From left to right, Team Cul-M-Rite pro Rich Boggs, Babe and Mark Steineker during the weigh-in at the "Reel Dreams" tournament held last September on Gull Lake near Brainerd, MN

Teaming Up for “Reel Dreams”
(March 12th – March 18th and June 11th – June 17th)

This week, we’re going fishing for real dreams that can definitely come true. It’s time for the first-ever of it’s kind, Optima Reel Dreams tournament!

Gull Lake, north central Minnesota—legendary fishing waters consisting of 9,418 acres, 37.5 miles of shoreline, and more classic structure than any angler could possibly wish to explore. Vegetation is moderately abundant. With the gull river dam and outlet on the east side, Gull Lake is technically considered a drainage lake/reservoir. Gamefish forage is plentiful and primary species include walleye and bass, largemouth bass, which account for dozens of large tournaments each season…perch…and bluegill.

For reference sake, here’s how Gull Lake breaks down. Main lake Gull lies in the middle of the chain…Upper Gull and Lake Margaret arms to the north, although they’ll be off-limits during today’s tournament…then Wilson and Steamboat Bays to the south.

Minnesota is famous for it’s beautiful resorts and Cragun’s Golf Resort and Conference Center on Gull represents the best of them. Nestled along the shores of Steamboat Bay, it was here that last Sseptember the hustle and bustle of the Optima Reel Dreams tournament was getting underway.

Ten teams, consisting of an Optima Batteries bass or walleye tournament fishing pro…and an amature partner, who was lucky enough to win a nationally sponsored Optima sweepstakes.

Their common goal? Over a two day tournament, bring in the largest bag of largemouth bass and/or walleye.

Up for grabs, for the first place sweepstakes winner, is a shiny new Crestliner Fishhawk 1850, 150 h.p. Mercury Optimax , 15 h.p. Merc kicker motor and trailer package.

Representing Team Cul-M-Rite is pro walleye angler Rich Boggs and Mark Steineker… Team Aqua-Vu, walleye pro Ernie Olson and Jacob Carranza… noted walleye champion Bill Ortiz and Allan Fisher are Team Off!… then we have Team Berkley, with pro John Kolinski and Bill Lumbleau… number five is Team Mercury, consisting of pro Tom Kemos and Rex Massey… profesional angler Jason Durham and William Jones make up Team Crestliner…Team Plano, is long-time walleye pro Randy Amenrud, who’s joined by winner Bob Claycomb… Bass pro Cary Bever will be fishing with winner Elleda Ziemer as Team Gerber…our ninth team is Team Optima professional angler Jim Carroll and Scott Black… and finally—pro Jeff Taege joins Harry Booth to form Team St. Croix.

Ya know, what’s really exciting to me about this event, and how the folks at Optima set it up, is how it brings together both the “best of the best” tournament pros…and average everyday anglers—even people with very limited experience who are simply willing to give fishing a try. Although the Real Dreams tournament does leave the door open to the competitive side of the angling experience, along with a chance to win the “big prize”…the “real dream” is taking a trip to a new lake, going fishing and just having a great time.