WBSA Tournaments

The Lake Erie Walleye Trail (LEWT)

South Street Municipal Public Boat Ramp
Vermilion, OH

June 11, 2005

See Tournament Pictures

Press Release to area newspapers & websites

Team Zaborski makes it back to back wins in the LEWT

The Western Basin Sportfishing Association (WBSA) held the third event of the Triton Boats/Evinrude E-TEC Lake Erie Walleye Trail (LEWT) in Vermilion OH, Saturday, June 11th. The day started off with 29 teams registering and launching to great weather.  Anglers were greeted with coffee and donuts provided by West Marine and Boat US.

The father, son and son team of Stan Zaborski of Sheffield Lake, Mike Zaborski of Sheffield Lake and Ed Zaborski of Wakeman finished on top of the open division for the second event in a row.  They weighed in 5 fish for a total weight of 25.6 lbs.  The team also connected on the big fish for the tournament and won the open division big fish pot with a 10.95 lb fish.  "Our big fish came on a boy girl colored spoon ran behind a dipsey back 90 feet.  We fished off Lorain and had all our fish in the boat by 8:45 AM and never caught a walleye after that" commented Stan Zaborski.  Finishing second in the open division was the team of Ray Vargo,Bob Tolliver, Tim Mudrock all from Lorain and Jim Forbes of Elyria with a total weight of 20 lbs.

In the championship division the father and son team of Bill and Jeff Becker from Marengo kept the family theme going by weighing in 5 walleyes for a total weight of 28.4 lbs.  "We pulled crawlers behind in line weights in 46 foot of water to catch our fish.  Our best speed was 1.5 MPH, our best color of blade was firetiger with pink and blue beads and the afternoon was when we did are best" explained Bill.  Finishing second was another father son team of David and Travis Hartman from Columbus Grove and Port Clinton.  Third was the team of Dan Gies of Huron and Denny Braun of Vermilion, fourth was Gary Zart and Wayne Jesionowski of Hinckley and fifth was Darrel Wood of Sandusky and Tony Gonzales of Harris Township, MI.  Winning big fish in the championship division was Chris Williams of Clyde with a walleye weighing 8.25 lbs.

Teams fished from Avon to the islands and talked about a variety of techniques from cranks to spoons to harness' to bottom bouncing.  No one technique seemed to stand out from the rest as they all caught good fish.

In the team of the year standings the team of Zart and Jesiowoski are leading with Condon / Pawlaczyk, Joseph / Lash, Muscioni / Hanck and Chicoine / Johns rounding out the top five.  The title will be decided at the final event in Lorain and there are still 7 teams in the running to take the title and the large cash payout.

A big thank you goes out to the club members who have helped as volunteers at the first three events of the year and Jim McConville from Lowrance Electronics for emceeing the event.
 
Openings still exist in both divisions for the remainder of this tournament series. The next event will be in Lorain Ohio at Spitzer Marina on July 23rd. For more information about the WBSA or the LEWT you can visit www.wbsa.us  The LEWT is sponsored by Triton Boats, Evinrude E-TEC (BRP), West Marine, Boat US, Reef Runner Lures, Cranberry Creek Marina, Kipawa Propellers, Hungry Howies Pizza, Michigan Stinger Spoons, Sportsman's Outpost, Erie Outfitters, Buckeye Rod Maker, Jims Taxidermy, Fishermans Wharf, Amish Outfitter, Rich's Hook, Line and Sinker, and Tasmanian Devil Spoons.