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208
Teams Enjoy Great Shooting in 28th Annual Tourney,
Yielding Over 72 Tons Harvested by Bow!
CASEVILLE, MI – Two-man teams from all across the Midwest and as far away
as North Carolina, Florida, Kansas and Texas converged on the shallows of
Saginaw Bay on May 21st & 22nd to compete in the 28th 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, local hospitality, and the unparalleled camaradery of the
participants continues to draw this group of sportsmen back
to Caseville each year. And with the great support of industry sponsors like
Bohning, Muzzy, AMS Bowfishing, and
Cajun Archery, you can expect this great tradition to
continue for years to come.
Over the past 27 years these contestants have broken the
previous World Record set out in California for the most
fish harvested by bow eighteen times. They currently hold
the world mark at an astounding 278,871 pounds of what most 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. When the weather and timing are perfect, the number of
carp can be absolutely incredible. And this year was certainly no slouch.
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 442 bowfishermen assembled to register and
prepare for the tournament start not long after sun rise.
Several of the teams hosted a third “youth shooter” to help
carry on the tradition.
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
unusually-outfitted watercraft ranging from canoes to large
prop-driven 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 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.
After nine hours of competition the teams rolled back into the scales to have their catches tallied. The contestants arrowed an astonishing 75,772 pounds of rough fish – over 95% of these being carp. 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.
A throng of 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
Frank Upton, of Maple Rapids, with a whopping 29.30-pound carp sporting a $10-per-pound prize; and
Dan Owen, of Jeddo, with a dandy 28.55-pounder taking the
$5-per-pound second place prize.
The evening hours provided many participants with a delicious chicken barbeque, raffles, door prizes and fish stories at the Wooded Island Hall. Others settled into the local establishments for food, drink and fun to cap off a great day on the water. Then it was time to rest and recharge for what day-two would bring.
Sunday morning greeted the contestants with more beautiful weather. They took to the water with energy and enthusiasm in anticipation of another outstanding day.
By the 3 p.m. deadline the weary and messy archers managed to haul in another 70,110 pounds, bringing the weekend’s total to an incredible 145,882 pounds – enough to fill two long gravel train dump trucks and leaving many spectators wide-eyed with wonder!
Claiming the title of Great Lakes Bowfishing Champions
was the team of Zach Corradi of Caro and “Yooper” TJ Wilson
of Grand Marais. The pair managed to arrow and haul in an astounding 4,574 pounds of rough fish in two days!
Close behind and taking second with an impressive 4,134 pounds was the duo of
Darrell Maggert and Dave Donley, both of Riverdale and
sponsored by Dave Donley Painting. Third place went to
former GLBC Champions Mike Goad, of Millington, and
Brent Sorge, of Otter Creek with 3,811 pounds and
sponsored by Goad’s Kennels.
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 based on the Lewis Class system.
Sunday’s “Big Fish” honors went to Shane Buschlen, of Saginaw, with a tournament-topping 33.50-pound “hawg”. Second place went to
Brandon Sutfin, of Battle Creek, with a big 26.20-pounder.
Prizes were also awarded for other rough fish species taken during the tournament.
Matt Gorsuch, of Middlebury, IN, and Steve
Newman, of Waterford, tied for Largest Gar honors, each connecting on big 6.75-pounders.
Chuch Ritz of Linden, nabbed the Largest Goldfish prize arrowing a 3.15-pound specimen.
Mark Heinzelman, of Parma, claimed the Largest Dogfish prize, tipping the scales with a big 7.75-pound bowfin.
And setting the new all-time tournament record for Largest Gold Carp was Aaron Marion, of Trevor, WI, registering a whopping 19.40-pound cross between a carp and goldfish.
Aaron Marion
of Trevor, WI joins partner Chris Marion of
Novi, MI
in proudly showing off the largest Gold Carp taken
in the tournament’s
28-year history, tipping the scales at an incredible 19.40 pounds and
easily unseating the 13.97-pounder shot by the infamous Chris Cass,
also of Wisconsin, that held the mark since 2004.
Aside from providing a lot of recreational fun for hundreds of sportsmen and ridding the bay of tons of 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 27 years, the foundation has been responsible for hosting Hunter Safety Camps for kids, and putting over 61,000 campers through the Sleeper State Park Outdoor Center. The vast majority of these campers were youth 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 28 years of outstanding support!”
The 29th annual event will be May 19 & 20 of 2012.
By Bob Easterbrook,
Jr.
(Reprints are permitted).
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2011
Great Lakes Bowfishing Championship Tournament Report
