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| Washington Pro Bobby Crow Wins PWT at Mobridge, SD |
"Finally," was all Bobby Crow said after winning the Johnsonville Brats/Mercury Pro-Am in Mobridge, SD. The Paterson, Wash. pro walleye angler has fished the In-Fisherman Professional Walleye Trail since 2000. His previous best finish was a second at the 2002 Mercury Championship in Bismarck, ND, on the Missouri River. He has five top-10 place trophies.
He edged pro Gary Roach, Merrifield, Minn., by two pounds. Keith Kavajecz, Kaukauna, Wis., held third all three days. These pro anglers collected prizes of $64,000 (Crow won a Lund/Mercury boat on an E-Z Loader trailer and $30,000), $20,000 for Roach and $13,000 for Kavajecz. The winning amateur, Gale Johnson, Imperial, Neb. towed home a 17-foot Lund/Mercury boat valued at $17,000. A total of $300,000 was awarded at the Bay Resort, following the July 27-29 tournament.
Crow's trolling tactics with Reef Runner deep diver crankbaits at 24 to 40 feet over points and humps worked all three days. He fished from the Highway 212 Bridge north about 10 miles. Best colors were "Monkey Puke, Wonder Bread and Wild Thing."
As the final event of the MotorGuide West Division, the top pro, John Butts, Dryden, Ontario, won a MotorGuide trolling motor and a SnowSport snowplow. He will lead the west division anglers to the Mercury Championship. The other nine qualifiers are Bob Propst, Jr., Pierre, SD; Larry Snow, Kenora, Ontario; Sheldon Meidinger, Bismarck, ND; Bill Hall, Algona, Iowa; Charlie Johnson, Merrifield, Minn.; Scott Ziegler, North Platte, Neb.; Ross Grothe, Northfield, Minn.; Sam Anderson, Inver Grove Heights, Minn.; Jason Tomich, Omaha, Neb. They head to Milford Lake in Junction City, Kansas in September.
The touring pros criss-crossing the walleye world have one more tournament at Sault Ste. Marie, Mich. to determine Johnsonville Brats Angler of the Year. Leading after Mobridge is pro Mark Brumbaugh, Arcanum, Ohio. Mike Gofron, Antioch, Ill., slipped to second by three points. The standings are printed, along with many other records, photos and stories on the PWT website, www.professionalwalleyetrail.com.
The final day Coleman Big Fish went to pro Daryl Christensen, Montello, Wis. and John Mascarello, Plattsmouth, Neb. Their 5.64 pounder was worth $1,000. The Navionics Spot-on-the-Spot award went to pro Gary Roach for concentrating on one stretch of an old roadbed all three days. He won $500. The Gerbing's Hot Pro award to the pro making a big impact and moving up in the standings went to rookie pro Jason Tomich. He won $500 cash and a $500 Gerbing's heated foul-weather suit. He also qualified for the Championship, making up 10 spots. Moving up the most places after day one, 61, and winning the Coleman Cool Under Pressure award was pro Rick Gardner, Greeley, Col. On the amateur/co-angler side, Troy Wright, Spicer, Minn. won the Coleman honors. John Bergsma, Walker, Mich., won the Dave's Ka-Boom Close Call $500 award for placing 41st.
The PWT works closely with the Mobridge Chamber of Commerce (605-845-2387) and the Grand River Casino (605-845-7104) these business partners: Mercury Marine, Lund, The Outdoor Channel, Berkley, Optima Batteries, Realtree, MotorGuide, Lowrance, MinnKota, Trilene, Frenzy, Blue Fox, Powerbait, Johnsonville Brats, Northland Fishing Tackle, Lindy Legendary Fishing Tackle, GULP!, Coleman, Storm, Boat Buckle, Smooth Moves Seat Mounts, Kwik Pfyt, E-Z Loader, Raymarine, Rapala, Matzuo, Pflueger, Ram rod holders, Gerbing's Heated Clothing, Aqua-Vu, Save Phace, Plano, Stowmaster.net, Navionics, Access Roll-up Cover, Yellow Bird, DOW Chemical, Dave's Lures, The State Bank Group, Yo-Zuri and Reef Runner. 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. |
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| Bobby Crow Edges 'Mr. Walleye' for Day Two PWT Lead at Mobridge, SD |
The In-Fisherman Professional Walleye Trail touring pro anglers found Lake Oahe's walleyes scattered on day two of the Johnsonville Brats/Mercury Pro-Am. The world's best walleye anglers are fishing out of Mobridge, SD, and talking about the numbers of fish from 12 to 15 inches in the system. "The future looks great out here," said day two leader Bobby Crow, Paterson, Wash.
Crow overtook day one leader Gary "Mr. Walleye" Roach, Merrifield,Minn. Crow's 24.03 pounds is a pound better than Roach. Mr. Walleye, one of the seniors on tour at 68 years old, earned his living as a guide for many years before Crow was born, and all those years in a Lund boat. Crow, 29 years old, guides on the Columbia River when not on tour.
Keith Kavajecz, Kaukauna, Wis. holds third with 21.76 pounds. A total of seven pro anglers are within four pounds of Crow. The daily weights reflect the PWT 5-fish limit per boat, but only two of those may exceed 20 inches. "The 20-inchers have been scarce, but the entire system has a tremendous forage base (the smelt are back), and several very successful hatches will make Mobridge a walleye destination for years to come," Roach said.
