Indiana Walleye

The 2003 Michiana Walleye Associations Fall Classic was held at two different locations under a new format. It was decided that the Classic would be a 2-day event on 2 different bodies of water, Lake Maxinkuckee in Culver and the St. Joe River in Buchanan Michigan. These two spots yielded the most fish out of all locations during the regular tournament season. In order to qualify for the Classic you must have participated in at least 4 of the 6 events during the season. 10 teams qualified but only 9 participated in the 2-day event.

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Day one started out on Maxinkuckee under a perfect sunrise and cool clear weather. At the 7am start the teams took off in search of their favorite spots. As the sun rose higher Mother Nature decided to throw in some windy conditions. 20 mph and 2ft plus waves pounded teams on the North end of Max making it a little more of a challenge for good boat control. My partner Doug Burkhead of Indiana Walleye Association and I being just observers to the Classic, found it tough to stay in our seats. The teams were spread out over most of the 1800 acres of water. 

We watched the teams with Binoculars, each team seemed to have their own approach to locating walleyes, some Jigged, some threw cranks in the shallows and some trolled. The Team of Dan Hoffman and Jack Blume seem to find the right combination by trolling the deep areas on the East side with cranks managing to land 7 Eyes weighing in 5 for a total of 11.85 lbs along with the Big fish of the Day 2.97lbs.  Mike Rhoades and Scotty Fuch yielded 2 weighing in at 3.32 lbs, Harley Sult and Tony Jackson weighed in 1 at 1.84 which was 2^nd big fish of the day. A total of 8 eyes were weighed in on this day.

It was a foggy start to Day-2 on the St. Joe in Buchanan Michigan; the teams were spaced out over the river all the way to the Berrien Springs Dam. The fog soon burned off letting Mother Nature show off some of her Fall colors making the trip down the river very enjoyable. The teams seemed to be moving more trying to find that prize fish that would put them in the lead. By the End of the day only 4 teams weighed a total of 7 Eyes and a few of those came in the last waning moments.

Randy Gaines and Mike Eberly MWA's Anglers of the Year for 2003 managed to produce 2 Eyes weighing in at 2.41 lbs to take 1^st place for Day-2. Rick Nichols and Barry Ukele took the 2^nd spot with 2 weighing in at 2.24 along with big fish of the day 1.31 lbs. 2^nd big fish went Randy and Mike with 1.30 lbs..3^rd place went to the team of Dave Hayes and Will Young weighing in 2 for a total of 2.06 lbs. 4^th spot went to Bob and Mark May weighing in 1 Eye at 1.09 lbs.

With all the fish in and the final numbers tallied, the team of Dan Hoffman and Jack Blume were this years MWA Fall Classic winners with a total weight of 11.85 lbs.

Team Standings day 1

Team                                      fish        lbs.

1. Dan Hoffman/Jack Blume     5         11.85

2. Mike Rhodes/Scotty Fuchs   2         3.32

3. HarleySult/Tony Jackson      1         1.84

4. Randy Gaines/Mike Eberly

5. Rick Nichols/Barry Ukele

6. John Fraley/Tom Ellis

7.  Dave Hayes/Will Young

8.  Dwight Jones/John Maggert

9.  Bob May/Mark May

Big Fish  Dan Hoffman/Jack Blume       2.98

2^nd big fish Harley Sult/Tony Jackson  1.84

Team Standings day 2

                  Team                        fish        lbs.           

1. Randy Gaines/Mike Eberly        2         2.41

2. Rick Nichols/Barry Ukele         2         2.24

3. Dave Hayes/Will Young            2         2.06

4. Bob May/Mark May                  1          1.09

5. Dan Hoffman/Jack Blume

6. Harley Sult/Tony Jackson

7. John Fraley/Tom Ellis

8. Mike Rhoades/ Scotty Fuchs

9. Dwight Jones/John Maggert

Big Fish Rick Nichols/Barry Ukele             1.31

2^nd big fish Randy Gaines/Mike Eberly      1.30

Final Team Standings

                         Team                 fish        lbs.           

1. Dan Hoffman/Jack Blume         5        11.85

2. Mikes Rhoades/Scotty Fuch     2         3.32

3. Randy Gaines/Mike Eberly        2         2.41

4. Rick Nichols/Barry Ukele         2         2.24

5. Dave Hayes/Will Young            2         2.06

6. Harley Sult/Tony Jackson        1          1.84

7. Bob May/Mark May                  1          1.09

8. Dwight Jones/John Maggert

9. John Fraley/Tom Ellis

Congratulations to Dan Hoffman and Jack Blume  this years Fall Classic winning team, and to all the members who qualified.