Biggest one-day walleye tournament in the state ahead at Lake Vermilion

Steve Krasaway is anxiously looking forward to what he calls the best fishing weekend of the year.

The City Auto Glass Walleye Classic fishing tournament Saturday, May 18, on Lake Vermilion, brings together 125 boats with some of the best pairs of anglers in the state and beyond while also benefiting Minnesota students.

“The tournament is my favorite weekend of the year,” Krasaway said.“This is a very well run walleye tournament. They have 125 boats and it always fills up. It says a lot about the tournament, the fishing and the lake.”

Krasaway operates Vermilion Hunter Walleye Guide Service at Lake Vermilion.

Last year, Krasaway and his college buddy fishing partner Mike McPherson of Detroit, Mich., won the tournament with 14.53 pounds of walleye in the eight-hour, one-day tournament.

Krasaway and McPherson came away with a $17,000 cash first prize.

“He comes up every year and stays on the lake all week and fishes,” Krasaway said of McPherson. “He just loves Lake Vermilion. At his home in Michigan, he has all kinds of Lake Vermilion art and photographs on his walls.”

This year’s tournament is the 19th annual.

The tournament began in 2006 with 34 boats, Red Lowen, chair of the City Auto Glass Foundation and an organizer of the tournament said.

Since them it’s become a ritual, Lowen, who grew up in Hibbing, said.

“It’s just something we like at City Glass,” Lowen said. “We’re family-owned and family-oriented and we like to give back. It’s something we enjoy doing.”

Since 2006, the City Auto Glass Foundation has donated almost $400,000 from the tournament to area organizations that support students.

Among recipients of support are the Boys and Girls Club at Lake Vermilion, Kiwanis Club in Hibbing and Rock Ridge baseball team, Lowen said.

The tournament got started when the Kiwanis Club in Hibbing, of which Lowen was a member, looked for an idea to raise money for scholarships for Hibbing High School graduates.

The tournament took off from there, he said.

Yet, for City Auto Glass and participants, the tournament is more than just about fishing.

“It’s kind of our reunion every year,” Mike Lorenz of Tower, who operates Gravel Lizard Guide Service on Lake Vermilion and fishes in the tournament with childhood friend John Schweiberger of Hibbing said. “John and I both kind of grew up together on the lake and we had a good time. Fishing in it every year, you also get to know the guys who are there every year, so it’s also kind of a reunion with them.”

With an early ice-out and water beginning to warm, Krasaway and Lorenz both expect fishing to be good.

“I expect the fish are probably still going to be shallow,” Lorenz said. “That’s what I’m crossing my fingers about. We’re well out of the spawning season and and early ice-out means the larger fish are going to be shallow and the smaller fish deeper.”

Krasaway says he’s fished in the tournament since its inception.

“It’s a great way to get together for everyone including people who live on the Range to people who have cabins and fishing guides,” Krasaway said. “It’s not only about fishing, but getting together with friends.”

However, as of this past week, the lake level was extremely low, Krasaway said.

A lack of winter snow and water run-off has contributed to the low lake level.

Hopes are that some rainfall could help alleviate the lake level, but that remains to be seen.

The low lake level could pose a danger of boats striking rocks, Krasaway said.

“I’m nervous,” Krasaway said. “It’s crazy how low it is. I’ve never see it this low in the spring.”

At the same time, Krasaway expects fishing to be good.

“With the warmer weather, it should help,” Krasaway said. “Usually the earlier ice-out, the bigger the fish are. This year I’m expecting quite a few over the slot. I expect five or six big ones being caught. I think the weigh-ins will be a lot bigger than in past years.”

Some tournament participants will be out on the lake pre-fishing prior to the tournament to look for hot spots, Lorenz said.

But as always, fishing involves some luck as well.

“It’s been won some years by people who have never fished the lake, but they catch a big one,” Lorenz said.

The tournament kicks off at 7 a.m., May 18 at Fortune Bay Resort Casino and wraps up in the afternoon.

The tournament, already full, is limited to 125 boats by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Lowen said.

Lowen said it’s believed to be the biggest one-day walleye fishing tournament in the state.