|
Summer full of angling tournaments on Lesser Slave
Photo Gallery
They say ‘there’s gold in Lesser Slave Lake’ and no one knows that better than the many anglers who have made this their favorite fishing retreat- summer or winter. Some of those anglers form queues annually for the variety of fishing tournaments on the lake. Summer tournaments start at Slave Lake in the east and happen all the way to Shaw’s Point in the northwest corner of Lesser Slave Lake. With the respective ‘pots of gold’ building annually, it’s little wonder the events have gained popularity with each passing year.
Each year, total prize packages range from around $10,000 to almost $30,000. Each tournament follows similar rules. Boats must be powered. The teams are two people. The events run two days. A total of ten walleye will be weighed and the most weight over the two days is declared winner. Most importantly, the fish weighed must be alive and healthy. The intent being that all fish caught during the tournament will be returned to the lake for another day’s fishing.
The longest running tournament on Lesser Slave Lake is the Golden Walleye Classic, now in it’s eleventh year. No tournament has ever been cancelled due to bad weather. Three years ago, flood conditions on the Lake caused the Western Walleye to be postponed one day. Two years ago, high water levels at Slave Lake caused the Slave Lake Walleye Tournament to use Spruce Point Park instead of the river at Slave Lake as tournament headquarters.
The end result has been lots of sales of rain gear, super-duty life jackets and survival gear in local stores and of course, safer and better equipped boats. Today, just ten years after the start of tournaments locally, the average angler on Lesser Slave is well equipped to deal with all kinds of weather. His gear, his knowledge and his fishing expertise is proven to be on a par with the best in the world.
And of course, it happens a few anglers on Lesser Slave are just as lucky as the guys who travel a thousand miles to see if they can snooker the locals. These days, it doesn’t happen often, but you are welcome to try.
If you happen to be on the water during one of these events, or in town when one is happening, stop by the tournament site. There is no charge for looking. You’ll see lots of people, lots of boats, lots of equipment to help catch fish, and quite often you will see lots of fish too!
1999 Open Tournaments
Faust May 29-30
Western Walleye Council June 12-13
Slave Lake July 10-11
Joussard July 31-Aug. 1
Golden Walleye Classic Aug. 14-15
Faust:
The tournaments for 1999 lead off with a second-timer scheduled for May 29-30 in Faust. In its first year, the tourney drew about 40 teams from as far away as Edmonton and Grande Prairie.
Faust Fire Department 780-355-3806 or 780-355-3527.
Western Walleye Council:
The Council used to handle a series of tournaments around Alberta. Local people had asked the Council several times to consider Lesser Slave Lake as a site for one of the Council tourneys. Then two things happened. First, since most council members are avid anglers and wanted to compete in the events, it became harder and harder to keep a series going. Second, with the walleye fishery in many parts of Alberta under serious pressure, Lesser Slave Lake was one of the few lakes left able to support a tournament. The two factors brought the WWC to Shaw’s Point Resort. There resort staff do their best to help with operating a smooth tournament. the WWC has many local members, but also attracts some of Alberta’s top professional teams. The tournament is scheduled for June 12-13 this year.
Western Walleye Council 340-1371.
Slave Lake:
The third tournament to take place on the lake this summer goes July 10-11 at Slave Lake where the groups field sits at 180 boats. Attracting sport fishermen from across the province as well as some from the United States, the Slave Lake Walleye Tournament offers $27,000 in cash and prizes. Now in its eighth year.
Golden Pike Society, 780-849-3141 or 780-849-3431.
Joussard:
The long weekend in August will play host to the fourth tournament which has gained acclaim on the lake in the past decade. One of the oldest annual tourneys on the lake, the Joussard Family tournament goes July 31-August 1 in that community. Organizers have limited their field to about 80 boats and pay-outs are adjusted accordingly.
But at the same time, anglers are quick to send in their applications as soon as possible for the very popular tourney.
The tournament is promoted as a relaxed event, and this is probably why so many people want in. Usually, no matter where you look at Joussard, you can find a team doing worse than you.
Joussard Community Association, 776-3781.
Golden Walleye Classic:
This is Lesser Slave Lake’s longest running event. This is the tournament that managed to pull together all the tourism promotions of the past, like the Golden Pike and the sailing regattas and economic ideas. This is the event that kicked off the explosion of interst in walleye angling on Lesser Slave that has done huge amounts for local tourism and lake development.
Over it’s eleven year history, the Golden has offered total prizes some years in excess of $110,000. At one point, the Golden was the largest and richest walleye tournament in the world.
Since that time, the numbers have dropped to where the Golden fits comfortably into the other events over the summer.
August 14-15, at Shaw’s Point Resort, High Prairie.
Keep in mind you can enter many of these events by phoning a few days ahead of time. Don’t show up expecting to get a berth however. Some events are booked several weeks in advance. Phone ahead. Also, remember even though you may not be able to make the exact tournament dates, you can still get a feel for what’s happening by being at the tournament site one or two days in advance. Many teams are "pre-fishing" checking local hot spots and checking fishing patterns.
High Prairie and District Chamber of Commerce, 780-523-3505.
Back
Copyright © 2000 HighPrairie.com All Rights Reserved.
No part may be reproduced without the written consent of HighPrairie.com
View our Privacy Statement and Terms of Service
|
|