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  • IGL Chamber Awards $21,000 In Grants From Walleye Weekend

IGL Chamber Awards $21,000 In Grants From Walleye Weekend

May 23, 2024 Steve Schwaller

(Arnolds Park)– The Iowa Great Lakes Chamber of Commerce today (Thurs.) distributed $21,000 in grants made possible through proceeds from this year’s Walleye Weekend. Chamber CEO Blain Andera…

“Some of the monies are going towards a new fishing dock at Hales Slough up on Big Spirit Lake, a kayak launch on West Okoboji, some invasive species control on East Lake Okoboji; the CLAMP program for water monitoring, and then the other one for the Iowa Great Lakes Fishing Club to key on kid’s fishing events. So it’s really good that we can do that and help again, things that affect the angling industry in the Iowa Great Lakes.”

No tagged walleyes were caught during Walleye Weekend this year. Andera reminds everyone the extended contest continues…

“We had a tagged fish get caught last week. Unfortunately the individual was not registered in the extended contest, so that’s a good reminder for next year. You know, we get a lot questions, people ask can you register for just the extended or just the regular. You can register for one or both or just choose just one if you want. This walleye would have been worth $5,500 if the individual had been registered, so.”

2,100 anglers from 18 different states participated in Walleye Weekend this year.

The 43rd annual Walleye Weekend will be held May 3rd and 4th, 2025.

The recipients of this year’s grant application process were:

East Okoboji Lakes Improvement Corporation ($4,000). These funds will assist with the injection of 190 gallons of Aquathol K into East Lake Okoboji, south of the Narrows shoreline, Upper Gar shoreline, and Minnewashta shoreline.

The Iowa Great Lakes Fishing Club ($3,500). This club hosts numerous kids fishing events for various organizations throughout the Iowa Great Lakes Region. Funds will assist with these events including: Spirit Lake Kids Fish Day (100+ kids), 3 Lakeside Lab events (75 kids), 2 Joy Camp Events (20 special needs kids/adults), the School of the Wild with Spirit Lake Students (100 kids), and a Spirit Lake mentors class (15 kids). Each of these 310 kids gets a tackle box and tackle from the club and helps build the future angling community in our region.

Millers Bay Conservatory ($2,500). The funds will be used to create a kayak launch dock off of the public access dock into western Millers Bay (the premier spot for kayaking, canoeing, and paddleboarding with its calm, sheltered waters and natural shoreline). This will assist in preserving and protecting the ecology and water quality of Millers Bay by promoting sustainable and environmentally friendly recreational uses of Millers Bay.

Okoboji Protective Association ($5,000). These funds will help with the (Cooperative Lakes Area Monitoring Project (CLAMP) to help in measuring water quality in the Iowa Great Lakes. Measuring water quality helps guarantee safer lakes for fishermen/women and their catches.

Spirit Lake Protective Association ($5,000). These funds will go towards building a new access dock at Hale’s Slough. With the bulrushes in Angler’s Bay it makes this a unique fishing location for anglers on Big Spirit and will enhance the small boat ramp.

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