Shiver on the River Walleye Contest adds New Award

The $5,000 Shiver on the River Walleye Contest has a new leaderboard sponsor, a couple of free family fishing seminars and a new award.

The Saginaw News event, co-sponsored by Gander Mountain, Pride in Saginaw Inc. and Mid-State Taxidermy of Midland, kicks off Jan. 23-24 with ice fishing seminars at Gander Mountain in Saginaw.

The reel event will run Jan. 31-Feb. 14 on Saginaw Bay and its tributaries.
In addition to the big fish award and $1,000 top prize, contest organizers have added the Wally Award.

The first angler to weigh-in a 5.374 pound walleye will receive a free mounting of their fish by Mid-State Taxidermy and a $100 gift certificate from Gander Mountain.

''We were originally going to call the Wally Award the Average Joe Award, but it sounded so blah,'' said Tammy Weighman, Shiver spokesperson and Saginaw News special events coordinator. ''It's a fun way to add another prize to the pot.

''Even if you don't place in the top three, there's still a good chance that an 'average' fish will win a nice award.''

Weighman said the award was conceived by Mid-State Taxidermy's Justin Pohl.
''Saginaw Bay is one of the best walleye fisheries in the world and I'm glad to be a part of it and celebrating the fishery that we have,'' Pohl said.

Last year, Bridgeport's Jason Aldrich took first place with a record catch of 13.8 pounds. Aldrich said he'll be back to defend his title.

Two ice fishing family workshops will be held at Gander Mountain. The first is set for
Jan. 23 at 7 p.m. Another will be held Jan. 24 at 10 a.m.

In addition, the Shiver leaderboard that will run daily (mlive.com/shiver) is being sponsored by E&J® VSOP Brandy.

''For $10, it's still a pretty good deal,'' Weighman said of the two-week fishing contest that has been moved back in recent years in hopes of insuring good ice. ''We keep tweaking the dates, but it's up to Mother Nature.

''We had ice and lost it. Hopefully we'll get it back.''Sounds like somebody will pick up some nice extra cash in this contest.

Good luck and Happy Hookin, Gary

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