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2010
Kewaunee/Door County Salmon Tournament
It's official the 2010 Kewaunee/Door County Salmon Tournament is in the
books. Before summer is over, 200 lucky anglers will be getting checks in the
mail ranging from $30 for a 16.34-pounder on up to $10,000 for the winner, 'TJ'
Valacak of Hoffman Estates, Illinois.
The tournament is paying out more than $40,000 in cash. That's in addition to
more than $5,000 in daily port winner cash and prizes already given away to the
45 anglers who landed the heaviest salmon each day at the five weigh-in sites in
Kewaunee, Algoma, Sturgeon Bay, Baileys Harbor and Washington Island.
Valacak triple-dipped on the top prize, plus won another $800 for landing the
11th largest salmon among 2,653 contestants.
His first place fish, a 28.16-pounder that smacked a green Luhr Jensen J-Plug
July 26 - day 3 of the nine-day event - earned him $10,000 cash, a free mount of
the 37-inch fish by John Mallien's Strawberry Creek Taxidermy, and a sterling
silver salmon ring with a black diamond eye by Paul Spanbauer of Wisconsin Charm
in Sturgeon Bay.
Michael Bauer of Sturgeon Bay was fishing with boat owner Steve Laubenstein and
friend Eric Leist when the second place fish, a 26.68-pound salmon, bit a blue
Howie Fly July 31 off Baileys Harbor. It earned Bauer $2,000 and a guided
fishing vacation at Wild Eagle Lodge in Eagle River.
LeRoy L'Huiller of Menominee, Michigan won the $1,000 third place cash prize,
plus a $150 gift certificate from Opti Tackle, for his 23.58-pounder caught on a
glow spoon off Kewaunee July 30 under the light of a bright moon.
A complete list of the 200 winners will be available later this week at
www.kdsalmon.com.
For the second day in a row, a trophy
salmon,
this one just under 27 pounds, was caught and weighed at Kewaunee by an
angler
who didn't have a tournament ticket. While those fish were not allowed
entry
(and had their tails clipped so they couldn't be weighed elsewhere later),
a
Baileys Harbor beauty moved solidly into second place Saturday.
Michael Bauer of Sturgeon Bay caught a 26.68-pounder on a blue fly while
fishing
90 feet down in 110 feet of water off Baileys Harbor.
It was one of just three fish to move into the top 30 heading into the
final
day. The others were a 21.55-pounder at Kewaunee and a 19.26-pounder at
Algoma.
The tournament ended at 5 p.m. Sunday. A final list of winners will be
available
early in the week after Monday night's committee meeting.
KD Salmon Tournament sponsors include Luhr-Jensen, John Mallien.s
Strawberry
Creek Taxidermy, Bay Lake Bank, Great Lakes Trophy Fish Rings, Flanigan
Distributing, Big Lake Tackle (Dragon Fly), Opti Tackle, Wild Eagle Lodge,
Moonshine Lures, R & R Tackle, Plano Tackle and Ripple Lure Company
(Fish Riser
flies).
KD Top 30 through Saturday
1. Thomas Valacak, 28.16 @ WI, 7/26
2. Michael Bauer, 26.68 @ BH 7/31
3. LeRoy L.Huillier, 23.58 @ K, 7/30
4. Robert Belmore, 22.91 @ SB, 7/27
5. Stuart Will, 22.71 @ WI, 7/27
6. Edward Schmidt, @ WI, 7/30
7. Andy Jurczykowski, 22.41 @ K, 7/25
8. Matt Sorelle, 22.36 @ SB, 7/29
9. Shawn Oglesbee, 21.74 @ WI, 7/30
10. Jason Meyers, 21.65 @ SB, 7/26
11. Ben Paplham, 21.55 @ K, 7/31
12. Thomas Valacak, 21.3 @ WI, 7/25
13. Andrew Berken, 21.01 @ BH, 7/29
14. Lynn Hunter MacDonald, 20.99 @ WI, 7/29
15. Terry Wachtl, 20.65 @ K, 7/28
16. Grant De Valls, 20.42 @ SB, 7/30
17. Sawyer Knick, 20.29 @ A, 7/27
18. Brian Dumke, 20.0 @ A, 7/24
19. Michael Payton, 19.67 @ A, 7/26
20. Aaron Stoffel, 19.60 @ BH, 7/30
21. Alex Robillard, 19.53 @ K, 7/24
22. Ryan Peters, 19.44 @ A, 7/30
23. Rob Schartner, 19.40 @ SB, 7/30
24. Matt Resler, 19.39 @ A, 7/26
25. Charles Ron Seven, 19.29 @ WI, 7/25
26. John Wachal, 19.26 @ A, 7/31
27. John Nelson, 19.25 @ SB, 7/26
28. Greg Smock, 19.21 @ SB, 7/24
29. Bill Woehrmann, 19.19 @ BH, 7/28
30. Lee Dreas, 19.08 @ K, 7/27
Saturday's Port Prize Winners
Algoma:
John Wachal, 19.26
Baileys Harbor: Michael Bauer, 26.68
Kewaunee: Ben Paplham, 21.55
Sturgeon Bay: Chris Topel, 17.32
Washington Island: Martin Andersen, 18.34
Three new top 10 fish and four more in the top 30
were added to the leader board Friday.
