
FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE………………………………….Grand Rapids, MN
Grand Rapids Area Chamber Walleye
Classic
Ranger Cup Team Wins Grand Rapids Chamber Walleye Classic
Date: 6-22-09
To: All Media
From: Grand Rapids Area Chamber Walleye Classic
June 20, 2009 Pokegama Lake
Grand Rapids, Minnesota
Contact: TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR, Jason Green 218-259-8592
Jason@upnorthinc.com
www.grandrapidschamberwalleyeclassic.com
Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce, Bud Stone
218-326-6619
This past Saturday on Pokegama
Lake a light breeze and plenty of sunshine seemed to give most fish
lock jaw and put anglers to the test. But that didn’t stop Gordon
Fothergill and Brad Rassmussen from cashing a first place check for
weighing four fish totaling 17.09lbs.
Fothergill states “In my opinion Pokegama is one of the gems in
the region. It is an all around great lake!” Rassmussen agrees,
“I love fishing this lake! If a person wants to take a kid out to
catch some fish this is a perfect lake, you can always find some
species of fish to tug on the end of the line”. With fish not
wanting to cooperate, Gordy and Brad put a plan together of going
back to the basics and keeping it simple. Just a plain live bait
rig, no colored hooks, “the more color the more perch bites we had”
said Brad. Both anglers fish a lot of tournaments together and are
off to a great start for the 2009 season. Rassmussen and Fothergill
said the Grand Rapids Chamber and its sponsors did a great job for
their first tournament and believe they are on track to a great
event. On top of their 1st place check the team was able
to cash a $500 bonus from Ranger Boats and take home a two night
stay and two rounds of golf from Ruttger’s Sugar Lake Lodge. They
also have an invitation to fish the 2009 AIM International
Championship this September.
In a very close 2nd were Sean Colter and Dave Hernesman
with 17.03lbs. Along with their 2nd place winnings
Colter and Hernesman were also able to cash a check for their
Biggest Walleye which tipped the scales at 9.34lbs. Their Biggest
Fish also let them take home $200 in Northland Fishing Tackle.
3rd place winners were Tony Jerulle and Dale Anderson
“Sammy’s, the Rapala of Pizza” team with 15.63lbs.
Adult/Youth division went to Mark & Sam Utecht with 12.25lbs.
Both anglers took home hand held GPS Units courtesy of Sammy’s Pizza
along with a check for placing 9th over all.
Tournament Director Jason Green states, “I can’t believe how
smooth everything went! From the trickle start at 7:00am all the
way through the weigh in, not one single problem. Our entries were
down a little bit more than what we would have liked but it was
still a great day! This will definitely be an annual June event for
the Grand Rapids Area Chamber. On top of it all the anglers caught
fish, really big fish”!
Media Partners;
PBTV, Red Rock Radio, WTBX, RADIO USA, Range 11, Mediacom, KOZY/KMFY
Major event sponsors include; Paul Bunyan Telephone, Ray’s
Sport and Marine, Edward Jones, Walmart, US Bank, Deerwood Bank, L&M
Fleet Supply/Northland Fishing Tackle, American Bank, Woodland Bank,
Lake Country Power, West End Bait, Sugar Lake Lodge, Sawmill Inn and
Zorbaz on Pokegama Lake.
For more information go to
www.grandrapidschamberwalleyeclassic.com
.

FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE………………………………….Grand Rapids, MN
Grand Rapids Area Chamber To Host
Walleye Tournament Worth Over $50,000.00
Date: 12/9/2008
To: All Media
From: Grand Rapids Area Chamber Walleye Classic
June 20, 2009
Grand Rapids, Minnesota
Contact: TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR, Jason Green 218-259-8592
Jason@upnorthinc.com
Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce, Bud Stone
218-326-6619
Paul Bunyan Telephone is
excited to bring you the 1st Annual Grand Rapids Area
Chamber Walleye Classic. The Walleye Classic will be held June 20th,
2009 on Pokegama Lake. Information was released to the public in
November and Tournament Director, Jason Green’s phone has been
ringing off the hook. “People can’t believe we are going to have a
one day Walleye Tournament that will give away over $50,000.00 in
cash and prizes” states Green. The positive community response has
been enormous.
June 20th, 2009,
100 teams will take to Pokegama Lake in one of Minnesota’s largest
Walleye Tournaments. Not only will the tournament be paying out
large sums of money for 1st Place through 10th
place, anglers will be able to compete at different levels with
random payouts at 11th, 25th, 50th
and 75th places. The Walleye Classic will also award the
top Adult/Youth, Male/Female Teams and of course the Biggest Fish!
This way if anglers feel they cannot compete with the “Pros” they
can still compete on a comfortable level. With this type of format
we will end up with a smaller tournament within the actual
tournament.
Mark your calendars for the
weigh in, it will be held at 3:00pm at Zorbas on Pokegama Lake.
Pokegama Lake is known for its massive sized walleye and plenty of
them will be brought to the scales so grab your family and a camera.
When interviewed, Chamber
President Bud Stone said “It’s not just about the tournament, it is
also about community and the resources that Grand Rapids has to
offer. To kick off the tournament we plan to have a community party
which will take place Friday June 19, 2009. The community party
will consist of a Boat Parade, Fish Fry, Kids Games and Media
Blitz. We hope to get everyone involved to help support the anglers
and the Grand Rapids Area Chamber Businesses.”
Major event sponsors include;
Paul Bunyan Telephone, Walmart, Edward Jones, US Bank