Grand Traverse Salmon Classic

04/30/2023

It is with deep regret that I am informing you that due to the lack of participation the last several years, and the loss of the 333 tournament circuit entry, the Grand Traverse Salmon Classic will be cancelled this year. Hopefully someone will fill the void in the years to come.

Clinch Park Open Space East Lot. GT Salmon Classic, Sept 9 and 10, 2022 on East & West Grand Travers

10/31/2022

09/12/2022

MI DNR MAY INCREASE CHINOOK SALMON STOCKING
Sept. 12, 2022

After decades of fish stocking decreases to balance the alewife and Chinook salmon populations, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources is seeing good indicators that a modest stocking increase may be warranted in Lake Michigan.
To discuss this proposal and receive public feedback, the DNR will host a virtual meeting Monday, Sept. 19, from 7 to 8:30 p.m.
“We have seen several years of good Chinook salmon growth and have a slight increase in the alewife biomass, or abundance of those fish,” said Jay Wesley, the DNR's Lake Michigan basin coordinator. “Although the alewife biomass is a fraction of what it was historically, we have a good 2021-year class and have seen up to six-year classes of alewives in our fisheries surveys – that means there are up to six different age groups in the current population of alewife."
A "year class" refers to all of the fish of any species hatched, either through natural reproduction or through fish-rearing efforts, during that year's spawning period.
Wesley said that a recently run predator-prey model also suggests that Lake Michigan has a good ratio of Chinook to alewife biomass, which is one of many indicators used to inform stocking decisions.
“The proposed 54% increase from 650,000 to 1 million spring fingerlings is a modest increase compared to the estimated 4.5 million wild Chinook salmon in Lake Michigan,” said Wesley. “It will allow us to increase numbers at sites like Charlevoix that contribute to the entire lake fishery and reinstate stocking sites like Ludington State Park and Fairport.”

CONTACT: Jay Wesley 616.490.5090

Meeting details
Michigan Sea Grant will assist with the Zoom meeting:
• Save the date: Monday, Sept. 19, 7 to 8:30 p.m.
• Passcode: 2022
• Or join via telephone: 646-876-9923 or 301-715-8592
• Webinar ID: 994 1124 7153
• Questions? Contact Jay Wesley
Join meeting via Zoom ►

Meeting organizers will provide an update on the conditions of Lake Michigan, along with proposed stocking locations and number of fish stocked.
The Michigan DNR works with the Lake Michigan Committee, which is represented by the states that border the lake (Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and Wisconsin) and the Chippewa-Ottawa Resource Authority, to co-manage the fishery in Lake Michigan.
To learn more about how the DNR manages fisheries, visit Michigan.gov/Fishing.

Fishing

09/12/2022

GT SALMON CLASSIC 2022 RESULTS

AMATEUR DIVISION

1st Place - Pursu-It, Capt Jordan Young, 7 fish 160 pts
2nd Place - Fish Faced, Capt Justin Woebbering, 7 fish 158 pts
3rd Place - Reel Addiction, Capt Alex Challender, 7 fish 133 pts
Largest Salmon - Derdy Lines, Capt David Erdman 20.45 lbs

PRO DIVISION

1st Place - Showtime Xtreme, Capt Sam Worden, 8 fish 152 pts
2nd Place - Crime Time, Capt Dylan Grants, 6 fish 1-05 pts
3rd Place - Storm Hawk, Capt Brady Anderson, 5 fish 102 pts
Largest Salmon - Get Some, Capt Travis Bauwman, 22.6 lbs

LADIES DIVISION

1st Place - Showtime Xtreme, Capt Sam Worden, 5 fish 102 pts
2nd Place - Storm Hawk, Capt Brady Anderson, 3 fish 69 pts
3rd Place - Fin-Nautical, Capt Mick Pfeiffer, 2 fish 41 pts
Largest Salmon - Showtime Xtreme, Jen Worden 23.5 lbs

The Father Fred Foundation received over 350 pounds of fresh salmon and lake trout on Sept 10th from the GT Salmon Classic!

09/05/2022

GRAND TRAVERSE SALMON CLASSIC AT TRAVERSE CITY’S CLINCH PARK OPEN SPACE - PRIZE MONEY DOUBLED FOR 2022!!!