The biggest was a 23.58-pounder by LeRoy L.Huillier of Menominee, Michigan,
caught off Kewaunee about 2:30 a.m., 40 feet down over 180 feet of water. An
even heavier king 27 pounds and change was caught in shallow water at
Kewaunee Friday morning but the father and son who landed it did not have a
ticket.
L.Huillier moved into second place, but it didn't last. We'll have an update on
a big fish caught off Baileys Harbor Saturday.
The tournament ends at 5 p.m. Sunday. A final list of winners will be available
early in the week after Monday night.s committee meeting in Sturgeon Bay.
KD Salmon Tournament sponsors include Luhr-Jensen, John Mallien's Strawberry
Creek Taxidermy, Bay Lake Bank, Great Lakes Trophy Fish Rings, Flanigan
Distributing, Big Lake Tackle (Dragon Fly), Opti Tackle, Wild Eagle Lodge,
Moonshine Lures, R & R Tackle, Plano Tackle and Ripple Lure Company (Fish Riser
flies).
KD Top 30 through Friday
1. Thomas Valacak, 28.16 @ WI, 7/26
2. LeRoy L.Huillier, 23.58 @ K, 7/30
3. Robert Belmore, 22.91 @ SB, 7/27
4. Stuart Will, 22.71 @ WI, 7/27
5. Edward Schmidt, @ WI, 7/30
6. Andy Jurczykowski, 22.41 @ K, 7/25
7. Matt Sorelle, 22.36 @ SB, 7/29
8. Shawn Oglesbee, 21.74 @ WI, 7/30
9. Jason Meyers, 21.65 @ SB, 7/26
10. Thomas Valacak, 21.3 @ WI, 7/25
11. Andrew Berken, 21.01 @ BH, 7/29
12. Lynn Hunter MacDonald, 20.99 @ WI, 7/29
13. Terry Wachtl, 20.65 @ K, 7/28
14. Grant De Valls, 20.42 @ SB, 7/30
15. Sawyer Knick, 20.29 @ A, 7/27
16. Brian Dumke, 20.0 @ A, 7/24
17. Michael Payton, 19.67 @ A, 7/26
18. Aaron Stoffel, 19.60 @ BH, 7/30
19. Alex Robillard, 19.53 @ K, 7/24
20. Ryan Peters, 19.44 @ A, 7/30
21. Rob Schartner, 19.40 @ SB, 7/30
22. Matt Resler, 19.39 @ A, 7/26
23. Charles .Ron. Seven, 19.29 @ WI, 7/25
24. John Nelson, 19.25 @ SB, 7/26
25. Greg Smock, 19.21 @ SB, 7/24
26. Bill Woehrmann, 19.19 @ BH, 7/28
27. Lee Dreas, 19.08 @ K, 7/27
28. Kevin Van Boxel, 19.01 @ SB, 7/26
29. Josh Kramer, 18.99 @ BH, 7/27
30. Gary Mann, 18.91 @ K, 7/24
Friday's Port Prize Winners
Algoma:
Ryan Peters, 19.44
Baileys Harbor: Aaron Stoffel, 19.60
Kewaunee: LeRoy L.Huillier, 23.58
Sturgeon Bay: Grant DeValls, 20.42
Washington Island: Edward Schmidt, 22.61
Three new top 10 fish and three others in the
top
30 were added to the leader board Thursday.
Two-thirds of the way through the 28th annual tournament, the top 100
chinooks
range from 17.01 to 28.16 pounds. Unless there.s a major flurry of big
fish the
final three days, it's very possible that any salmon 16 pounds and up
could get
anglers into the deep payout, which has topped 200 places eight of the
last nine
years.
