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| Bob Propst Jr Repeats with 2nd PWT Walleye Win |
 |  |  | Propst Jr: 2 for 2 at Chamberlain |
Bob Propst, Jr., claimed the Berkley/Lund Pro-Am victory in the opening tournament of the In-Fisherman Professional Walleye Trail 2007 season. He was competing in the MotorGuide Regional series on the Missouri River and Lake Francis Case in Chamberlain, SD.
His $66,000 win places him atop the Johnsonville Brats Angler of the Year race, the same position he occupied after a $55,000 win in Chamberlain last season. He fished a similar pattern, but concentrated on deeper water about 40 miles south of Chamberlain. His lure of choice last year was PowerBait Power Minnows. This year it was Berkley Gulp! Specifically, the chartreuse 2-inch Minnow Grub vertically jigged in 20-plus feet of water made the difference. He pinched off a bit of the tail, added a minnow, and caught his fish in the right order.
His 11.14 pounds eclipsed all other anglers in the weather-shortened tournament. PWT officials called off day one due to strong winds and cold temperatures. The "middle" day proved very fishable, though cold (20 degrees at take-off, up to 30 degrees later in the day). Day three dawned cold with a 10 mph breeze. All computer forecast models called for very strong winds, and coupled with the 17-degree air temperatures and 40-degree water temperatures, the third day was also canceled. The winds were blowing at 20 mph by 9 a.m. and 25 mph at the 10 a.m. awards ceremonies.
Jim Kalkofen, PWT executive director, in meeting with the Advisory Council representatives, said, "For 18 years, safety has been our most important operating guideline, and the decision to protect people is the reason for canceling the day." Marty Glorvigen, PWT pro and Council member said on stage with his 29th place trophy, "I wanted to go fishing earlier, but with the strong winds now, you made the right call."
Winning on the amateur side was Corrie VrBicky, Omaha, Neb. He towed home a 17-foot Lund boat with a 60-hp Mercury, valued at $19,000. The second place pro and amateur, Steve Alverson, Chester, SD won $15,964, while Mark Huntley, Sergeant Bluff, Iowa won $3,050 in merchandise and gift certificates from PWT sponsor partners. They also claimed Coleman Big Fish, a 5-pounder, which paid $1,500 to Alverson and $500 to Huntley.
As a special "thanks" to the PWT amateurs/co-anglers, Mercury Outboards presented rebate gift certificates to second through sixth place winners of $500 to $1,800. The top 30 amateurs and top 30 pros all won cash and/or merchandise or gift certificates.
Mike Gofron, Antioch, Illinois, won another top-10 place finish with a third and $11,530. He holds the record with the most PWT top-10s, now at 33. Two rookie pros were fourth and fifth. Eric Schuelke, Jackson, Wis., won $8,868, and Chad Shilling, Akaska, SD, won $8,426. Past PWT Chamberlain winner Mark Martin, Twin Lake, Mich., was sixth, with $7,982.
The hospitable staff at Cedar Shore Resort earned the PWT Key Award. Ron Madison, general manager, in accepting the award said, "We really love having the PWT guys and gals here, and look forward to seeing you in Chamberlain again."
The Regional Series hits the water in Winneconne, Wis., April 25-27, with a full field of 120 pros. More schedule news, photos from Chamberlain, entry blanks for a chance to fish with the pro anglers in the Pro-Am format, and other details are on the PWT website, www.professionalwalleyetrail.com.
The PWT is an integral element of the In-Fisherman Communications Network headquartered in Baxter, Minnesota, and INTER-MEDIA, America's leading producer of targeted media. PWT promotional partners include: Mercury Marine, Lund Boats, Berkley, Lowrance Electronics, Optima Batteries, Minn Kota, Realtree, MotorGuide, Johnsonville Brats, Outdoor Channel, Coleman, Northland Fishing Tackle, StowMaster, Reef Runner, Yo-Zuri Quality Lures, Smooth Moves Seat Mounts, Kwik Pfyt Mud Flaps, Yellow Bird Planer Boards, Allstar Graphics, Ram Mounts, Element Edge, Pflueger, Plano Tackle Systems, Aikens Lake Wilderness Lodge, E-Cell, Cannon, Fin-Tech Tackle and Do-It Mold, Chamber at 605-234-4416 and Cedar Shore Resort, 605-734-6376 |
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| Could Bob Propst Jr Repeat at Chamberlain? |
|  | | Propst Jr has got this place down |
Showing his Super Pro status, In-Fisherman Professional Walleye Trail pro angler Bob Propst, Jr., captured the day one lead at Chamberlain, SD. Propst from Bode, Iowa, won the PWT tournament at Chamberlain last season.
