RCL Walleye Tournament Docks in the Saginaw Bay
The "Eyes" Have It
July 3, 2002
By: MyBayCity Staff
Bringing In The Days Catch
Weighing In A Winning Catch
Here in Bay City it's nothing out of the norm to see fishing boats cruising up the river to enjoy a day of Walleye fishing on the Saginaw Bay. But on June 26-29 the Saginaw Bay raised the stakes for the days catch.
The Bay Area Convention and Visitors Bureau hosted the Wal-Mart RCL Walleye tournament in the Saginaw Bay. Directed by FLW Outdoors and named after Wal-Mart and boat manufacturers Ranger, Crestliner and Lund, the Wal-Mart RCL Walleye Circuit is the world's most lucrative walleye fishing series. Each regular season tournament features a $346,000 purse with cash payments presented through 50th place.
There were more than a dozen states and Canada being represented by teams consisting on one professional angler and a non-pro co-angler in each boat.
"The Saginaw Bay is a great fishery," said Sonny Reynolds, director of this year's tournament. "We keep coming back because the area's hospitality and resources are second to none. Everyone on the circuit truly enjoys fishing this exceptional body of water!"
The first day of the tournament produced many limit catches, that included some very large fish - no surprise to many locals who always enjoy reeling in the big ones. The weather was just right for the big bite with a front coming in. Throughout the day the temps soared and were brought down only momentarily by a 10 minute downpour that we here in Michigan have come to expect.
Julia "Juls" Davis, the only woman in the Saginaw Bay RCL Tournament, is enjoying her rookie year on the professional tour and took advantage of her first time fishing the Saginaw Bay. "I was a little intimidated by the Saginaw Bay, it's one of the largest bodies of water that I have fished professionally, but once I was out there I had a great time. You have some large walleye in this body of water."
When asked how she was enjoying her first experience in Bay County, Julsreplied, "I have really been welcomed with open arms. The people and the facilities here are top notch. Everyone has been awesome and I am already looking forward to coming back next year."
The tournament wrapped up on Saturday with Pro AnglerTodd Riley of Amery, WI and Co-Angler Tom Nordyke of Newport, MI winning the tourney with Riley landing 20 fish for a total of 137.69 pounds and Nordyke adding to it with 19 fish for a total of 118.13 pounds.