The Junction City/Geary County Convention and Visitors Bureau has released the figures from an Economic Survey turned in by anglers participating in the Cabela’s National Team Walleye Tournament at Milford Lake May 28-30.
Connie Hall, CVB Director explained that 71 anglers of the roughly 360 on hand for 
the tournament turned in a survey reporting how many days they spent at Milford Lake, how much they spent on gas/oil, tackle/bait, food, lodging including cabins and camping.
“It showed that on the average $1,236.28 was spent per angler over a 7.5 day duration,” said Hall. “Within that of course using the numbers and a test market of 185 teams it came out to $228,711.80 in direct cash spent in the community.”
Those figures did not show how much was spent by the Cabela’s staff, as well as, the staff from the National Walleye Federation. It was estimated that the average staff expenditures on site at the event was $13,059.63.
Lodging facilities across the lake reported having good numbers the week of the tournament including Flagstop Resort and RV Park.
“We had our cabins full all week and boats all over the campground. Our restaurant was busy, the folks ate in there and had a good time,” said Ty Arneson, Owner of Flagstop Resort and RV Park.
Though it didn’t hinder the fishing tournament much, the weather wasn’t the best, which normally could have hurt business according to Mike Harris, Owner of Acorns Resort at Milford Lake.
“The whole time frame that they were out, it was not weather that was going to be conducive for recreational boating and other type fishing out there. Had it not been for those folks we would have had a really down over all week and weekend in about a two to three-week time period. However because they were here we were basically at or above were we would normally be,” said Harris.
Harris, Arneson and Hall all reported hearing nothing but positive feedback from the anglers with a number of them saying they would be back.
National coverage of the tournament can be seen later this fall on NBC Sports.