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| Dan Plautz, Veteran Pro, Wins Mercury PWT Championship in Houghton, Mich |
Houghton, Michigan - To the cheers of more than 5,000 walleye fans, veteran In-Fisherman Professional Walleye Trail (PWT) pro angler Dan Plautz won the $113,000 Mercury Championship first prize. His 49.86 pound catch beat 51 of the world's best walleye anglers on the Keweenaw Waterway in Houghton, Mich.
Plautz, Muskego, Wis., has now won more than $250,000 on tour with three victories. He accepted the first place prize which included a Lund boat with a Mercury outboard on an Eagle trailer, and $75,000 cash. He also received a $3,000 diamond and gold ring from Richardson's Jewelers in Escanaba, Mich. Plautz landed a PWT limit of four walleyes daily. "This is one of the best fisheries I've seen, but the walleyes just didn't want to bite like they did back in August," he said. His trolling pattern in 16 to 20 feet of water with Storm Hot 'n Tots and small Reef Runners just six feet under the surface proved to be the trick. His best area was on the south side of Portage Lake.
Rookie of the Year pro Kevin Schweder, Janesville, Wis. said, "Fishing against my heroes was the greatest thrill of my life. This season and this tournament will remain in my memory banks forever." He landed 34.50 pounds and a prize of $40,000. Scoring his highest finish ever, Rich Boggs, Nisswa, Minn., collected the $30,000 third prize. Schweder trolled gold spinners within a foot of the bottom in 35 to 45 feet of water. Boggs preferred tiny Rapala Shad Raps.
Fourth place and $10,000 went to "The Jigmeister" Daryl Christensen, Montello, Wis., who placed highest while pitching jigs and jigging spoons in shallow water. Keith Kavajecz, Kaukauna, Wis., failed to catch a fish on day three, but maintained a fifth place finish for $7,000. Every pro (no entry fee required) won at least $2,000.
PWT Angler of the Year Bill Ortiz, Dodgeville, Wis., was in position to win an extra $250,000 from Mercury if he also won the Championship. He moved up to 9th position after two days, but was unable to climb higher.
However, as Angler of the Year, he netted $35,000 ($10,000 as a Mercury bonus). Likewise, the Quantum $1,000,000 prize for any pro breaking the Michigan state record walleye went unclaimed. The largest walleye, 11.20 pounds, was recorded by Andy Kuffer, Fair Haven, Mich., He won $3,000. Kavajecz won $1,000 for an 8.21-pounder. Schweder also won $1,000 for a 7.95 pound walleye.
The Optima Batteries Top Gun award of $5,000 went to Kavajecz, who had the highest rating of all PWT pros throughout the season. Top Gun is computed on overall finish (2nd), average place finish (2nd) and Championship finish (5th). The Realtree Sportsman of the Year award of $500, voted by the Championship contestants, went to Bismarck, ND pro Sheldon Meidinger, for his heroic efforts when he rescued two capsized boaters on Lake Erie.
Plautz won the $1,000 Gander Mountain Heavy Weight award of $1,000 for a second day 19.77 pound catch. "Actually, judging from the fishing I did in August, this represented only about half what I expected," he said. Eric Naig, Cylinder, Iowa, moved up 28 places to win the $1,000 Coleman Cool Under Pressure award. The Norb Wallock Memorial Education award went to pro Brad Davis, Jackson, Wis. He won $500 based on nominations from amateur partners on the quality of what he taught them this season. Julie Wallock, Norb's widow made the presentation.
During the awards banquet, PWT officials recognized many local volunteers, including event chairman Gary Lubinski. Ted Takasaki, president of Lindy Little Joe fishing tackle in Brainerd, Minn., said, "This was a great community with tremendous support, and I want to come back." His opinion was shared by all contestants.
The PWT is an integral element of the In-Fisherman Communications Network headquartered in Brainerd, Minnesota, and PRIMEDIA, America's leading producer of targeted media. PWT sponsors include: Mercury Marine, Lund, Berkley Gulp!, Trilene, PowerBait, Realtree, Frenzy, Lowrance, MinnKota, Optima Batteries, Gander Mountain, Nissan, Blue Fox, Northland Fishing Tackle, Lindy Legendary Fishing Tackle, Coleman, Storm, Eagle Trailers, Raymarine, Rapala, Matzuo, Pflueger, Ram rod holders, Drift Control, DeeZee, Cotton Cordell, Seal Skinz, Aqua-Vu, IMCO, Plano, KeepAlive, Stowmaster.net, Quantum Performance Tuned rods & reels.
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| Veteran Pro Dan Plautz Takes 5-pound Day Two Lead at PWT Championship |
Houghton, Michigan - Veteran pro Dan Plautz, with two In-Fisherman Professional Walleye Trail (PWT) wins to his credit, jumped into the lead on day two. The Muskego, Wis. 2-time PWT winner was competing against the world's best walleye anglers in the 2003 Mercury Championship, set to conclude Sunday, Sept. 14.
Fishing the Keweenaw Waterway and Portage and Torch Lakes, Plautz landed a Championship limit of four walleyes weighing 19.77 pounds on day two. His total of 36.59 pounds is five better than Keith Kavajecz, Kaukauna, Wis.
Rookie of the Year Kevin Schweder, Janesville, Wis., jumped into third place, 25.91 pounds. Day one leader Perry Good, Brainerd, Minn., is in fourth place, a few ounces behind Schweder.
Kavajecz landed the largest walleye at 8.21 pounds on day two. It could be worth $3,000. The Quantum $1,000,000 bonus for the angler breaking the Michigan state record (17 pounds, 3 ounces), is still up for grabs.