A 7.22-pound walleye propelled pro Dave Randash into fourth spot. Fishing with amateur Gary Stanton, Overland Park, Kansas, the duo split the $1,000 Coleman Big Fish daily money. Stanton is also the leading amateur/co-angler.
Tomorrow, July 29, at the Bay Resort, west of Mobridge, approximately $300,000 will be awarded. The first place amateur/co-angler wins a Lund/Mercury 17-foot walleye boat on an E-Z Loader trailer. A Lund 2025 with a Merc 200 on an E-Z Loader is part of the first place pro's $64,000 prize. The top 40 win cash or merchandise. Activities start about 3 p.m., and walleye fans get a chance to see the pro's boats up close and personal as they parade them in front of the stage.
The PWT works closely with the Mobridge Chamber of Commerce(605-845-2387) and the Grand River Casino (605-845-7104) these business partners: Mercury Marine, Lund, The Outdoor Channel, Berkley, Optima Batteries, Realtree, MotorGuide, Lowrance, MinnKota, Trilene, Frenzy, Blue Fox, Powerbait, Johnsonville Brats, Northland Fishing Tackle, Lindy Legendary Fishing Tackle, GULP!, Coleman, Storm, Boat Buckle, Smooth Moves Seat Mounts, Kwik Pfyt, E-Z Loader, Raymarine, Rapala, Matzuo, Pflueger, Ram rod holders, Gerbing's Heated Clothing, Aqua-Vu, Save Phace, Plano, Stowmaster.net, Navionics, Access Roll-up Cover, Yellow Bird, DOW Chemical, Dave's Lures, The State Bank Group, Yo-Zuri and Reef Runner. 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. |
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| PWT Pro Gary Roach Leads Day One at Mobridge Tournament |
One of the most well-known walleye anglers in North America, Gary Roach, captured the day one lead at the Mercury/Johnsonville Brats Pro-Am. Roach, popularly referred to as "Mr. Walleye," found an In-Fisherman Professional Walleye Trail (PWT) 5-fish limit on expansive Lake Oahe at Mobridge, SD.
The best walleye fishermen in the world fish the PWT tour, and at Mobridge this week the fishing sort of followed the weather. From temperatures soaring above 100 degrees during pre-fishing to a Monday cold front with a 40 degree drop in temperatures, the walleyes seemed cooler on day one, July 27. Despite a "tough-bite," pros and amateurs/co-anglers managed to catch 75 limits.
Fishing with bottom bouncers and various live bait and PowerBait or Gulp! offerings, or trolling crankbaits, anglers fished from the Highway 212 bridge to the Dakota border, about 70 miles of river. After weigh-in festivities, Roach, Merrifield, Minn. and his amateur partner Roger Svebakken, Spring Valley, Minn. scored 13.41 pounds.
Svebakken said, "Several years ago Gary told me at a seminar that fishing the PWT was the best learning opportunity in the world. After a day in the boat with him, and with seven other PWT tournaments under my belt, he's right."
Holding second place is pro Bobby Crow, Paterson, Wash., and amateur/co-angler Guy Edwards, Charles, City, Iowa. They netted 13.26 pounds. Veteran pro Keith Kavajecz, Kaukauna, Wis. and amateur/co-angler John McFarland, Fremont, Neb. scored 12.66 pounds. Rookie pro Jason Tomich, Omaha, Neb. Is in fourth with 12.63 pounds. He fished with amateur/co-angler David Evert, Bloomington, Minn.
The Coleman Big Fish $1,000 honors went to pro Jeff Taege, Rhinelander, Wis. and amateur/co-angler Kyle Middleton, Des Moines, Iowa. It weighed 5.71 pounds. Jacksonville Angler of the Year leader Mike Gofron, Antioch, Ill. caught 8 pounds, but with two more days remaining, many pros are within striking distanace. Angler of the year pays $35,000 if the winner drives a Mercury Outboard; $25,000 otherwise.
The daily weigh-in ceremonies take place west of Mobridge at the Bay Resort, Thursday and Friday, starting at 3 p.m. With the cooperation of the Mobridge Chamber of Commerce, the Grand River Casino, the tribe and dozens of volunteers, the drive-thru weigh-in ran smoothly. Anglers utilized the Indian Creek Recreation Area to launch and motored to the Bay Resort to show the walleye fans the results of their efforts. The fans also saw the colorful boats and talked with pros about how their boats were rigged.
The PWT works closely with the Mobridge Chamber of Commerce(605-845-2387) and the Grand River Casino (605-845-7104) these business partners: Mercury Marine, Lund, The Outdoor Channel, Berkley, Optima Batteries, Realtree, MotorGuide, Lowrance, MinnKota, Trilene, Frenzy, Blue Fox, Powerbait, Johnsonville Brats, Northland Fishing Tackle, Lindy Legendary Fishing Tackle, GULP!, Coleman, Storm, Boat Buckle, Smooth Moves Seat Mounts, Kwik Pfyt, E-Z Loader, Raymarine, Rapala, Matzuo, Pflueger, Ram rod holders, Gerbing's Heated Clothing, Aqua-Vu, Save Phace, Plano, Stowmaster.net, Navionics, Access Roll-up Cover, Yellow Bird, DOW Chemical, Dave's Lures, The State Bank Group, Yo-Zuri and Reef Runner. 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.
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