Takasaki and Koepp Win South Dakota’s Governor’s Cup
Ted Takasaki 07.27.12
Lund/Mercury Pro Ted Takasaki and partner Jammie Koepp won the 2012 South Dakota Governor’s Cup walleye tournament July 21-22, on sprawling Lake Oahe.
Loaded with 138 top-notch two-person teams, this was the 38th running of one of the most prestigious fishing tourneys in the country. Laying claim to the winner’s rings and cash payout is a highlight for any competitor.
Ted and Jammie put two good days together to weigh in 29.38 pounds, beating the nearest competitor by a slim .78-pound margin.
To catch their winning fish, Takasaki and Koepp trolled 1-oz. white-and-chartreuse Booyah Blade spinnerbaits (typically used for bass) over submerged trees on an area called Peoria Flats. Their tackle included TUF Line leadcore and TUF Line XP leaders. They were able to spread lures away from the boat using the new St. Croix 12 foot and 5 foot EyeCon trolling rods.
The key to this win, according to Takasaki, was boat control.
He used his Mercury 9.9-horsepower Pro Kicker in conjunction with a bow-mounted Minn Kota Terrova trolling motor to fine-tune boat speed. The team’s trolling speed was between 1.8 and 2 mph, and in order to score, they had to keep the boat on the 17-foot contour line. Any shallower and the lures would get hung up; any deeper and they were out of the productive trees.
Ted’s Lund 208 is extremely responsive to any slight turn from the Terrova, allowing them to stay on the critical 17-foot contour. They were able to ‘see’ fish in the tree tops on Ted’s Humminbird giving them the confidence to stay in the area.
The win was worth $21,400 in cash, along with a pair of SD Governor’s Cup Champion rings worth $3,000 each. The victory also netted the pair entry into the upcoming South Dakota Walleye Classic.
Note: Takasaki is teaming up with Anderson Trucking Service to offer fishing tips to the company’s drivers, along with the chance to win all-expenses-paid fishing trips with the Hall of Fame angler. Ted’s Tips are found at www.drive4ats.com, along with information on joining this industry leader, founded in 1955. Interested drivers can also call 1-855-JOIN-ATS.
A Hall of Fame Legendary Angler, Ted is one of the top competitors on the FLW Walleye Tour and dominated many of the past PWT events. Ted won the prestigious PWT Classic Championship in 1998 and the 1995 PWT Top Gun Angler Award. In 2002, he smashed the all time, one day PWT tournament record with limit of 5 walleyes that weighed 53.2 pounds!
From 1999 to 2008, Ted was the President of Lindy Fishing Tackle, one of the nation’s largest freshwater fishing tackle manufacturers. During that time, the company doubled revenue and quadrupled profit under his leadership.
He was also a part of the Master’s Walleye Circuit (MWC) Team of the Year in 1991. His credentials include qualifying for the MWC Championship 5 times, the PWT Classic 11 times, and have made it to FLW Walleye Tour Classic 7 times, with several top tens to his credit.
In addition, Ted was a part of the team that won the coveted 1993 Mercury National Tournament held on Lake Winnebago, Wisconsin. He has been featured in many national outdoor magazines, has conducted hundreds of walleye seminars across the Midwest, hosted numerous TV shows, and is considered one of America’s leading walleye experts.
