
More than 60 teams braved 20 mph winds and three- to four-foot waves on Lake Erie to compete in the first Walleye Challenge on Saturday, Oct. 3. The event, hosted by Fish Huron Ohio, will be held annually. Sixty-two teams with about 200 anglers vied for more than $10,000 in cash and prizes.
Nearly 800 pounds of walleye were brought to the scales during the weigh-in, which took place at the Boat Basin Amphitheater. A 10.53-pound walleye was the biggest fish caught that day by Frank Zubel of Cleveland, who won $500 for the biggest catch.
The winning team, “HetGotPapa,” of Steve Borowski, Steve Puruczky and Scott Geitgey, pocketed $2,500 in cash for their five-fish tournament limit weighing 36.27 lbs. They also won two bonus prizes: $100 from the Western Basin Sportfishing Association, and a $50 gift certificate to J n’J’s Harbor Drive Thru for Traxtech fishing gear for their 8.21-pound fish.