LADIES Friday, Sept. 9; PRO-AM Saturday, Sept. 10 - Sunday, Sept. 11LADIES Division First Place total points $ 1,500
Second Place total points $ 750
Third Place total points $ 375

AMATEUR Div First Place total points $ 2,500
Second Place total points $ 1,250
Third Place total points $ 750

PRO Division First Place total points $ 3,300
Second Place total points $ 2,200
Third Place total points $ 1,100

PRO Division Largest Chinook/King Salmon $ 1,000
AMATEUR Div Largest Chinook/King Salmon $ 500 PRO/AM Combine Largest Salmon > 33 pounds $ 10,000
Largest Salmon > 39 pounds $ 25,000

G.T.S.C. LADIES INVITATIONAL

Registration & Captain’s Meeting Thur., Sept. 8 5:00 – 7:00 PM

GTSC Ladies Tournament
Fish Fri., Sept. 6:30 – 10:30 AM
Weigh-In 10:30 AM –12:00 PM

G.T.S.C. SALMON CLASSIC

Pro-Am Registration/Captains Mtg
Fri., Sept. 9 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM

Pro-Am Tourney (Sat., Sept 10)
Lines In 6:30 AM
Lines Out 12:30 PM
Weigh-In 12:30 – 2:30 PM

Pro-Am Tourney (Sun, Sept 11)
Lines In 6:30 AM
Lines Out 12:30 PM
Weigh-In 12:30 – 2:30 PM

Awards Banquet 2:30 – 3:30 PM

Calcutta (Pro-Am) Total Wgt (4 salmon/1 trout per weigh-in)
First Place two-day total points 50% of Calcutta
Second Place two-day total points 25% of Calcutta
Third Place two-day total points 15% of Calcutta

08/07/2022

40 pound salmon caught in Lake Michigan last week:

https://www.jsonline.com/story/sports/outdoors/2022/08/06/chinook-salmon-caught-algoma-lake-michigan-brian-sollars-tops-elusive-40-pound-mark/10247590002/?fbclid=IwAR3pPaZHZrr7YmmmdeTmrfS2thxopW5gtFswXqigsZx1okOU5NqumvXgTUQ

The fish could have earned angler Brian Sollars a five-figure check if he had made the catch earlier in July and if he had been entered in one of two big Lake Michigan tournaments.

08/04/2022

Grand Traverse Salmon Classic
Traverse City ·
IT'S OFFICIAL - MARK YOUR CALENDARS

THE 2022 G.T. SALMON CLASSIC
Sept 9 - 11, 2022 at Traverse City's
Clinch Park Open Space & Marina

OVER $50,000 UP FOR GRABS!

New This Year:
* Potential prize pool increased from $20,000 to $50,000.
* Pro teams may fish anywhere in Lake Michigan (Ladies/Amateurs S of the 45th parallel).
* GTSC event moved to the weekend after Labor Day for increased availability of boat slips and parking.
* Weigh 4 salmon (vs 3) per weigh-in.

G.T.S.C. LADIES INVITATIONAL
Registration & Captain’s Meeting
Thur., Sept. 8 5:00 – 7:00 PM
GTSC Ladies Tournament
Fish Fri., Sept. 9 6:30 – 10:30 AM
Weigh-In 10:30 AM –12:00 PM

G.T.S.C. SALMON CLASSIC
Pro-Am Registration/Captains Mtg
Fri., Sept. 9 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Pro-Am Tourney (Sat., Sept 10)
Lines In 6:30 AM
Lines Out 12:30 PM
Weigh-In 12:30 – 2:30 PM
Pro-Am Tourney (Sun, Sept 11)
Lines In 6:30 AM
Lines Out 12:30 PM
Weigh-In 12:30 – 2:30 PM
Awards Banquet 2:30 – 3:30 PM

Prize Money Based on (4 salmon/1 trout per weigh-in) aggregate weight, plus 10 points per fish

GUARANTEED PRIZE MONEY (based on 10 Ladies, 16 Amateur/16 Pro Team entries)

LADIES Division
First Place total points $ 1,500
Second Place total points $ 750
Third Place total points $ 375

AMATEUR Division
First Place total points $ 2,500
Second Place total points $ 1,250
Third Place total points $ 750

PRO Division
First Place total points $ 3,300
Second Place total points $ 2,200
Third Place total points $ 1,100

PRO Division
Largest Chinook/King Salmon $ 1,000

AMATEUR Div
Largest Chinook/King Salmon $ 500

PRO/AM
Largest Salmon > 33 pounds $ 10,000, or
Largest Salmon > 39 pounds $ 25,000

Calcutta (Pro-Am)
First Place 50% of Calcutta
Second Place 25% of Calcutta
Third Place 15% of Calcutta

For Rules, Registration and Entry Forms please visit: www.gtsalmonclassic.com
(updates published August 1, 2022)

Kevin Clark, Director
GT Salmon Classic
[email protected]
231.218.8700 See less
— at Clinch Park

07/12/2022

Sort of like fishing the hole off Clinch Park and the Delamar at the mouth of the Boardman River in August and September...

