Locals and Semi-locals grab top spots

By Frank Ross/Cabelas.com

Escanaba, MI

Today was the day 500 anglers have anticipated for the past year - the first day of competition in Cabela's National Team Championship (NTC), held in Escanaba, Mich.

For the past few days, these anglers have been pre-fishing, trying to put together their best game plan, and trying to keep their best game face firmly in place. At 7:00 a.m. today, the long-awaited National Anthem echoed over the windswept Little Bay de Noc as two Escanaba firemen carried the American flag atop an extended ladder truck.

This field of 250 teams was distilled from over 60,000 contestants, participants in qualifying organizations vying for the spots that these select teams hold. As truck after truck filed past the launch ramps, the license tags began to take on the flavor of a Rand McNally Atlas. They've come from 33 states to take home the coveted title of national team champions, but a group of hardworking assortment of local anglers would like to keep the trophy here in Escanaba. 

Early this morning, based on predictions of 20 to 30 mph winds, tournament officials decided to invoke the foul weather rule, limiting the area to be fished to Little Bay de Noc. For some, unfamiliar with these bodies of water, it was a disappointment - until they got out on the water. As one angler stated at the weigh-in, "it looked fine from the launch in the river, but man it was ugly out there. Cabela's made the right call on this one." 

Many anglers had never experienced conditions like they saw today, and according to locals that know the lake well, that was a mild version of what it would have been beyond the boundaries of the Ford River and Pinnacle Point. 

Clay Price, Glendive, Mont., and partner Todd Wacaser of Lovell, Wyo., said that they are used to the wind, but have never seen waves like they had to deal with today. When asked how high they were, Clay explained that he wasn't used to judging such waves, but added all they saw was sky and water for most of the morning. 

Despite the unpleasant conditions, Price and Wacaser were able to pound out an impressive weight of 17.12 pounds. "If we had kept a 16-1/2-inch fish that we threw back, we would have been done at 10 a.m.," Price explained. The two were pulling spinners. Tournament rules limited the field to six fish in the livewell, with their five best weighed and a slot limit from a 16-inch minimum to 23 inches. The final basket brought to the scales could contain only one fish over 23 inches.

Escanaba's favorite sons, Tom Polkey and Bob Therrian wowed the crowd early in the day with an exceptional basket and held the lead for most of the afternoon's ceremonies at the UP State Fairgrouds, with 20.66 pounds.

After the smoke had cleared, and the final baskets were tallied, Polkey and Therrian were not disappointed about their slip from the catbird's seat. Polkey was very pragmatic in his response, stating the difference between were they were then and now is minor, noting that they are in a much better position than say, 100th. 

This pair has been fishing tournaments together for the past seven years, but have yet to win one; however, this is the one they want to win the worst way. "Both my wife and I have put a lot of work into this event, working as local coordinators. It would be nice to keep the trophy in our local area. We qualified for last year's event, but Kansas is a long way away. When we qualified and entered, we were hoping to finish in the top 50, now we're setting our sights a little higher," Polkey said.

Jeff Iverson and Kevin Le Boeuf took a little of the wind out of Polkey and Therrian's sails when they recorded a 22.12-pound basket, with a 6.68-pound kicker fish.

Meanwhile, the husband and wife team of Glen and Carol Chenier, of Gladstone, slid in a 20.55-pound weight, stacking the top of the deck with Wolverine bloodlines. Their big fish was 6.29 pounds, positioning them as the current leaders for top husband/wife team honors. 

Finally, as the evening sun was breaking through the overcast that had held for the entire day, its golden rays beamed brightly on Troy Hodges and Craig Nagy, who are from Michigan but not locals, unless you consider 600 miles in the neighborhood. This is also the first time they have fished this area.

Hodges and Nagy brought the biggest total basket weight of the day and also swallowed up the lead for Stihl Chain Saw's Big Fish of the Day, with an 8.82-pound bruiser that had obviously fed well since the spawn.

The bad news for the field, they have an ace up their sleeve, weather permitting tomorrow. This big basket came from their #2 spot, and according to them, their best spot was holding much larger fish, hitting more consistently. 

Although they wouldn't divulge any of their tactics, they did state they would be doing the same thing tomorrow as they did today. Well, duh!

Curiously enough, the spot they fished today was located only yesterday and they only caught one fish. "We knew it was a good spot because we have done extensive homework. I will tell you this, it involves structure and river mouths, but has nothing to do with water temperature," Troy said, as his partner gave him a sharp kick with his shoe.

There was little hesitation when asked about running to their #1 spot tomorrow, weather permitting. "If we'd made that run today, we wouldn't have made it back, definitely, but if we can, we're going tomorrow. The spot we were on today was hit hard, by probably 80 boats," Craig explained. With 80 boats on the same spot, and one team stacking up the leading weight, one would have to assume something they are doing is different.

"We caught our big fish first and then threw back three nice fish right away," Hodges said. "Then we didn't catch another fish for an hour and a half. We were a little worried at that point, but we went to school together, we work together at National Roofing, and our wives said we are the ones that should be married."

When asked if colors played a role in their success, Hodges stated that he didn't know because they started catching fish with the first color they were using and naturally didn't change. What color was that? Saturday's weigh-in is the promised delivery date for that info.

Check www.cabelas.com for details on the winning strategies, or come to the weigh-in activities that begin Saturday morning at 10 a.m., at the UP State Fairgrounds. Lots of activities are available for kids and families, as well as general outdoor enthusiasts who want to check out the latest gear or just listen to good music, eat a burger and sip a cold beverage.