Hartsooks take home title at KWA fishing tourney
By ERIC CLARK
Sports writer
Windy weather played havoc May 4 at the first tournament of the 2003 season of the Kansas Walleye Association at the Marion Reservoir.
Despite the foul weather, David Hartsook from Marysville and Keith Hartsook from Herkimer took home this year's title. The duos' combined weight of 13.9 pounds with four walleye, earned them a check for $1,000 and 55 points to kick off the KWA season.
Thunderstorms which moved through the area prior to the event, brought with them winds blowing in excess of 25 miles per hour with gusts up to 45 mph.
Out of the 88 boats that participated in the event, 61 walleye were caught.
Taking second in the event was the team of Don and Trudy Hess of Topeka. They caught four walleyes for a combined weight of 12.7 pounds and earned a check for $700.
Third place went to Rick Anderson and Willard Childres of McPherson, who had four walleyes that weighed 11.8 pounds. The duo took home a check for $500.
The largest walleye of the day was caught by the team of Steve Oetken and Neil Werth from Great Bend. The fish weighed 7.2 pounds, earning them a check for $200.
"We had a really good turnout for the first tournament of the KWA 2003 season," Dan Norris. "But the weather didn't cooperate for those 176 contestants. As with most years the weather in Kansas is a factor in the tournament results. If you have ever been on Marion in a high wind, you would know that it was a miserable fishing day."
The sponsors of the tournament were Canada Bait and Tackle and Dick's Clothing and Sporting Goods.
For more information about the KWA or any of their upcoming events, visit their website at http://kwa.weyes1.com or contact Dan or Marlene Norris at 785-379-5158. Or e-mail them at amnorris44@msn.com.
