5/31/08

Sponsored by
Evinrude/BRP   &   Starcraft Marine

Another new winner for the LEWT at the Crown Battery Catawba Island event

The Western Basin Sportfishing Association (WBSA) and Lake Erie Walleye Trail (LEWT) held the Evinrude E TEC – Starcraft Marine third event of 2008 on Saturday May 31st at Catawba State Park brought to you by Crown Battery.  The day started with mild winds at take off and built through out the day.  The field of 39 teams were greeted in the morning with coffee and donuts from West Marine. 

The LEWT had another first time winner for the Crown Battery event in Aaron Humbert of Republic and John Miller of Green Springs with a basket of 5 walleye weighing 39.44 lbs.  Finishing second with 36.2 lbs was Rob Cline of  Nova and Dick Chicoine of Port Clinton.  Thomas Sibert of Sandusky and Tom Sibert of Castalia brought in 32.9 lbs to grab third.  Rounding out the top five was Mike Robertson of Potsdam and Mike Tobias of Covington with 32.7 lbs for fourth and Randy Cline of  Nova and Mike Petruska of Cleveland finished fifth with 30.78 lbs.

In the race for the Cranberry Creek Marina Big Fish award the Siberts cashed in again for the second event in a row.  Their winning big fish for this event tipped the scales at 9.28 lbs.  In addition to the money and  a free Cranberry Creek Ramp Pass the father and son team also captured the Medina Plating bonus of $250 for winning the big fish award with a  fish over 9 lbs. Humbert and Miller came in with the second big fish weighing in at 8.84 lbs.  The Siberts made a run to the deep waters off of Lorain to capture their fish for the event.

In the team of the year race the top spot remained the same while there were some changes farther down in the standings.  Scott Geitgey and Tim Calvert remained at the top of the standings with their seventh place finish in the event.  Team Sibert moved into second place while another father and son team and two time defending champions Travis and Dave Hartman are in third.  It is still anyone’s race to win since teams do get to drop one event from the first four of the year and the South Shore Marine Championship is worth extra points as the final event of 2008.  It looks like it will come right down to the wire.

There were a total of 170 fish brought to the scales weighing an average of 4.85 lbs.  The top teams all talked of running spinners behind inline weights and snap weights.  There was one top finishing team that casted for a few of their weigh fish.  Water depth fished varied from 8 foot to 41 foot.  Most teams reported fishing around Kelly’s, North Bass Island and as far east as Lorain.

Here is the remaining schedule for the LEWT and spots remain for both events.

June 28^th – Geneva State Park “Migration Open”

August 2^nd – Lorain “South Shore Marine Championship”

For more information about the LEWT you can visit www.wbsa.us   Listed below are the 2008 LEWT sponsors: Starcraft Marine, Evinrude E-TEC(BRP), South Shore Marine, West Marine, Reef Runner Lures, Cranberry Creek Marina, Vics Sports Center,  Crown Battery, Sportsmans Outpost, Erie Outfitters, Ole Pete's Tackle, Yant Beef Jerky,  Navionics, www.OhioGamefishing.com , Buckeye Rod Maker, Michigan Stinger Spoons, Sharpnack II Chevrolet, Jim’s Taxidermy, Sharpnack Ford, Cisco Fishing Systems, LPG Fishing Systems, Medina Plating, and Rich’s Hook Line and Sinker.