Interest in the KD is strong at all five ports, with some locations
needing
additional books of tickets for the final weekend. The tournament ends at
5 p.m.
Sunday, with more than $40,000 in cash and prizes on the line. Tickets are
$25
for the two or more days, or $13 for a daily chance. Every angler age 10
and up
on the boat must have a ticket before they fish.
Tickets are available at Kap.s Marina on Washington Island; 57 Depot in
Baileys
Harbor; Hol-N-One Mobil and Grey Stone Castle in Sturgeon Bay; Algoma BP;
and
Kewaunee Marina and Center Court Convenience Store in Kewaunee. For more,
visit
www.kdsalmon.com or check the blog updates at
http://www.facebook.com/pages/KD-Salmon-Tournament/112591878758656.
Moonlight bite
Some of the best fishing of the tournament has been at night, under
the
light of a full and now waning full moon period. That was evidenced
overnight
Thursday when a new second place fish was taken around 2:30 a.m. off
Kewaunee.
Glow spoons, flies and plugs work well when the moon is high and the lake
fairly
calm. We'll have an update on the big king and an even bigger giant
caught by
an angler without a tourney ticket tomorrow.
KD is #1
The KD Salmon Tournament is the largest salmon fishing contest on Lake
Michigan. It was also the largest summer salmon fishing contest on the
Great
Lakes last year with more than 2,700 entrants (final numbers for the 2010
KD and
LOC summer derbies are not yet available). Only the spring and fall Lake
Ontario
Counties (LOC derby) contests in New York lured more participants last
year.
Major KD Salmon Tournament sponsors include Luhr-Jensen, John Mallien.s
Strawberry Creek Taxidermy, Bay Lake Bank, Great Lakes Trophy Fish Rings,
Flanigan Distributing, Big Lake Tackle (Dragon Fly), Opti Tackle, Wild
Eagle
Lodge, Moonshine Lures, R & R Tackle, Plano Tackle and Ripple Lure
Company (Fish
Riser flies).
KD Top 30 through Thursday
1. Thomas Valacak, 28.16 @ WI, 7/26
2. Robert Belmore, 22.91 @ SB, 7/27
3. Stuart Will, 22.71 @ WI, 7/27
4. Andy Jurczykowski, 22.41 @ K, 7/25
5. Matt Sorelle, 22.36 @ SB, 7/29
6. Jason Meyers, 21.65 @ SB, 7/26
7. Thomas Valacak, 21.3 @ WI, 7/25
8. Andrew Berken, 21.01 @ BH, 7/29
9. Lynn Hunter MacDonald, 20.99 @ WI, 7/29
10. Terry Wachtl, 20.65 @ K, 7/28
11. Sawyer Knick, 20.29 @ A, 7/27
12. Brian Dumke, 20.0 @ A, 7/24
13. Michael Payton, 19.67 @ A, 7/26
14. Alex Robillard, 19.53 @ K, 7/24
15. Matt Resler, 19.39 @ A, 7/26
16. Charles .Ron. Seven, 19.29 @ WI, 7/25
17. John Nelson, 19.25 @ SB, 7/26
18. Greg Smock, 19.21 @ SB, 7/24
19. Bill Woehrmann, 19.19 @ BH, 7/28
20. Lee Dreas, 19.08 @ K, 7/27
21. Kevin Van Boxel, 19.01 @ SB, 7/26
22. Josh Kramer, 18.99 @ BH, 7/27
23. Gary Mann, 18.91 @ K, 7/24
24. Tom Hoene, 18.80 @ BH, 7/28
25. Joe Vober, 18.77 @ BH, 7/27
26. Kyle Sever, 18.59 @ BH, 7/29
27. Donald Hadder, 18.58 @ A, 7/29
28. Ben Gersek, 18.56 @ A, 7/29
29. Diane Aho, 18.48 @ A, 7/26
30. Jim Senger, 18.42 @ WI, 7/27
Thursday's Port Prize Winners
Algoma:
Donald Hadder, 18.58
Baileys Harbor: Andrew Berken, 21.01
Kewaunee: Brian Mickelson, 18.37
Sturgeon Bay: Matt Sorelle, 22.36
Washington Island: Lynn Hunter MacDonald, 20.99
A 20-pounder at Kewaunee and a pair of fish in the
19-pound class at Baileys Harbor were the only kings to crack into the
top 25
Wednesday in the 28th annual Kewaunee/Door County Salmon Tournament.
