Cabela`s salmon shootout

[minnow]

http://www.muskegonsportfishing.org

[Hamilton Reef]

Annual fishing tourney piques residents' interest

http://www.mlive.com/news/muchronicle/index.ssf?/base/news-9/1152958553229450.xml&coll=8

Saturday, July 15, 2006 By Shawn Liverance CHRONICLE STAFF WRITER

The smile on Kyle Kanwischer's face said it all.

"I just love fishing, and going out on the boat today was great," said the 6-year-old Otsego boy after a day on Lake Michigan. "I can't wait to get out there again ... and maybe this time I can catch a fish."

Although Kyle failed to reel in a fish during Friday's Women and Kids Classic, Muskegon boats brought in several limit catches, which bodes well for the start of the pro-am portion of the Muskegon Sportfishing Association-Cabela's Salmon Shoot-Out.

Cabela's outdoor superstores is sponsoring the event for the second year, giving tremendous exposure to Muskegon and its fishing. It has become one of the largest salmon tournaments on the lake in a very short time, a fact that has impressed both fishermen and Cabela's representatives.

The main contest, co-sponsored by the Muskegon Sportsfishing Association and run out of Great Lakes Marina, is a two-day Big Lake tournament open to both professionals and amateurs.

The four-day extravaganza started Thursday with a sponsor fishing charter, and Friday featured 31 boats for women and youngsters. One was the Mean Green team aboard Greg Hagen's boat, which included 14-year-old Brent Flaska of Muskegon.

"I have been doing this since I was younger and I really like it. I caught a nice fish today," said Brent. "I am learning how to run all the stuff (lures, tackle, downriggers, etc.) so I can do it myself when I get older."

Several of the competing professionals also took part in Friday's fun event, including North Muskegon charter captain Vince Pannucci.

Seven women anglers boarded Pannucci's 34-foot Tiara called The Saint bright and early at 6 a.m. ready for a day on the water.

Under partly cloudy skies and light winds, the seven on Pannucci's boat managed to land six keepers in their five hours of fishing.

For several team members, it was their first experience fishing for salmon on Lake Michigan.

"I really thought I was going to get seasick out there, but I didn't," said Muskegon's Laura Huff. "It was really a lot of fun," especially when she boated a 2-pound salmon.

The day's first catch turned out to be an 11-pound Chinook taken by first-time angler Shawn Rollston of Fruitport.

"That was the first fish I have ever caught out here. I got a little tired and it was a workout, but it was really a lot of fun," said Rollston.

According to Pannucci, Friday's action fell a little short of the fishing action leading up to this weekend's event.

"Actually, today was well below what we have been doing," said Pannucci. "The fishing has been great the last couple of weeks. Hopefully this warm weather will not hurt the fishing."

The Cabela's Salmon Shoot-Out, which is part of the Michigan Tournament Trail Fishing Tour, drew nearly 100 boats last year to Muskegon and that number has increased this year.

"I think we have close to 110 boats this year," said Pannucci, who serves as the tournament co-chair with Joel Fulton. "It looks as if it will be bigger than last year which is a good sign.

"People seem to like fishing out of Muskegon."

Those increased numbers have Cabela's representative Doug Veldhuizen smiling as well.

"We expected that the numbers would go up after what we heard from some of the fisherman," said Veldhuizen. "They enjoyed it and I think word spread about this year's tournament."

Cabela's had been looking to sponsor a Great Lakes tournament and Muskegon was the right fit, said Veldhuizen.

"The Muskegon Sportsfishing Association did a great job last year and that is why we are back sponsoring this year's event," said Veldhuizen. "We as a company know that West Michigan is passionate about the outdoors and I think that shows with the way the tournament has taken off in two years."

The tournament, which offers a $2,000 first-place prize for the winning pro-am team, runs from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. each day.

The weigh-in ceremonies, which are open to the public and provide good views of great fish, begin immediately after the conclusion of each day's fishing at Great Lakes Marina.