This tournament, the Berkley/Lund Pro-Am, the first Regional Series event presented by MotorGuide, will conclude Friday, April 6. Cold, windy weather forced cancellation of day one, but calm conditions greeted anglers today. The temperatures were unlike typical springtime in South Dakota, starting at 20 degrees, and under a hazy sky with sun peeking through, the afternoon temperatures couldn't push above freezing.
Walleye anglers persevered with layers and layers of warm clothing and Gore-Tex. Many wore Gerbing's heated foul weather suits. With the winds almost calm until 2 p.m., fishing was actually better than most anglers expected, with 64 percent catching 5-fish limits.
Propst stuck with jigs and Berkley PowerBait Power Minnows, casting shallow bluff-banks and rocky shorelines for 11.14 pounds. This is the same presentation he won $55,000 with last year. However, today, at least one-third of the field cast Power Minnows. Trolling in the 25 to 30 foot depths with leadcore and crankbaits provided Steve Alverson, Chester, SD with second place (10.69 pounds) and the Coleman Big Fish at five pounds.
Holding third place is veteran pro Mike Gofron, Antioch, Illinois, with 10.51 pounds. Two rookie pros are in fourth and fifth, both with 10 pounds. Eric Schuelke, Jackson, Wis., and Chad Shilling, Akaska, SD, are proud of their first PWT tournament day.
Anglers head out tomorrow morning and weigh-in at 5 p.m., at Cedar Shore Resort, on the scenic Missouri River. With the size limits and under the no-upgrade rule, each boat with one pro and one amateur/co-angler could weigh two walleyes over 20 inches and three from 15 to 20 inches, or all five from 15 to 20 inches. Of the 473 walleyes and saugers weighed, fewer than 20 exceeded the 20-inch mark.
Following Chamberlain, the MotorGuide Regional series heads east to Winneconne, Wis. for the Johnsonville Brats Pro-Am April 25-27.
The PWT is an integral element of the In-Fisherman Communications Network headquartered in Baxter, Minnesota, and INTER-MEDIA, America's leading producer of targeted media. PWT promotional partners include: Mercury Marine, Lund Boats, Berkley, Lowrance Electronics, Optima Batteries, Minn Kota, Realtree, MotorGuide, Johnsonville Brats, Outdoor Channel, Coleman, Northland Fishing Tackle, StowMaster, Reef Runner, Yo-Zuri Quality Lures, Smooth Moves Seat Mounts, Kwik Pfyt Mud Flaps, Yellow Bird Planer Boards, Allstar Graphics, Ram Mounts, Element Edge, Pflueger, Plano Tackle Systems, Aikens Lake Wilderness Lodge, E-Cell, Cannon, Fin-Tech Tackle and Do-It Mold, Chamber at 605-234-4416 and Cedar Shore Resort, 605-734-6376 |
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| Lund-Berkley Pro-Am in Chamberlain Canceled |
With air temperatures at 18 degrees and winds out of the north at 15 mph, day one, Apr. 4, of the Berkley/Lund Pro-Am was canceled. The weather forecast called for winds to increase to 20 mph, and ice build-up on boat decks would have presented a safety hazard.
Because the cold weather would endanger the contestants, In-Fisherman Professional Walleye Trail officials made the call at 7:15 a.m., after consulting with the PWT elected Advisory Council representatives.
PWT executive director Jim Kalkofen said, "The conditions made this an easy decision. Tomorrow the winds are forecast to be 5 to 10 mph, which will create a much safer day." Average temperatures are above 50-degrees, and two weeks ago, spring struck South Dakota with 70 and 80-degree days.
This tournament, the opening event of the MotorGuide Regional Series, will take place Thursday and Friday, April 5-6. Take-off each morning is scheduled at 8 a.m., with two flights returning at 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. With the slot limit and the many "biting" fish they discovered on the practice days, anglers may weigh their catches anytime during the day.
The 2007 PWT tournament schedule includes stops at Winneconne, Wis. later in April, on Mille Lacs in north-central Minnesota the end of May, on Wabigoon Lake in Dryden, Ontario in late July, on Bay de Noc in Escanaba, Mich., Aug. 8-10, concluding on Cass Lake in northern Minnesota, right after Labor Day. All are Pro-Am events, with amateur openings only at Winneconne, Cass Lake and Escanaba.
