Green Bay, Wis., hosts the first RCL Walleye Championship
With a population of just over 100,000, the city of Green Bay, Wis., is not one of America’s largest cities. In fact, there are hundreds of cities bigger than Green Bay. Thanks to the National Football League’s Green Bay Packers, however, the Wisconsin city has achieved national name recognition.
Most football fans have heard of Vince Lombardi, one of the most inspirational coaches ever, and his invincible Packer teams that won the Super Bowl in 1966 and 1967. It was his football teams that future Super Bowl champions emulated.
Green Bay, the smallest city to host an NFL team, has a remarkable tradition of football championships with 12 league titles and a third Super Bowl win in 1996. The city’s nickname is title town.
On Oct. 7, another title will be awarded when someone will be named champion of the Wal-Mart RCL Walleye Championship held in Green Bay. The tournament offers pro-anglers a chance to win up to $400,000 for first place and the co-anglers a chance to win up to $150,000 for first place.
The competition will take place in Lake Michigan’s massive Green Bay. The bay is close to 100 miles long and has two major tributaries, the Fox and Menominee rivers, flowing into it. Every year some of the biggest walleyes caught in the Midwest are taken from Green Bay.
The bay is shallow with an average depth of less than 10 feet in the lower end and an average depth of 20 feet in the mid-section. Anglers should stay in the well-marked shipping lane when traveling between fishing locations.
Unlike Lake Erie, where zebra mussels have greatly increased the water clarity, the water in Lake Michigan is stained. The Fox River, which flows through agricultural land, dumps plenty of nutrients into Green Bay. Water clarity in the bay is normally less than a foot deep.
In October, a number of walleye make a fall run up the rivers similar to the spring spawning run. The rivers also host a population of resident walleye that never leave the tributaries. By tournament time, water temperatures in the rivers should be in the 40s.
The Menominee River contains about 2 miles of navigable water. The Fox River is even longer with about 7 miles of navigable water.
Captain Doug Schreiber, owner of Hot Jigs Guide Service in Green Bay, believes that contestants will find some of the walleyes in the rivers suspended 8- to 14-feet deep over 20 feet of water. The best way to catch them is by trolling crankbaits.
In the rivers, there are numerous current breaks created by bridges as well as abandoned dockings formerly used for loading iron ore and coal and even a vertical current break created by the shipping channel itself. Anglers will find some walleyes schooled up near the bottom around the current breaks in 8- to 20-feet of water.
When that happens, Schreiber employs a flat-head river jig that he makes himself accompanied by a 3- to 5-inch long fathead, chub or shiner minnow to vertically jig the current breaks. Depending on the wind, current and depth that he is fishing, the walleye tournament champion chooses either a 1/4- or 3/8-ounce jig that he ties to 8-pound-test line.
“The flat-head jig cuts the current better and makes it easier to vertically fish,” Schreiber said.
In Green Bay proper, walleyes will probably be suspended 35- to 40-feet deep off sharp breaks. To catch these fish, the best technique will probably be to troll a Storm’s Thunderstick or Deep Thunderstick Jr. on lead-core line. Walleyes in the bay seem to prefer crankbaits in fire tiger, blue-herring bone and metallic rainbow colors.
“There might also be a night-crawler-on-a-harness-rig bite in the bay,” Schreiber advised.
When asked what the tournament’s top daily weights might be, Schreiber said it could vary greatly depending on the weather. In October, Wisconsin weather can be a crapshoot. If the winds are moderate, which will allow the competitors to run and gun numerous productive walleye areas, the daily boat-weights may be as high as 30 pounds.
However, if rough seas keep the competitors confined to the rivers, the crowded fishing situation will result in substantially lower weights.
Green Bay attractions
Green Bay has all the amenities of a big city with a small-town atmosphere. After you finish walleye fishing, be sure and visit the area’s other attractions.
There is plenty of shopping at the Port Plaza Mall. Connected to the Regency Suites and KI Convention Center by a skywalk, there is always a sale of some kind going on at the mall.
Pine Street and Broadway are located on the east and west sides of the Fox River. You will find plenty of quaint retail establishments along the two streets, including Beernsten’s Candy Shop where they have been making chocolates since 1925 and The Gift Itself, which specializes in original jewelry, sculptures and paintings.
Title Town Brewing Company is a microbrewery preparing good food in a casual atmosphere. They brew more than eight different ales and beer on site. You can even take a brewery tour.
Sports fans will love the Green Bay Packer Hall of Fame. It is the only sports museum dedicated to a single NFL team. There are interactive exhibits to entertain all ages. Of course, it is also a great place to buy Packer souvenirs.
Green Bay Botanical Gardens is 60 acres of outstanding gardens and nature areas. Special events include the garden walk and garden of lights. Classes are also available.
If you feel lucky, visit the Oneida Casino. It is the largest Indian gambling operation in Wisconsin and features 2,500 slot machines, 100 blackjack tables and three high-stakes bingo sessions a day.
For nightlife, visit Washington Street, Green Bay’s entertainment district. There are sports bars, comedy and dance clubs to satisfy a wide range of ages.