Easter Seals Great Walleye Weekend May 2-3, 2009
West Okoboji, East Okoboji and Big Spirit Lake
Walleye season at the Iowa Great Lakes begins with the annual Great Walleye Weekend Fishing Tournament with proceeds benefiting the Easter Seals of Iowa. Easter Seals provides services to ensure that all people with disabilities or special needs and their families have equal opportunities to live, learn, work and play in their communities. Easter Seals of Iowa.Walleye, Prizes and BBQ!!!
The Iowa Great Lakes Area Walleye Weekend is in its 27th year with prizes that include a $10000 grand prize for catching one of the 6 specially tagged walleyes. You do not have to be a big walleye fisherman to enjoy the action. There are a total 18 other tagged fish worth prizes, 6 Perch, 6 Bullhead, 6 Crappie. Not to worry if you do not land a tagged fish, there are over $2000 in Berkley Fishing Tackle up for grabs for Heaviest Walleye, Heaviest Stringer of 3 Walleye, Heaviest Northern Pike, Heaviest Stringer of 5 Panfish, Heaviest Stringer of 10 Bullhead and Heaviest Bass. PLUS, thousands of dollars worth of door prizes, including a $500 cash drawing! All registered contestants also can enjoy the free BBQ by the Dickinson County Cattlemen on May 3th, 2009.Basic Rules
Tournament begins May 2, 2009 at 12:01 am and runs until 1:00 pm May 3, 2009. You must have a valid Iowa fishing license. All fish must be caught by baited hook or artificial lure by the mouth. You can fish any lake or body of water in Dickinson County, Iowa. The specially tagged fish will be released on West Lake Okoboji, East Lake Okoboji and Big Spirit Lake. Check your registrations sheets for complete info.Tournament Registration
You can register at the following places:- PDF Tournament Registration Form and Rules
- Pioneer Beach Resort Bait & Tackle Hwy 9 & 7 in Spirit Lake, IA
- Oh Shucks Bait & Tackle Hwy 86 in Milford, IA
- Parks Marina, 24457 178th St in Okoboji, IA
- Stan's Bait & Tackle, 2306 Okoboji Avenue in Milford, IA
- Kabeles Trading Post 504 Hill Ave in Spirit Lake, IA
More information contact the I.G.L. Chamber Office at 800-839-9987
Registration fee is $10.00 Youth (under 16) and $20 Adult (YOU MUST REGISTER by Friday, May 1, midnight). You can also enter into the extended contest for $10.00 which runs until September 1, 2009. Catch any of the tagged walleye (from May 3 to Sept 1) for a portion of the extended contest fees. Check your registrations sheets for complete extended contest rules.
Okoboji Walleye Regulations
Iowa Great Lakes walleye regulations: daily bag limit of 3, possession limit of 6.Walleye length restrictions: all 17 to 22-inch walleyes must be immediately released alive and no more than one walleye longer than 22 inches may be taken per day.
Spirit Lake (Dickinson): The ice finally receded so smallmouth bass fishing should start soon. Look for good bluegill and crappie fishing at the North Grade and Trickles Slough.
West Okoboji Lake (Dickinson): Bluegill and crappie fishing will start in the canals where the water is warmer than the main lake. As the lake water warms, smallmouth and largemouth bass fishing will pick up. Our notes: hit the smallies in the boulders around Gull Point. Troll the breakline for walleyes north of Manhatten.
East Okoboji Lake (Dickinson): Look for bluegills and crappies to be biting at the north end of the lake and for excellent white bass fishing at the spillway.
Upper Gar Lake (Dickinson): An excellent lake for early season panfish action. Our notes: The bridges to East Okoboji and Minnewashta are prime panfish areas. Bass can be found along the east side in the shallows.
Minnewashta Lake (Dickinson): No DNR report. Our notes: Minnewashta and the Gars are good early spring lakes. Shallow and warm up quicker than East and West Okoboji. Minnewashta west bay usually holds good panfish and white bass. Troll or jig/minnow the 10 foot waters for walleye.
Lower Gar Lake (Dickinson): No DNR report. Our notes: Troll the west shoreline for walleyes. Max depth is only 5 foot.
