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MINDING OUR OWN BUSINESS March 4, 2004 by Vickie Micheau Delta County Chamber of Commerce CABELA'S NATIONAL TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP The fish are biting and professional walleye tournament organizers are hooked on the Great Lakes of Delta County. And they should be! The 2004 tournament action promises to be as much fun as reeling in that elusive, feisty walleye. The season will launch with the tournament considered to be the Grand Daddy of all tournaments, the third annual Cabela’s National Team Championship. After many months of careful site surveys and evaluation, Cabela’s announced in February that walleye anglers who qualified for the 2004 NTC could include Delta County in their summer travel destination plans on June 11th and 12th. Building on the incredible success of previous tournaments, the 2004 National Team Championship partners 44 walleye tournaments, circuits and clubs across the nation in a true national championship format. “Our 2003 event was an overwhelming success,” said Eric Banks, Cabela’s event coordinator. “Anglers and fans alike agree the National Team Championship is the premier event for walleye team anglers.” The 2004 tournament will gather anglers from 30 states to compete for cash, value-added prizes and the chance to be named National Champions. The fun isn’t only for those who will be experiencing the offshore adventure. The festival atmosphere and activity throughout Delta County will provide plenty of onshore entertainment as well. In addition to fishing, the NTC features a consumer trade show and expo, a circus, food vendors, hot air balloon rides, Destination Delta shopping and dining tours, lumberjack breakfasts and musical entertainment. One of the more popular elements of the NTC is the daily weigh-in of fish caught by the anglers. The grandstand of the UP State Fairgrounds should be filled with excitement as fans cheer on their favorite teams. Due to the warm water temperatures and satiated fish, tournament activity is suspended during the month of July but then resumes on August 7th and 8th with the Walmart Bays Classic. The tournament, organized by the Great Lakes Sports Fishing Club and the Delta County Chamber of Commerce, is considered to be more fun than competitive. However, thanks to the generosity of the WalMart Corporation, the guaranteed top prize of $5,000 will trigger the competitive nature of the teams launching from the Gladstone Marina. The WalMart Bays Classic, an RCL championship qualifier, celebrates family togetherness and the great outdoors by featuring a popular kid’s fishing contest. The net proceeds from the tournament are used by the Great Lakes Sports Fishing Club to help preserve the fishery for future generations to enjoy. The club consists of members who truly love sport and recreational fishing and are determined to protect one the Upper Peninsula’s greatest resource. Following in the wake of the Bays Classic is the PWT. The In-Fisherman Professional Walleye Trail has become a fixture in the Upper Peninsula. In 2004, the tour returns to the popular Bays de Noc on Aug. 26-28 fishing from Escanaba's Municipal Marina. The top-ranked pro anglers in North America will be joined by an equal number of amateurs who fish with them in their boats, use their gear and weigh their fish together in the boat-weight event. Amateurs are partnered with three different pros during the 3-day event, gaining a deeper appreciation of the Bays, and the finer aspects of walleye fishing. The top 40 amateurs also win big, including boats, outboards, tackle and more. The Wal-Mart RCL Walleye League, fresh off its highly successful inaugural season, will return in 2004 with a $440,000 payout. The tournament series, which is designed for weekend walleye anglers, will feature 12 regular-season events in four divisions followed by the $100,000 Wal-Mart RCL Walleye League Finals Sept. 2-4 on Bays de Noc. Join in the fun – on or off the water – on the Bays de Noc where we are all about great lakes, great fishing and great tournaments. Vickie Micheau, Executive Director Delta County Chamber of Commerce (906) 786-2192 vmicheau@up.net |
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