JUNCTION CITY -The Cabela’s National Team Walleye Championhip pre-tournament banquet packed a big audience into the Courtyard By Marriott Convention Center ballroom in Junction City Wednesday evening.
Anglers from 20 states were in attendance for the event which included remarks by local and state dignitaries, and a review of the rules for the upcoming Cabela’s National Team Walleye Championships Thursday through Saturday at Milford Lake. 
Mayor Mick McCallister said this is ” The fishing capital of Kansas,” as he welcomed the anglers to Junction City. Geary County Commissioner Ben Bennett noted this county is the second smallest in geographical boundary in Kansas. “And we have the largest lake in the State of Kansas inside those boundaries, and we’re very proud of it.”
The Secretary of Kansas Wildlife, Parks and Tourism, Robin Jennison said what makes Milford Lake partly unique in Kansas is the commitment of the people in Junction City at the Geary County Convention and Visitor’s Bureau to the lake. “Their willingness to promote that lake has been a tremendous asset for the State of Kansas.”
Some of the tournament information:
–Although it was billed that 60 Fort Riley Soldiers would spend four hours fishing with Tournament anglers on Wednesday, 43 Soldiers actually went fishing.
–Anglers will be competing for more than $274,000 in prize money.
–The Tournament will begin with the national anthem at 7 a.m. Thursday, followed by a boat check for safety features and to determine their kill switch works, they have their life jackets on, and clean life wells. The boats will be in parade line, and each one will get a key fob, which is their identification marker that they must return at the end of the day to officials can verify all boats made it back to land safely.
–The weigh-in each day begins at 3 p.m. at Milford Marina. Their will be four flights coming in every half hour.
–The public can watch the beginning of the tournament at Milford Marina each morning and the weigh in each afternoon.
–The top 25 teams will compete in the Tournament on Saturday. The full field will be on the Lake both Thursday and Friday. ( Pictures courtesy of Rick Dykstra )
