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Pat Foote, left, and Steve Skirlin.
Pat Foote, left, and Steve Skirlin.

Foote takes first-place in NRAA walleye contest

by jmaloni
Sat, Aug 31st 2013 06:55 am

by Mark Daul

Outdoors in Niagara

Tournament Chairman Captain Steve Drabczyk of Lewiston Bait & Tackle sends word of another successful walleye tournament held on the lower Niagara River Aug. 24. All fish entered were caught at the Niagara bar in front of Fort Niagara.

First-place honors went to Patrick Foote of Grand Island, weighing his two allowable fish that tipped the scales at 15.98 pounds. Foote caught his fish on a worm harness, with chartreuse colored blades, trailed with yellow/green beads and a night crawler. While raking in the first-place honors, he also picked up a $50 cash prize in the early bird drawing.

Steve Skirlin of Ransomville entered a total weight of 14.34 pounds for his two fish. His fish were also caught using a worm harness, but with silver blades, while using a 3-way swivel and a pencil sinker.

The masterful Charlie Hoy of Niagara Falls wrestled his limit of two fish into the boat for a third-place finish. Hoy was also using a worm harness, long lining it with a 11/2-ounce sinker. Hoy also took home a few bucks for being an NRAA member landing the biggest walleye that weighed in at 8.98 pounds.

Foote picked up the pot by landing the biggest fish in the cash bash, a little side-bet between fishermen made by anteing up a couple of bucks, betting they would catch the largest fish of the day. His walleye topped the scales at a whopping 11.12 pounds. Not bad for walleye in the lower Niagara.

Drabczyk commented, "Fish kill was at a minimum, thanks to good boat communication on the water between contestants." He said communication between fishermen by radio was great, with many letting others know what size fish to keep for it to be worthy of weigh-in. Of the fish weighed in, many were released back to the river for next year.

Compliments to the organizers and the sportsmanship shown by these fishermen.

 

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