Chris Gasser - 6/6/2003

Onamia, MN. - After a slow start in the first two events, last year s National Champions Bill Mitchell and Scott Hale got back on track by winning the World Walleye Association Minnesota Team Challenge tournament held out of beautiful Izaty s Resort on Mille Lacs Lake June 6th, 2003.

As anyone who has fished a tournament in recent years on Mille Lacs knows, catching fish isn't the problem in trying to win a tournament, it is catching the RIGHT fish. Since Mille Lacs has a slot size allowing only fish from 14-17 inches and one fish over 28 inches to be weighed, getting fish to fit in this tight slot size can be quite the challenge.

But Mitchell and Hale were able to overcome this challenge. Not only were they able to get two fish between the 14-17 inch slot limit, they were also the only team to catch a fish over the 28 inch mark. Their 6.30-pound walleye not only contributed to their total winning weight of 9.64-pounds but also won them the big fish award of the tournament.

Mitchell and Hale s winning technique was to use Lindy rigs with 6-8 foot snells and small leeches. They were rigging rock piles among the gravel bottom in 32 feet of water near 3 and 4 Mile Reefs.

Scott Lamoreaux and Mark Leadens took second place with 5.44 pounds

Bob and Nate Brunz were third with 4.94 pounds.

Both the second and third place teams were also fishing the 3 and 4 Mile Reefs area.

The WWA would like to thank Izaty s Resort for all their hospitality in hosting the event.

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 MN Qualifier - Mille Lacs Lake Results