NORTH AMERICA'S TOP WALLEYE FISHERMEN MEET IN NIPAWIN FOR THE 16th Annual VANITY CUP!

An international field of walleye fishing teams gathered in Nipawin, Saskatchewan on October 3 and 4, to compete in one of North America's richest W alleye Tournaments. A total of 626 walleye were weighed in throughout the two day tournament and a total of 208 walleye measured over 70 cm in length.

The Vanity Cup attracts W alleye Teams from across Western Canada and the United States. These teams don't mind paying the $1,000 per team entry fee to be a part of this prestigious fishing tournament, and to have the opportunity to fish for walleye supremacy at Tobin Lake, one of the continent’s finest walleye fisheries.

160 teams fished for over $149,000 in cash and prizes under rainy and cold weather conditions at this year's Vanity Cup. Most would tell you that they wouldn't have missed it for the world. That is certainly true for the top 25 eams who made the stage to accept their cash and prizes at the impressive Awards Show held Sunday evening.

Garth Hahn from Fort Qu’Appelle, SK and Glen Boehme, Regina, SK made their way through the crowd to receive $50,000 in cash as the 2009 Vanity Cup's Top Walleye Team. They weighed in 8 walleye totalling 57.55 lbs. "The bite was tough, but we were able to bring in the fish that counted...it takes a lot of volunteers to put this together, thank you" is how they described fishing and this year's tournament on Tobin Lake.

The second place team of Dale Schlaht and Steve Massee, from Langdon, AB received the keys to a brand new, fully equipped Lund 1825 Explorer Sport powered by a 115 hp Mercury Four-Stroke, Mercury Pre-Rig, with a Motor Guide Pro trolling motor and a rear Minn-Kota trolling motor, Lowrance Locator & EZ Loader Trailer valued at over $40,000 for the 56.05 lbs. of walleye they weighed in.

The team of Dave Bouclin, from Saskatoon, SK and Marc Bouclin, Edmonton, AB put 50.10 lbs. of walleye on the board to win the tournament's third place prize, $ 10,000 cash.

The "Big Walleye of the Tournament" was caught on Day one by Chris Oaks from Balmertown, Ontario and Carel Pettinger, from Winnipeg, Man. This fish weighed in at 13.15 lbs. winning the fish pool of $ 1590.00 and an exact replica of this giant that they live-released after weighing.

During the tournament there were 9 recorded fish mortalities with a total live release catch of 617.