The Fishing Crew is celebrating a major milestone for the premier walleye fishing tournament in South Dakota. The 50th South Dakota Governor’s Cup, which is the longest running known walleye tournament, will take place July 20-21. The event launches onto Lake Oahe out of Spring Creek Recreation Area north of Pierre.
“It is an absolute honor to be hosting the 50th annual South Dakota Governor’s Cup,” said Curt Underhill, Tournament Director for The Fishing Crew. “The history behind this event is truly remarkable and we look forward to making this both a celebration of the past, but also the future.”
The inaugural Governor’s Cup took place in 1975, and has taken place every single year since. Throughout the years, the event has seen the best anglers in the country test their luck with anglers such as Al and Ron Linder, Bob Propst, Tony Dean, Mike McClelland, Babe Winkelman and more.
“The more you dig into the history of this event, the more special it feels,” continued Underhill. “Literally the best walleye anglers in the world have made this event what it is today, that’s pretty dang cool.”
This year, 200 teams will launch onto the reservoir with the hope of etching their names into the history book for this event.
The field includes the Lip Ripper Fishing boys, and Nick Harrington and Mason Propst are hoping to be the ones to host the trophy at the end of the event.
“The Governor’s Cup is our biggest tournament of the season,” said Nick Harrington, Owner of Lip Ripper Fishing. “We always dedicate a lot of time to pre-fishing this event and we’re hoping this is the year our efforts pay dividends.”
A significant amount of time pre-fishing is key for this event, as the entire lower end of the expansive Lake Oahe is in play come tournament time.
“Anglers can fish from the Oahe Dam to Bush’s Landing,” explained Underhill. “This equates to about 50 miles on the lower end of the reservoir.”
Teams of two anglers are allowed to catch eight (8) walleyes and weigh their best six (6) fish each day. Fish must be at least 15 inches, with only two fish over 20 inches allowed each day. The cumulative Saturday and Sunday weights determine the final finishing order.
“We’re anticipating some really big weights this year,” said Mason Propst, Owner of Mason Propst Fishing. “The quality of fish in Lake Oahe is superb right now and every time you wet a line in Oahe you have a chance to catch a giant.”
To make the event even larger, and recruit the next generation of Governor’s Cup anglers, The Fishing Crew will also be hosting the first ever South Dakota Lt. Governor’s Cup Kids Fishing Tournament.
“It has been my dream to have a kids tournament take place in conjunction with the Governor’s Cup,” said Underhill. “There is no better year to make this dream a reality.”
The Lt Governor’s Cup will take place July 20 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and is open for up to 100 kids ages 5-16. Kids must be accompanied by a parent/guardian. There is no cost for kids to participate in this event.
“This whole weekend will be about both the past, and the future,” concluded Underhill. “We could not be more excited to celebrate this milestone.”
More information regarding the tournament can be found on The Fishing Crew’s website.
Casting for Recovery South Dakota Retreat Deadline to Apply Approaching
The deadline to apply for the Casting for Recovery South Dakota retreat is quickly approaching! The 2024 South Dakota retreat will take place October 4-6 at NeSoDak Camp in Waubay, South Dakota. The retreat is open to women of all ages and stages of breast cancer treatment and recovery. The number of participants is limited, and women interested in participating need to get their application submitted by August 8, 2024!
50th South Dakota Governor’s Cup Scheduled for 2024
The premier walleye fishing tournament in South Dakota is set to reach a major milestone in 2024. The 50th South Dakota Governor’s Cup is scheduled to take place July 20-21, 2024. The South Dakota Governor’s Cup is run by The Fishing Crew and launches onto Lake Oahe out of Pierre.
