Chris Gasser - 7/21/2003

GLADSTONE, MI- When a bite is tough during a tournament it is often the team with the most experience on that particular body of water that can adapt best to the difficult conditions and come out on top. Don Corbett and Glenn Wangerin, veteran tournament anglers on the waters of Little and Big Bay De Noc did just that to win the World Walleye Association WI/UP Team Challenge event at Gladstone, MI July 20th 2003.

Corbett and Wangerin fished in Big Bay De Noc pulling crawler harnesses behind light weight to catch three fish weighing 18.82-pounds for the win. Their three fish, though two fish short of a limit, was the only multiple fish basket brought into the scales for the tournament.

Brad Knoll and Kurt Knoll placed second with a weight of 8.71- pounds. Even though they only caught one fish, it ended up being the big fish of the tournament winning them the big fish prize of $330.

Brad and Kurt were fishing the Garden Bluff area of Big Bay De Noc pulling crawler harnesses along an 18ft breakline. Brad and Kurt were one of only a few teams to state that they had an excellent day prefishing on Saturday catching numerous big fish. Coming in a bit disappointed after only catching the one fish, they were elated to find out it was enough for second place.

Kevin Gartland and Mark Kallio placed third with 7.45-pounds. They were also fishing in Big Bay De Noc trolling Reef Runner crankbaits in 16ft of water.

Steve Worrall of Patriot Boats was on hand to answer questions about Patriot's new 20ft. walleye boat, which he had on display at the weigh in site. Steve also was taking photographs of the activities for WalleyeFirst.com

The next stop for the WI/UP Team Challenge division will be the final event of the 2003 season. It will be a two-day qualifier held on the sprawling big fish waters of Green Bay out of Sturgeon Bay, WI.

To see pictures of the winning teams and a complete list of how all the teams finished, visit the WWA website at www.worldwalleye.com or watch for results on all the WWA tournaments in the Badger Sportsman magazine in upcoming issues. For information on fishing the World Walleye Association, a "Tournament Circuit For Fisherman, Run By Fisherman" visit the website or call 920-924-2100

The World Walleye Association is proudly sponsored by Patriot Boats, "Overbuilt for Life"

WWA WI/UP Qualifier - Little Bay de Noc Results