The top five anglers were trolling Portage Lake, with an emphasis on matching the precise depth. Spinners with nightcrawlers trolled from up high all the way to 40-plus foot depths produced walleyes, and so did crankbaits for some. A couple of the "jiggers" moved into the top 10, also, indicating that the system holds huge numbers of walleyes.
During the practice time, Kavajecz said, "With my underwater camera, I saw more walleyes in this system than anywhere I've been." Plautz echoed that sentiment, "My fish bit early, and I know they were only a few of hundreds down there, but I couldn t get any others to go."
PWT Angler of the Year Bill Ortiz, Dodgeville, Wis., made a big comeback and moved from 43rd to ninth, and with a monster catch on the final day, could win the Championship and the Mercury $250,000 bonus. The special Mercury incentive goes to the Angler of the Year if he also wins the Championship.
A large crowd numbering 3,500 walleye fans, cheered and welcomed the 51 contestants into the Michigan Tech Ice Arena. Youngsters quickly grabbed the 250 complimentary Plano tackle boxes, and all said they d return on day three for one of the 1,000 Shakespeare rod and reel combos. The boat and sport show running in conjunction with the walleye Championship has drawn huge crowds to the first-ever sport show in Houghton.
The Sport Show will open at 10 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 14, with the final stage show and festival set for 4 p.m. with special music. The first pro will weigh walleyes at 4:30 p.m. The winner will receive $108,000, including a Lund 20-foot walleye boat and Mercury 200-horsepower outboard. A special $3,000 winner's ring, crafted by Richardson's Jewelers, Escanaba, Mich., goes to the Champion. All pros win a minimum of $2,000, in the prestigious event, which does not require an entry fee.
The PWT is an integral element of the In-Fisherman Communications Network headquartered in Brainerd, Minnesota, and PRIMEDIA, America's leading producer of targeted media. PWT sponsors include: Mercury Marine, Lund, Berkley Gulp!, Trilene, PowerBait, Realtree, Frenzy, Lowrance, MinnKota, Optima Batteries, Gander Mountain, Blue Fox, Northland Fishing Tackle, Lindy Legendary Fishing Tackle, Coleman, Storm, Eagle Trailers, Raymarine, Rapala, Matzuo, Pflueger, Ram rod holders, Drift Control, DeeZee, Cotton Cordell, Seal Skinz, Aqua-Vu, IMCO, Plano, KeepAlive, Stowmaster.net, Quantum Performance Tuned rods & reels.
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| PWT Championship Lead Goes to Minnesota Pro Angler Perry Good |
Houghton, Michigan. - All contestants in the 2003 Mercury Championship fished completely new water. The best-of-the-best In-Fisherman Professional Walleye Trail (PWT) anglers fished the Keweenaw Waterway in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. After the first day on the water, 4-time PWT winner Perry Good, Brainerd, Minn., captured the lead.
With a chance to win $108,000, Good scored 19.55 pounds of walleyes. He is the only pro angler to have qualified for all 14 PWT Championships. The top five anglers are within three pounds of Good. Last year's Champion Keith Kavajecz, Kaukauna, Wis. holds second with 17.90 pounds. Scott Fairbairn, Hager City, Wis., in third, netted 17.80 pounds. Rick Olson, Mina Lake, SD, had 16.89 pounds and Dan Plautz, Muskego, Wis. weighed 16.82 pounds. They could weigh a maximum of four fish.
Anglers fished the Keweenaw Waterway, which included Portage and Torch Lakes and 27 miles of canal stretching through the peninsula with Lake Superior waters on both ends. "The challenge proved to be making the fish bite," Good said. Kavajecz agreed and said, "The presentation had to be exact; they didn't want to chase far."
The largest walleye weighed 7.95 pounds and was caught by Rookie of the Year, Kevin Schweder, Janesville, Wis. His exploits were cheered by the 2,000 walleye fans in the Michigan Tech Ice Arena. "They really liked it when we pulled those fish out of the livewells," Good said. The Quantum $1,000,000 bonus prize to the angler breaking the Michigan State Record walleye could still be won.
Former Michigan Tech hockey coach Mike Sertich, a life-long angler, acknowledged the fans. He said, "This is a great activity inside the hockey rink." He enjoyed the spectacle as the top 51 qualifiers fished head-to-head. Following the weigh-in, 250 youngsters received Plano tackle boxes. Another 250 tackle boxes will be distributed to kids Saturday, with 1,000 Shakespeare rods and reels to the young walleye fans Sunday.
Weigh-in activities continue at 4 p.m., Saturday & Sunday with the first boat into the Arena at 4:30 p.m. A boat and sport show will take place in the adjacent Gates Tennis Center from 10 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 13 & 14.
The PWT is an integral element of the In-Fisherman Communications Network headquartered in Brainerd, Minnesota, and PRIMEDIA, America's leading producer of targeted media. PWT sponsors include: Mercury Marine, Lund, Berkley Gulp!, Trilene, PowerBait, Realtree, Frenzy, Lowrance, MinnKota, Optima Batteries, Gander Mountain, Blue Fox, Northland Fishing Tackle, Lindy Legendary Fishing Tackle, Coleman, Storm, Eagle Trailers, Raymarine, Rapala, Matzuo, Pflueger, Ram rod holders, Drift Control, DeeZee, Cotton Cordell, Seal Skinz, Aqua-Vu, IMCO, Plano, KeepAlive, Stowmaster.net, Quantum Performance Tuned rods & reels. |
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