As a special attraction for amateurs/co-angler, PWT pro Bruce Samson announced he would conduct an 11 a.m. Lowrance mapping and GPS class at Cedar Shore Resort.
Information, photos, stats and details are on the PWT website, www.professionalwalleyetrail.com.
The PWT is an integral element of the In-Fisherman Communications Network headquartered in Baxter, Minnesota, and INTER-MEDIA, America's leading producer of targeted media. PWT promotional partners include: Mercury Marine, Lund Boats, Berkley, Lowrance Electronics, Optima Batteries, Minn Kota, Realtree, MotorGuide, Johnsonville Brats, Outdoor Channel, Coleman, Northland Fishing Tackle, StowMaster, Reef Runner, Yo-Zuri Quality Lures, Smooth Moves Seat Mounts, Kwik Pfyt Mud Flaps, Yellow Bird Planer Boards, Allstar Graphics, Ram Mounts, Element Edge, Pflueger, Plano Tackle Systems, Aikens Lake Wilderness Lodge, E-Cell, Cannon, Fin-Tech Tackle and Do-It Mold, Chamber at 605-234-4416 and Cedar Shore Resort, 605-734-6376 |
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| PWT Chamberlain April 4th, 5th, and 6th |
|  | | Bob Propst Jr brings a basket to the scales enroute to his Super Pro victory in 2006 |
The In-Fisherman Professional Walleye Trail returns to Chamberlain, SD April 4-6. This is the fifth PWT trip to this popular Missouri River tournament site. Fishing takes place on the river, with daily weigh-in festivities at the Cedar Shore Resort marina.
2006 Chamberlain winner, Bob Propst, Jr., now living in Bode, Iowa, but with deep roots growing up and guiding in the Pierre and Chamberlain areas, said, 'The bite's getting good. I expect it to peak at tournament time.'
The PWT pros, each paired with an amateur/co-angler partner, will explore the waters from the Fort Thompson dam downstream to the Highway 44 bridge. They will be fishing for $200,000 in cash and prizes. The winning pro and amateur both receive Lund/Mercury boat packages in this Lund/Berkley Pro-Am.
The Chamberlain event is the earliest the PWT has ever fished the Missouri River system, and opens the Regional series season, which is presented by MotorGuide. The younger Propst will be joined in the field by his dad, Bob, Sr, Pierre, who has been guiding and winning tournaments for four decades. Bob Sr. has also been inducted into the National Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame as a legendary angler.
Propst, Jr. said, "I expect the shallow bite to be iffy, but the deeper bite should be productive. But, with the warmer weather, the walleyes could move shallow at any time. This will be a great challenge." He predicted the 'deep' fish might be caught vertical jigging in 20 to 30 feet of water on sand or channel breaks. He said lead core trolling with crankbaits would play a part, which is the method Tom Backer, Fargo, ND used to win the 2002 tournament.
In 2004, winner Mike Kulm, Rapid City, SD, cast crankbaits near the dam, while 2001 winner Mark Martin, Twin Lake, Mich., jigged for his fish shallow. Propst won by pitching jigs with PowerBait Power Minnows right against the bluff banks.
Advice from Propst, "Old spots may not work this early. Watch for some eight and nine-pounders." Results are fun when viewed from the Cedar Shore lawn, but can also be accessed from the Mercury Real-Time Leaderboard on the PWT website, www.professionalwalleyetrail.com. When anglers cross the stage, starting at 3 p.m. daily, their weights are posted immediately.
The PWT is an integral element of the In-Fisherman Communications Network headquartered in Baxter, Minnesota, and INTER-MEDIA, America's leading producer of targeted media. PWT promotional partners include: Mercury Marine, Lund Boats, Berkley, Lowrance Electronics, Optima Batteries, Minn Kota, Realtree, MotorGuide, Johnsonville Brats, Outdoor Channel, Coleman, Northland Fishing Tackle, StowMaster, Reef Runner, Yo-Zuri Quality Lures, Smooth Moves Seat Mounts, Kwik Pfyt Mud Flaps, Yellow Bird Planer Boards, Allstar Graphics, Ram Mounts, Element Edge, Pflueger, Plano Tackle Systems, Aikens Lake Wilderness Lodge, E-Cell, Cannon, Fin-Tech Tackle Company, Do-It Molds and the Chamberlain/Oacoma Chamber at 605-234-4416 and Cedar Shore Resort, 605-734-6376.
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