Duerr And Sadowske Win Cabela’s North American Bass Circuit’s Lake Pokegama Tournament Presented by MotorGuide
Category: npaa
Jun 4th, 2013 by OutdoorsFIRST
Modified Jun 4th, 2013 at 12:00 AM
Grand Rapids, Minn.-June 1, 2013-Wisconsin’s Mark Duerr and Tim Sadowske bagged a 20-pound, 6-ounce, 5-fish limit to win the Cabela’s North American Bass Circuit’s Lake Pokegama team tournament June 1.
“It’s about time!” grinned Sadowske, of Waukesha, alluding to the fact that he and Duerr have fished every NABC tournament except one since the Circuit launched in 2011. The victory earned the team the $11,800 first-place purse, plus the $500 Cabela’s Angler Cash contingency.
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“It’s a great feeling,” added Duerr, of Milwaukee. He explained that their top tactic was fishing jerkbaits along a rocky breakline in five to six feet of water. Their limit included four smallmouths and one largemouth, which was taken on a jig.
Minnesotans Mark Raveling, of Longville, and Shane Raveling, of Jordan, finished a close second with 20 pounds, 4 ounces, worth $4,200. In all, the top 20 percent of teams shared more than $30,000 in payout plus Big Fish Pot and sponsor contingencies. In 13th place, Minnesotans Bob Perkins, of Crosslake, and Chuck Fields, of Brainerd, claimed the $500 Ranger Cup contingency.
Lake Pokegama yielded 327 bass weighing a total of 1,046 pounds, 6 ounces in the Circuit’s catch-and-release format. Big bass of the tournament was a 6-pound beauty brought in by Minnesotans Jim Merthan, of Woodbury, and Dave Skallet, of Andover. Sixty-five of the 72 teams competing brought limits to the stage despite the day’s strong winds, rain and cool water temperatures.
The team-format tournament, presented by MotorGuide, offered one day of competition on the 6,700-acre Mississippi River impoundment’s world-class large- and smallmouth fishery, with one day reserved in case of bad weather. The weigh-in was held at the Pokegama Golf Course in Grand Rapids.
This was the second of four Cabela’s NABC North Region qualifying tournaments in 2013. The remaining schedule includes the Mississippi River at La Crosse, Wisconsin, July 20-21; Leech Lake, Minnesota, out of Horseshoe Bay Lodge, Sept. 20-21; and the North Region Championship, set for Oct. 11-12 on Wisconsin’s Chippewa Flowage. In addition, the NABC South Region features qualifiers at Lake Hartwell, South Carolina, Sept. 7; and Clark’s Hill Lake, Georgia, November 9. The South Region Championship is set for Lake Lanier, Georgia, Dec. 7-8.
Cabela’s NABC payouts are based on the number of teams entered in each event. Based on a 75-boat field, the payout runs from a cool $15,000 for first place on out to $500 for 15th place, with a total payout of $30,000 in cash and coveted Cabela’s gift cards. Plus, the NABC Big Bass Pot, along with sponsor contingencies including Cabela’s Angler Cash, Ranger Cup and Optima True Blue add thousands in cash and prizes to the total.
Cabela’s, the World’s Foremost Outfitter for hunting, fishing and outdoor gear, is entering its third season as title sponsor of the NABC. Other sponsors include: Ranger Boats, Stratos Boats, Mercury Marine, MotorGuide, Optima Batteries, O2 Marine Technologies and Sea Grant.
Based in Ponca City, Oklahoma, the Cabela’s NABC is open to two-person teams regardless of club or sponsor affiliation. Entry fees are $500 per regular season tournament and $600 for each two-day region championship. Payback is 80 percent at the event, with the balance to support the championship and angler of the year prizes. In addition, a small donation is included in each entry fee and matched by NABC and other conservation organizations up to 3-to-1 in support bass conservation projects anywhere NABC does business.
Registration remains open through the Sunday night prior to each tournament or until the field fills. For more information, visit northamericanbasscircuit.com, email [email protected], or call (580) 765-9031.