Minnema takes control on day one at Lake Winnebago
OSHKOSH, Wis. – The weather gods smiled on the RCL anglers today on Lake Winnebago. The thunderstorms that were predicted to strike were a no-show, but so were the limits of fish many anglers thought they would catch today. Only 18 limits were weighed this afternoon with Ranger pro Tim Minnema of Markesan, Wis., and his co-angler partner for today, John Solek of Indianapolis, Ind., leading the way with a catch of 21 pounds even. Minnema was late for registration so he was penalized 2 pounds for a first-day total of 19 pounds.
Minnema was not fishing with a conventional method among Winnebago walleye hunters.
“I was using a technique I picked up a while ago,” said Minnema. “It can be very effective on this system. The conditions have to be right like they are now for it to be effective. I think if the conditions hold, it will be productive for the rest of the tournament.”
Minnema is targeting migrating walleyes.
“I was very selective with the fish I decided to keep,” said Minnema. “I am fishing migrating walleye heading back into the big lake after spawn. I located fish in the upper lakes and in the river. We had our final fish by 1 p.m. and weighed our fish early. I had a great partner today and that really helped in catching a big limit of walleye.”
Early limit nets second slot for Schroeder
The angler holding onto the second position after the first day is Ranger pro Leroy Schroeder of Larsen, Wis. Schroeder had one of the shortest fishing days out of all of today’s contestants.
“We had a really intense hour and a half this morning,” said Schroeder. “We had our limit by 9:30 a.m. We floated around and got a tan this afternoon waiting to come in.”
Schroeder’s weight today was 18 pounds and 14 ounces.
Pa Minnema earns fourth slot
Families that fish together place well together in tournaments.
“I think I taught my son Tim just about everything I know about walleye fishing,” said RCL pro Jim Minnema of Randolph, Wis. Minnema weighed in 15 pounds and 8 ounces, taking the fourth spot after the first round. “I guess Tim is just holding back on me. He must be keeping a few things to himself. I hope my bite continues to go well tomorrow and the bite doesn’t shut down.”
Keenan, Cavins round out top five
Rounding out the top-five pros are Mark Keenan of Menasha, Wis., in third place with 16 pounds, 6 ounces, and in fifth, Ranger pro Pat Cavins of Green Bay, Wis., with 15 pounds, 5 ounces.
Most of the pros used one of two techniques to find and catch walleyes today. They either pitched lightweight 1/16- to 1/8-ounce jigs tipped with leeches or night crawlers into the cane beds found in this system or they trolled with planer boards and crankbaits along reefs and flats.
RCL pro Chris Gilman of Chisago City, Minn., used a wrestling technique to capture his walleyes today.
“I had to belly hug a fish today,” said Gilman. “It is the first time I have ever wrestled with a walleye. We got the fish in the boat and then it got free and started flopping around on the deck. I jumped on it and hugged it until it was under control. It was a lucky kind of a deal.”
Leading the way in the co-angler division is the current leader for the Co-angler of the Year title, John Solek of Indianapolis, Ind., with 21 pounds. In second place, with 18 pounds, 14 ounces, is Keith Strauss of Syracuse, Ind. In third is George Hellar of Webster City, Iowa, with 16 pounds, 6 ounces. The fourth spot is held by Steven Schram of Waukesha, Wis., with 15 pounds, 8 ounces, and in fifth position is Michael Dutton of Kaukauna, Wis., with 15 pounds, 5 ounces.
Co-angler Jackie Perry of Milaca, Minn., had a close encounter with a behemoth gator.
“I have never fished out on Winnebago before,” said Perry. “We caught some decent walleye today, but we had a huge northern pike on. It took the entire planer board under the water. The pike came along the side of the boat and it looked like it weighed almost 30 pounds. It was absolutely huge.”
Besides hooking into monstrous northern pike, there are incredible amounts of sheepshead, or freshwater drum, and white bass.
“If you fish on the Winnebago system for more than 10 minutes, you will probably catch a sheepshead,” said FLW Director of Walleye Operations Mark Dorn. “There are so many of them in this system. I don’t think anybody who weighed fish today didn’t catch a few of them.”
Competition resumes tomorrow at 7 a.m. Tomorrow’s weigh-in will start at 3 p.m. at the Pioneer Resort and Marina, which is located at 1000 Pioneer Drive in Oshkosh, Wis. Pioneer Resort’s phone number is (800) 683-1980.
Quick stats
Number of boats: 144
Total fish weighed in: 432
Total weight: 907 pounds, 10 ounces
Limits caught: 18
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