Walleye Tournament Recap

[Iambjm]

The first All Women's Walleye Tournament was held on May 12th in Winneconne Wis. put on by WI Women Fish and the World Walleye Association. The conditions were rather challenging, we had wind gusts of up to 35 mph on Saturday so pre-fishing was out of the question. Come Sunday morning the forecast again was for winds of 10-20 MPH with gusts to 25. It was 30 degrees at 6 am when we hit the lake. There are several lakes connected by the Wolf River and the smaller boats were advised to stay on the river. There were 18 boats of all sizes and types. I am totally unfamiliar fishing in a river system or for searching for walleyes in 2-3 feet of water.

I have a Lund 1650 Rebel with a 25 HP Merc on it and my partner and I headed out onto one of the main lakes to fish a small channel she knew about. It was a lot further over there than I thought in a hefty wind. In the channel I manage to hit a log with the outboard and foul the prop in some awful weeds and cane. Gave it an hour with no bites so we decided to make our way back fishing all the way. I looked down and discovered I had burned a half a tank of gas getting over there. So we decided to head back to the river area, get gas, and fish there as the wind was getting a little dicey.

The bait store with the gas was on the other side of a bridge on lake Butte Des Morts, there were white caps with 2-3 foot waves over there. Getting gas we had a 3 foot wave come over the back of the boat filling the whole back end with water. I immediately flipped on the bilge pump and headed for the quiet side of the bridge. I spent the next 3 hours fishing in soaking wet jeans and boots and had to remove my jacket which was also soaked. By the end of the day I was skunked and my partner had only caught 2 sheepsheads. The final count, only 4 out of 18 boats brought in fish, the first place had only 12 pounds of fish.

I have always dreamed of doing something like this and I am glad I did it, but realized that this is not my cup of tea. I am too old and out of shape to do this. Plus I have been running a boat for 10 years and this is the first time I have been this scared. I will never take my boat out in conditions that rough. Thank God I don't get seasick.

Even though I would not do it again I urge any woman who would like to try it go ahead. It was a very educational experience. If I was 20 years younger I would do it again.

[Finns]

Sure glad to hear you all are safe!

Sounds like a once in a lifetime experience.

Maybe the fishing should be a little later in the year.

Fish when you are able!