05/31/2022

Losing a favorite lure is not an option! Win a new Big Jon Spectra lure (your pattern/color choice, still in the blister pack) by catching the biggest salmon at the Grand Traverse Salmon Classic.

05/06/2022

NORTHERN MICHIGAN FISH STOCKING REPORT

The NorthWest Michigan Fishing Club recently provided boat and bank overwatch for 23 different MDNR fish stockings. The efforts covered a total of over 400,000 fish, including:

• 56,000 Brown Trout (Betsie River/Frankfort)
• 60,000 Brown Trout in Leelanau County (Empire and Glen Arbor)
• 16,000 Steelhead in Leelanau County (Glen Lake)
• 40,000 Steelhead in Benzie County (Crystal Lake)
• 16,500 Steelhead in Grand Traverse County (Boardman River)
• 7,700 Steelhead in Antrim County (Elk River)
• 8,800 Steelhead in Charlevoix County (Boyne River)
• 5,500 Steelhead in Emmet County (Bear River)
• 17,000 Lake Trout in Grand Traverse County (Duck and Green Lakes)
• 75,000 Kings in Grand Traverse County (Boardman River Net Pens)
• 100,000 Cohos in Grand Traverse County (Boardman River)

Please support NWMI in these efforts. Membership is only $20:
NWMI Fishing Club
c/o Mike Radcliffe
2133 Krumlauf Road
Kalkaska, MI 49646
To use PayPal go to:

04/26/2022

IT'S OFFICIAL - MARK YOUR CALENDARS

THE 2022 G.T. SALMON CLASSIC
Sept 9 - 11, 2022 at Traverse City's
Clinch Park Open Space & Marina

OVER $50,000 UP FOR GRABS!

New This Year:
* Potential prize pool increased from $20,000 to $50,000.
* Pro teams may fish anywhere in Lake Michigan (Ladies/Amateurs S of the 45th parallel).
* GTSC event moved to the weekend after Labor Day for increased availability of boat slips and parking.
* Weigh 4 salmon (vs 3) per weigh-in.

G.T.S.C. LADIES INVITATIONAL
Registration & Captain’s Meeting
Thur., Sept. 8 5:00 – 7:00 PM
GTSC Ladies Tournament
Fish Fri., Sept. 6:30 – 10:30 AM
Weigh-In 10:30 AM –12:00 PM

G.T.S.C. SALMON CLASSIC
Pro-Am Registration/Captains Mtg
Fri., Sept. 9 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Pro-Am Tourney (Sat., Sept 10)
Lines In 6:30 AM
Lines Out 12:30 PM
Weigh-In 12:30 – 2:30 PM
Pro-Am Tourney (Sun, Sept 11)
Lines In 6:30 AM
Lines Out 12:30 PM
Weigh-In 12:30 – 2:30 PM
Awards Banquet 2:30 – 3:30 PM

Prize Money Based on (4 salmon/1 trout per weigh-in) aggregate weight, plus 10 points per fish

GUARANTEED PRIZE MONEY (based on 10 Ladies, 16 Amateur/16 Pro Team entries)

LADIES Division
First Place total points $ 1,500
Second Place total points $ 750
Third Place total points $ 375

AMATEUR Division
First Place total points $ 2,500
Second Place total points $ 1,250
Third Place total points $ 750

PRO Division
First Place total points $ 3,300
Second Place total points $ 2,200
Third Place total points $ 1,100

PRO Division
Largest Chinook/King Salmon $ 1,000

AMATEUR Div
Largest Chinook/King Salmon $ 500

PRO/AM
Largest Salmon > 33 pounds $ 10,000, or
Largest Salmon > 39 pounds $ 25,000

Calcutta (Pro-Am)
First Place 50% of Calcutta
Second Place 25% of Calcutta
Third Place 15% of Calcutta

For Rules, Registration and Entry Forms please visit: www.gtsalmonclassic.com
(updates published April 15, 2022)

Kevin Clark, Director
GT Salmon Classic
[email protected]
231.218.8700