[STEINFISHSKI]

Congrats to Teams Lake Effect, Ahabs Revenge, and Reel Deal for the top 3 finishes in the am division. Great job guys. Some great boxes and excellent fishing.

Minnow, it was nice talking to you at the weigh in. Great tourney, we had a blast!

[Carpmaster]

Just wondering if the Places and weights were availiable anywhere???

[gomer]

I haven't seen the list online yet, but Hunter was first in the pros, followed by, who else, Best Chance Too.

The fishing definately changed a lot from earlier in the week, but we still found some good fish. It was a good thing we won some cash too, because I think pikedevils dad would have cut us off after seeing the gas bill for the weekend... :yikes: :yikes:

[mrymar]

Congrats to all who placed

Pro Division (Top 10)
1 Hunter
2 Best Chance Too
3 Catch A Bunch
4 Princess Bel
5 My Tiara
6 Contender
7 Barbara Rose
8 Black Betty
9 Win n Angel
10 Thunderduck

AM (Top 5)
1 Lake Effect
2 Ahab's Revenge
3 Reel Deal
4 Relentless
5 Side Job

Big Fish
1 Reel Action (Am) 22.95 #
2 Thunderduck 20.70 #
3 Balls Deep 20.05 #
4 Serenity Now 18.80 #
5 Verdict III 18.75 #
333
1 Balls Deep 49.08
2 Reel Action (Am) 48.70
3 My Tiara 48.15
4 Ahab's Revenge 48.05
5 Win n Angel 47.80
6 Reel Slick 47.15
7 Best Chance Too 46.80
8 Black Betty 46.75
9 KC-1 46.60
10 Relentless 45.20
11 I'm Going To Miss Her 44.50
12 Hunter 44.45
13 Verdict III 44.10
14 Get Away 42.60
15 Barbara Rose 42.60
16 Buck Fever 42.30
17 High Seas 41.80
18 Contender 40.80
19 Big Weenie 40.75

[pikedevil]

Thanks guys, our report is over in the reports forum. All in all in was a great weekend of fishing. We would have liked to have won but I was glad to see our friends on Lake Effect win, we prefished together and they helped us a lot, we would probably not have taken 2nd without their help. We finally did good in the 333 and will finally be getting speed and temp at the ball as we won the depth raider. Now I wont have to argue with everyone when I say "the rods look fine" in regards to the lure's speeds. ;)

Congrats to Lake Effect and Reel Deal for making this a clean M-S sweep of the AM division, and to all the other guys that participated.

[fishinmachine2]

Congrats guys!!! Great job, see ya in Ludington.

Scott

[twohand]

God I wish we could have made that a one day tourney!

[Steelhead Addict]

ya congrats to everyone. the big laker is back in the slip in south haven so we were winders on the #2 pro boat. sux to loose by 4 points...but thats tournament fishing.

we'll be up in ludington on another boat in the pro division. good luck to everyone heading up there.

[gomer]

Steelhead addict,

You went with Best Chance? How much of the winnings did they give you? Probably enough to offset the 800 dollars a day, right?:yikes:

I thought I saw you hangin around Dave and Bill at the weigh in.

Did you guys fish by the nets with T-duck? Or is that confidential Best Chance info...?

[Steelhead Addict]

ya I'm definately not going to spill the beans on the BCT program. I will say this though, they've got a great program going and they really know what they are doing. Its theirs...they can figure out how much they want to share.

as far as the winnings, we did alright. only having 25 pro boats sign up hurt us, the advertised purse targeted 40. However, we aren't in this for the money. The way we look at it..if we can get some gas money fine. Its really about the competition and improving our skills.

Ludington will be our last tournament this year. I'm heading up there tomorrow mornign to do some pre-fishing on the Hattrick. I'll be up there late Friday night through Sunday. I have no idea what you look like..if you see me, wander over. The Hattrick is slipped at Ray's auto.

In a few weeks I'll be back on the jet sled chasing what ever bites.

[Hamilton Reef]

There will be a article covering this in Muskegon Chronicle Sunday 23rd.