The Kraus-Anderson Community Foundation will host its first annual Kraus-Anderson Walleyes on Ice (KAWOI), live-release ice fishing tournament to be held February 11, 2017 on Lake Minnetonka in Spring Park, Minn.
KAWOI will raise funds to increase sustainable walleye populations in local lakes. The annual event aims to become one of Minnesota’s premiere ice fishing tournaments. Funded through sponsorship payments and entry fees, KAWOI will provide an opportunity to raise money for charity and give back to the Twin Cities community.
The tournament’s beneficiary is the Westonka Walleye Program, a non-profit organization that is 100 percent-funded from private donations. Its mission is to sustain and improve the harvestable walleye fishery on Lake Minnetonka and other Twin Cities lakes. With approval from the Minnesota DNR, and with private donations, the organization is stocking 8″- 13″ walleye in Lake Minnetonka.
“The Westonka Walleye Program was founded as a community solution to the problem of walleyes not naturally reproducing from shoreline development and invasive species,” said Aaron Groshong, document manager for Kraus-Anderson Realty and KAWOI tournament chair. “In its first three years, the Westonka Walleye Program has stocked nearly 30,000 walleye in Lake Minnetonka. The KAWOI’s goal is to raise $40,000, which would result in stocking 20,000 walleyes.”
Two hundred anglers are expected to compete. Registration fees are $250 per person. To participate in the KAWOI or to donate to the program, visit https://kawalleyesonice.com/register-donate/. For further information, contact Aaron Groshong at 952-948-9420 or kawoi@karealty.com.