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BL Lions Fishing Tourney Saturday [UPDATED]
Published 10:43am Wednesday, June 20, 2012 Updated 10:43am Wednesday, June 20, 2012For 28 years, anglers from all over the lakes area have competed in the Lions Walleye Fishing Tournament on West Battle Lake. Many people look forward to this event all spring, and this year it is returning on June 23 and 24, event organizer Mike Adkins said.
Fifty teams will be allowed to participate in this year’s tournament, and sign up will be available until Friday, June 22 or until the 50 spots have been claimed, said Adkins.
The anglers will all gather for a rules meeting at 6:30 p.m. Friday at Stubs in Battle Lake.
Anglers will meet at 6 a.m. Saturday at Rainbow Bait Beach for a boat check and invasive species inspection. The boats will then leave in two waves at 7 and 7:15 a.m. The first day weigh-in will be at 3 and 3:15 p.m. All of the teams will receive a handout of the standings to they can see where everybody stands, said Adkins. The start times are the same on Sunday, but the weigh-in is moved up to 2 and 2:15 p.m.
Each team will consist of two anglers in one boat. Only one walleye more than 20 inches long will be allowed in each boat, and anglers are only allowed to keep walleyes of 15 inches or longer.
The fishing is usually pretty unpredictable, Adkins said. Some teams will be done at 11 a.m. the first day and others won’t catch a walleye all weekend.
Food will be available at the Lions shelter after both days. The first place team will receive $2,000, a jacket and a trophy; second place will receive $12,000 and a trophy; third place will claim $800; and the angler who catches the biggest walleye will receive $200.
“This is a cool lake, so our walleye fishing doesn’t start until later in the season,” said Adkins. “It can be hard to catch walleyes in this lake. You have to be a pretty darn good fisherman to do well.”
“The first place team will receive $2,000, a jacket and a trophy; second place will receive $12,000 and a trophy”
I’ll trade you $10,000 for a jacket. It’s a really nice jacket.