earned him a total of $5714. 

Mark Broderick an East Bethel Minnesota pro finished in third with a catch weighting 9.10 lbs. and earned him $5,000 in winnings.
“I’ve been here nearly two weeks so I better know where those big walleyes can be found” Broderick told reporters after the awards ceremony.  “Fortunately I discovered early that the bigger walleyes were in West Lake Okoboji and refined my technique to boat some of these fish. 

Sitting atop the amateur standings at the conclusion of the final day was Chuck Dube of Brooklyn Park Minnesota who came to the scales with 11.81 lbs. having been paired with Norb Wallock, Dube takes home a new  1700 Angler SS boat, 90 hp  outboard motor and trailer valued at $14,000 

Finishing second in the amateur division was Frank W Christainson of Blomfest Minnesota Chritianson received a $500 pay day for his efforts.  Third place winning so f $429 went to Roscoe Illinois amateur Brian Hansche 

As well as taking the overall title Wallock and Dube captured the $5000 day three  Whopper Award for their 2.78 LB walleye.  Elk river Minnesota pro Jim Peterson earned the $500 Kawasaki come back award here today after climbing 29 places after the first day of competition. 

Okoboji Iowa 

The walleye rich waters of Iowa’s famous lake Okoboji continued it’s temperamental ways here today during day one of the OTG/W.L. Gore Team Challenge a world class fishing event designed specifically for team anglers. 

Winning the first day tittle and top prize of $1366 were veteran Iowa team anglers Bernie Barringer of Crystal Lake and Steve Weisman of Estherville with the days only six fish limit weighting 12.48 lbs.  Unlike many of the anglers who traveled some distance to reach there fishing spots, the day one leaders set up shop on the tip of a tiny point wit6hin viewing distance of the tournament site at Arnolds Park 

“During my practice days, I discovered a tightly concentrated school of walleyes no bigger than the Cabelas bus,” said Barringer.  “To catch fish the bait needed to be right on top of the walleyes.” 

According to Weisnan, can be boat conscious when in clear and shallow water.  Anchoring a boat a fair distance from the fish and utilizing the wind to position the bobbers, Barringer and Weisnan were able to put there bait (leeches on a plain hook) among the fish. 

“The distance between the bait and the lake bottom was crucial,” Weisnan added, “ to catch fish, it seemed as though the bait could be no more than six inches off of the bottom.” 

Runners up were Iowans Richard Krause of Spirit Lake and Steve Sheeler of Hartley with a five fish basket totaling 10.08 lbs.  Krause and Sheeler collected the day one second place prize of $819. 

“Due to the lake clarity , I fish Lake Okoboji for big walleyes primarily late at night,” said Kraus.  “We had to completely change the tactics that have worked at night and develop deep water finesse technique>” 

Another Iowa team Lee Schoon and Steve Hansen of Fort Dodge weighted the day’s third best basket.  The veteran Lake Okoboji anglers weighted a three fish basket of 8.05 lbs. and collected $737. 

Day one third place finishers Lee Schoon and Steve Hansen collected the days “Winnebago Whopper” big fish award of $500 for a 7.89 walleye 

Under NAWA’s “Team challenge “ rules, day one catches are not carried over to the second day and everyone starts from scratch on day two.  The purse is paid in two portions, half on day one the remaining half on day two.

Minnesota team grabs top spot in Day Two of OTG/W.L. Gore “Team Challenge” 

Bobber bite yields top catches in Lake Okoboji Walleye tournament 

Okoboji Iowa 

A change in tactics helped Bloomfest Minnesota angler Frank Christianson and his partner Bryan LaPointe of Oakdale Minnesota win the second day of the OTG/W.L.Gore “Team Challenge”on Iowa’s famous Lake Okoboji. 

Christianson and LaPointe who brought a six fish limit to the scales weighting 18.57 lbs. said they switched to a live bait approach with a bobber presentation after striking out the first day by trolling crankbaits. 

They were fishing leeches on 1/8th ounce jigs under a slip bobber just of Pocahontas point the very same location that produced the day one winning catch.  Here Christianson and LaPoint were concentrating on deeper breakline that seemed to hold many of the large walleyes caught during this world class event 

“Most of our best bites came in those al to brief breaks in the clouds when the sun shined,” said Christianson.  “Since we were fishing such a sharp break, the depth of our bait was critical to our success.” 

Chritianson and LaPoint anchored in deeper water and cast their bobber rigs to the break.  The trick was to keep the bait within inches of the bottom where the bigger walleyes were found. 

“The bait had to be right on target to entice a bite,” LaPointe added “this required us to make extremely long casts to keep from spooking the fish with our boat.” 

The day two winners who took home a check for $1366 said the bites were slow in coming and only caught six fish (the ones the weighted) throughout the entire day. 

The only other team using a similar approach were runners up Bernie Barringer of Crystal Lake and Steve Weisman of Iowa who weighted a six fish limit of fish totaling 15.05 lbs.  Barringer and Weisman the day one winners collected $819 in day two winnings. 

“My game plan did not change from yesterday” said Barringer.  “We stuck with our live bait presentation and slip bobbers and it produced for us again today.” 

Washington Minnesota anglers Bruce Stugelmeyer and Daryl Krogman collected the third place prize of $619 for a six fish limit of 11.41 lbs. 

In addition to capturing today’s top prize Chritianson and LaPoint collected $500 for the Days “Winnebago Whopper Award” the team weighted a 5.59-LB walleye the biggest fish of the day. 

Over the 44 boat field five teams brought six fish limits to the scales compared to only one the day before.  The anglers weighted 146 walleyes totaling 221 pounds during the two-day event.

			TASCO
		Nebraska Game and Parks