GLBC Director Bob Easterbrook, Sr., presents trophies to longtime tournament team of Rick Russell and Jim McIntyre of Sparta, Michigan as they celebrate a back-to-back victory winning the 2010 Great Lakes Bowfishing Championship. The pair, sponsored by Strickly Bowfishing, managed to arrow an incredible 1,308 pounds of rough fish in two days! Congratulations Again & Great Job!!!

CASEVILLE, MI – Two-man teams from all across the Midwest and as far away as North Carolina, Florida and Texas converged on the shallows of Saginaw Bay on June 5th & 6th for the 27th Annual Great Lakes Bowfishing Championship (GLBC). Their goal was to reap as many carp and other rough fish as possible using the tools of their trade – the bow and arrow.

From its humble beginnings in 1984, the GLBC has grown to become one of the largest, most prestigious bowfishing tournaments in the nation. The great bowfishing potential, local hospitality, and the unparalleled camaradery of the participants continues to draw this fine group of sportsmen back to Caseville each year. And with the great support of industry sponsors like Bohning, Muzzy, AMS Bowfishing, Cajun Archery, CP Oneida Eagle Bows, and BowHunterPlanet.com, you can expect this great tradition to continue for years to come.

Over the past 26 years these bowfishermen have broken the previous World Record set out in California for the most fish by a bowfishing tournament eighteen times. They currently hold the world mark at an astounding 278,871 pounds of what many consider “trash” fish!

This time of year beckons the annual onslaught of spawning carp into the bay’s shallow waters where they can become the prey of crafty archers sporting bowfishing gear on their bows. When the weather and timing are perfect, the number of carp can be absolutely incredible. “You can walk on them”, many have proclaimed. But this year’s early spring weather rendered the fish rather difficult to find on this particular weekend.

This year’s tournament once again kicked off early Saturday morning at the Wallace Stone Quarry, the tournament’s weigh-in site situated just outside of Bayport. A throng of 434 bowfishermen assembled to register and prepare for the tournament start not long after sun rise. A couple hundred vehicles lay crouched and ready to spring into action as soon as their team numbers were randomly drawn and head to their preferred launch sites. Most were trucks with trailers sporting a wide variety of unusuallyoutfitted watercraft ranging from canoes to large propdriven airboats. Some resembled UFO’s more than boats. The teams were well prepared for the task at hand of harvesting rough fish such as carp, garpike, dogfish and goldfish with their archery equipment and assorted bowfishing rigs.

Shortly after the 8 a.m. start, the teams were scrambling about Saginaw Bay’s shoreline from Caseville to Bay City in search of these non-indigenous “trash” fish. They toiled in the bay’s shallows as well as the adjacent canals & rivers attempting to haul in as many fish as possible prior to the 5 p.m. deadline.

The warm, sunny weather set a perfect stage for a productive day, but many of the carp had spawned early this season and moved out to deeper waters making for difficult bowfishing conditions.

Those that managed to find fish and shoot true did pretty well and were able to harvest several hundred pounds of the invaders.

After nine hours of competition the teams rolled back into the weigh-in site to have their catches tallied. The participants managed to arrow, retrieve and transport back to the scales 19,852 pounds of rough fish – 99% of these being carp. A lot of fish my most standards, but not up to expectations for this group. Tons of fish were loaded via heavy equipment into a dump truck and on their way to become quality fertilizer.

According to Michigan DNR wildlife biologists removal of these fish from the bay provide many benefits. These invasive species to Michigan’s waters destroy and damage critical spawning and nesting habitat for game fish and waterfowl. Thinning out the carp’s prolific numbers provides a boost to Saginaw Bay’s native wildlife species.

Many of the Caseville & Bayport area businesses sponsor cash awards for the two largest carp taken each day – a big favorite with the shooters. Saturday’s winners were Jeremy Steinman of Pigeon with a huge 30.55-pound “hawg” sporting a $10-per-pound prize; and Pete Lowery of Lake with a dandy 27.60-pounder taking the $5-perpound second place prize.

The evening hours provided many participants with a delicious chicken barbeque, raffles, fish stories and a live band at the Wooded Island Hall. Others settled into the local establishments for food, drink and fun to cap off a nice day on the water. Then it was time to rest and recharge for day two of the big event.

By Sunday morning the all-night rain had relented and cooler, windier weather greeted the contestants as they prepared for another day of bowfishing. They took to the water with energy despite the less-than-optimal conditions.

By the 3 p.m. deadline the weary archers managed to haul in another 22,673 pounds, bringing the weekend’s total to 42,525 pounds. Not a lot by typical GLBC standards, but still enough to drop jaws on many spectating onlookers.

Claiming the title of Great Lakes Bowfishing Champions for the second year in a row was the team of Rick Russell and Jim McIntyre both of Sparta. The pair, sponsored by Stout Realty, managed to arrow an impressive 1,308 pounds of rough fish in two days!

Taking second place with a very respectable 1,110 pounds was the duo of Brent Sorge of Otter Lake and Mike Goad of Millington, sponsored by Goad’s Kennels. Third place honors went the family tandem of Ted Schulz of Cass City and Jason Schulz of Ubly with 922 pounds and sponsored by Charlie’s Pub & Grub.

Cash prizes were also awarded to the remaining top 20 teams, as well as others who didn’t place near the top, like the “Average Joe” prize and the Bohning “Second Chance” awards that are based on the Lewis Class system.

Sunday’s “Big Fish” honors went to Fred Schrank of Coleman with a 24.6-pound whopper carp. Second place went to Al Pope also of Coleman with a big 23.85-pounder.

Prizes were also awarded for other rough fish species taken during the tournament. Matt Geremesz of Algonac landed Largest Gar honors connecting on a big 5.65- pounder. Frank Evanko of Roseville nabbed the Largest Goldfish prize arrowing a 3.25-pound specimen. And 27- year tournament veteran Judd Hill of New Carlisle, Indiana claimed the Largest Dogfish prize, tipping the scales with a big 7.05-pound bowfin.

Aside from providing a lot of recreational fun for hundreds of sportsmen and ridding the bay of tons of unwanted and destructive “trash” fish, the tournament’s primary goal was met. Organizers raised thousands of dollars for the Wildlife Education Foundation - a non-profit volunteer organization who’s primary mission is to get kids involved in the great outdoors.

Over the past 26 years, the foundation has been responsible for putting over 60,000 campers through the Sleeper State Park Outdoor Center. The vast majority of these campers were kids from all over Michigan who got to appreciate the outdoors, learn about environmental respect & wildlife conservation, and experience shooting sports and firearms safety. Thanks to the success of this tournament and the generosity of its supporters, the foundation will continue to ensure that kids who want to experience Michigan’s great outdoors will have that opportunity.

“I would like to thank our generous supporters…”, said tournament Director Bob Easterbrook. Sr. “…our wonderful sponsors, the local area businesses, the Caseville Chamber of Commerce, Wallace Stone Quarry, our prize donors, and of course our supportive tournament participants. The foundation and the kids who benefit from it are extremely grateful. It’s great to see so many people come together, have this much fun and do so much good. I thank all of you for your incredible 27 years of outstanding support!”

The 28th annual event is slated for May 21 & 22 of 2011 – two weeks earlier than the traditional date.

By Bob Easterbrook, Jr.