KD Top 25 through Wednesday
1. Thomas Valacak, 28.16 @ WI, 7/26
2. Robert Belmore, 22.91 @ SB, 7/27
3. Stuart Will, 22.71 @ WI, 7/27
4. Andy Jurczykowski, 22.41 @ K, 7/25
5. Jason Meyers, 21.65 @ SB, 7/26
6. Thomas Valacak, 21.3 @ WI, 7/25
7. Terry Wachtl, 20.65 @ K, 7/28
8. Sawyer Knick, 20.29 @ A, 7/27
9. Brian Dumke, 20.0 @ A, 7/24
10. Michael Payton, 19.67 @ A, 7/26
11. Alex Robillard, 19.53 @ K, 7/24
12. Matt Resler, 19.39 @ A, 7/26
13. Charles .Ron. Seven, 19.29 @ WI, 7/25
14. John Nelson, 19.25 @ SB, 7/26
15. Greg Smock, 19.21 @ SB, 7/24
16. Bill Woehrmann, 19.19 @ BH, 7/28
17. Lee Dreas, 19.08 @ K, 7/27
18. Kevin Van Boxel, 19.01 @ SB, 7/26
19. Josh Kramer, 18.99 @ BH, 7/27
20. Gary Mann, 18.91 @ K, 7/24
21. Tom Hoene, 18.80 @ BH, 7/28
22. Joe Vober, 18.77 @ BH, 7/27
23. Diane Aho, 18.48 @ A, 7/26
24. Jim Senger, 18.42 @ WI, 7/27
25. Maxine Lingeman, 18.27 @ WI, 7/25
Wednesday's Port Prize Winners
Algoma:
Amy Michael, 17.35
Baileys Harbor: Bill Woehrmann, 19.19
Kewaunee: Terry Wachtl, 20.65
Sturgeon Bay: John Lauscher, 17.52
Washington Island: Victor Norak, 15.79
Two new big chinooks slid into the second and
third
spots Tuesday, fish of just under 23 pounds at both Sturgeon Bay and
Washington
Island. Algoma also had a 20-plus, one of three changes to the top 10
leader
board. In all, nine new fish moved into the top 25.
Salmon were definitely on the feed Tuesday. Some charter boats and a few
privates were in early with limit catches; many were fishing 40 to 80 feet
down
in 120 to 250 feet of water. With strong west winds overnight into
Wednesday,
cool water and hungry fish moved even higher up in the water column . and
closer
to shore.
KD Top 25 through Tuesday
1. Thomas Valacak, 28.16 @ WI, 7/26
2. Robert Belmore, 22.91 @ SB, 7/27
3. Stuart Will, 22.71 @ WI, 7/27
4. Andy Jurczykowski, 22.41 @ K, 7/25
5. Jason Meyers, 21.65 @ SB, 7/26
6. Thomas Valacak, 21.3 @ WI, 7/25
7. Sawyer Knick, 20.29 @ A, 7/27
8. Brian Dumke, 20.0 @ A, 7/24
9. Michael Payton, 19.67 @ A, 7/26
10. Alex Robillard, 19.53 @ K, 7/24
11. Matt Resler, 19.39 @ A, 7/26
12. Charles .Ron. Seven, 19.29 @ WI, 7/25
13. John Nelson, 19.25 @ SB, 7/26
14. Greg Smock, 19.21 @ SB, 7/24
15. Lee Dreas, 19.08 @ K, 7/27
16. Kevin Van Boxel, 19.01 @ SB, 7/26
17. Josh Kramer, 18.99 @ BH, 7/27
18. Gary Mann, 18.91 @ K, 7/24
19. Joe Vober, 18.77 @ BH, 7/27
20. Diane Aho, 18.48 @ A, 7/26
21. Jim Senger, 18.42 @ WI, 7/27
22. Maxine Lingeman, 18.27 @ WI, 7/25
23. Steve Marohl, 18.25 @ K, 7/27
24. Dan Whitburn, 18.24 @ A, 7/27
25. Al Fremstad, 18.21 @ SB, 7/27
Tuesday.s Port Prize Winners
Algoma:
Sawyer Knick, 20.29
Baileys Harbor: Josh Kramer, 18.99
Kewaunee: Lee Dreas, 19.08
Sturgeon Bay: Robert Belmore, 22.91
Washington Island: Stuart Will, 22.71
Day 3 update
What perfect timing for the fish of a lifetime ...
that thought came to mind after talking to a very excited Thomas TJ Valacak
Jr. of Hoffman Estates, Illinois via phone from Washington Island Monday night.
