Shiver contest gets off to HUGE start.

[Walleye Express]

The 22nd annual Saginaw News Shiver on the River Walleye Contest: Opening day results

by The Saginaw News

Saturday January 31, 2009, 10:16 PM

It wasn't your typical opening day for the 22nd annual Saginaw News Shiver on the River Walleye Contest. Click on link for pictures.

http://www.mlive.com/sports/saginaw/index.ssf/2009/01/the_22nd_annual_saginaw_news_s.html

Thanks to the 12.085-pound catch of Saginaw's Gary Nye and Ace Neering's (Bay City) 5.735-pounder, there was more buzz than usual surrounding the contest's early activities.

Nye landed No. 1 on the E&J VSOP Brandy Leader Board with Saturday's weigh-in at Gander Mountain that puts him square in contention to win the tournament.

"Compared to last year, that's top three and that's if anything tops him," said Gander Mountain Assistant Store Manager of Sales and Service Phil Bellor, who added that he couldn't recall a fish of that size being caught so soon during the two-week long event that ends on Saturday, Feb. 14. "We had a few guys talking about possibly catching 14-pounders (after hearing of Nye's fish). If they're catching big fish this early, who's to say? It's anyone's game, really."

There were other legitimate catches at the top of the leader board, with Bryan Rouech and Donald Boensch, both of Saginaw, weighing walleye of 9.935 and 9.015, respectively.

New to this year's tournament is the "Wally Award", which offers $100 and a free mount from Gander Mountain to anyone bringing in a fish weighing exactly 5.734 pounds. Neering missed the mark by one one-thousandth of a pound.

"We got more entries at our store than we have in the past," said Bellor of the store promotion. "It gets everyone out (to Gander Mountain) that would normally be running middle of the pack."

LEADER BOARD

1. Gary Nye, Saginaw 12.085

2. Bryan Rouech, Saginaw 9.935

3. Donald Boensch, Saginaw 9.015

4. Michael Scaindler, Bay City 8.920

5. Allen Kosecko, Kawkawlin 7.480

6. Jeff Eads, Bay City 7.390

7. Todd Zwetzig, Essexville 7.120

8. David Rogers, Vassar 6.880

9. Thomas Collison, Freeland 6.725

10. Richard Glave 6.36

11. Neil Griffor, Bay City 6.26

12. Kelvin Caspers, Bay City 6.215

13. Donald Jeske, Linwood 6.140

14. John Krause, Saginaw 5.495

15. Daniel Periard, Birch Run 5.880

16. Greg Wendling, Saginaw 5.875

17. Chad Hacker, Bay City 5.795

18. Ace Neering, Bay City 5.735

19. Ron Coffel, Saginaw 5.565

20. Randy Dittenbir Jr., Au Gres 5.510

21. Jimmie Hauxwell, Clio 5.380

22. Dan Cherry, St. Charles 4.870

23. Joseph Rosolowski Jr., Midland 4.730

24. Brian Timm, Bay City 4.705

25. Robert Kaufman, Saginaw 4.685

26. William Gutwiller, Saginaw 4.635

27. Joe Koterba, Owosso 4.615

28. Tom James, Bay City 4.310

29. Rich Baker, Bay City 3.915

30. Dave Aubers, Saginaw 3.760

31. John Mikulcik, St. Charles 3.735

32. David Malecki, Bay City 3.695

33. Dennis Anklan, Saginaw 3.590

34. Thomas Kern, Deford 3.535

35. Brian Dinsmore, Bay City 3.430

36. Mark Karwat, Vassar 2.935

37. Dave Gauthier, Flushing 2.795

38. Dan Majzel, Owosso 2.260

[Priority1]

Yes Sir, a lot of big uns early this year.