Valacak caught a reel monster a couple hours before sunset, a 37-inch,
28.16-pound chinook that grabbed a green J-Plug down deep off Boyer's Bluff on
the northwest side of the island. The fish is nearly six pounds bigger than any
other caught in the tournament thus far, and is a leading candidate for the
$10,000 first place cash prize, a free mount of the fish by John Mallien's
Strawberry Creek taxidermy and the sterling silver salmon ring with a black
diamond eye by jeweler Paul Spanbauer.
Based on the first three days of the nine-day event, it.s starting to look like
it'll take a chinook of at least 17 pounds and perhaps larger, depending on
success the rest of the week to crack the top 200 this year.
Valacak's trophy was the biggest of five changes in the top 10 Monday. His
Sunday salmon, a 21.3-pounder, held the fourth spot.
KD Top 20 through Monday
1. Thomas Valacak, 28.16 @ WI, 7/26
2. Andy Jurczykowski, 22.41 @ K, 7/25
3. Jason Meyers, 21.65 @ SB, 7/26
4. Thomas Valacak, 21.3 @ WI, 7/25
5. Brian Dumke, 20.0 @ A, 7/24
6. Michael Payton, 19.67 @ A, 7/26
7. Alex Robillard, 19.53 @ K, 7/24
8. Matt Resler, 19.39 @ A, 7/26
9. Charles .Ron. Seven, 19.29 @ WI, 7/25
10. John Nelson, 19.25 @ SB, 7/26
11. Greg Smock, 19.21 @ SB, 7/24
12. Kevin Van Boxel, 19.01 @ SB, 7/26
13. Gary Mann, 18.91 @ K, 7/24
14. Diane Aho, 18.48 @ A, 7/26
15. Maxine Lingeman, 18.27 @ WI, 7/25
16. Tim Pinchart, 17.97 @ K, 7/25
17. Christine Falk, 17.85 @ K, 7/25
18. Larry Albeck, 17.84 @ WI, 7/26
19. Jake Wolfenberg, 17.79 @ BH, 7/25
20. Julaine Jeanquart, 17.7 @ SB, 7/25
Monday's Port Prize Winners: Thomas Valacak, WI, 28.16; Jason Meyers,
SB, 21.65; Michael Payton, A, 19.67; Jerry Bauer, K, 17.68; Tom Tasker, BH,
17.59.
Day 2 update
It's a wide open race for the $10,000 top prize in
the 28th annual Kewaunee/Door County Salmon Tournament.
All the warm water and a full moon coming in made for slower action for many
participants opening weekend, at least by day. Some of the anglers who fished
all night or at least major chunks of the after hours period reported
solid numbers under the bright light of the moon using glow spoons, flies and
plugs.
The winds of change began blowing Sunday into Monday, a switch to south and then
west winds that should eventually upwell cooler water to the west shores of Lake
Michigan. If that isn't enough, a strong surge from the south is expected by
midweek which could help roll the waters and move the thermocline up, meaning
more active fish near shore.
Only one 20-pounder came in opening day, at Algoma, while Washington Island
produced a 21-plus Sunday morning and Kewaunee a 22.41 in the evening. Andy
Jurczykowski of New Franken used a flasher and fly run down deep over 135 feet
of water to tempt the opening weekend leader.
2010
Opening Weekend Top Ten
1. Andy Jurczykowski, 22.41 @ K, 7/25
2. Thomas Valacake, 21.3 @ WI, 7/25
3. Brian Dumke, 20.0 @ A, 7/24
4. Alex Robillard, 19.53 @ K, 7/24
5. Charles .Ron. Seven, 19.29 @ WI, 7/25
6. Greg Smock, 19.21 @ SB, 7/24
7. Gary Mann, 18.91 @ K, 7/24
8. Maxine Lingeman, 18.27 @ WI, 7/25
9. Tim Pinchart, 17.97 @ K, 7/25
10. Christine Falk, 17.85 @ K 7/25
Saturday's Port Prize Winners: Brian Dumke, Alex Robillard, Greg Smock,
Randy VandeHei, Thomas Pelant (17.44, BH).
Sunday.s Port Prize Winners: Andy Jurczykowski, Thomas Valacake, Jake
Wolfenberg (17.79, BH), Julaine Jeanquart (17.7, SB), Paul Weinkauf (17.22, A).
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