| |
| Walleye Pro Gary Parsons Claims 4th PWT |
Veteran In-Fisherman Professional Walleye Trail pro Gary Parsons, Glidden, Wis., claimed the $60,000 first place prize at the Johnsonville Brats Pro-Am, April 25-27, 2007. He was competing in the PWT Regional series event, presented by MotorGuide. Unlike the other 119 pros, he headed to Lake Winnebago's eastern shoreline.
He landed a limit each day with his amateur/co-angler partners, weighing 34.51 pounds. On the final day, fishing with co-angler Brent Long, Youngsville, PA, the northwest wind created severe boat control challenges. Long, casting a Berkley Flicker Shad, a lure designed by Parsons and his business partner Keith Kavajecz, caught all the walleyes. The catch counts for both under the "boat-weight" format, and Parsons said, "It was great fishing with Brent."
Long finished in second place on the amateur side, and also earned a Mercury outboard rebate. Placing first was amateur Jeff Roberts, New London, Wis., who earned a Mercury-powered walleye boat valued at $19,000.
Other veteran pros at the top included Scott Fairbairn, Hager City, Wis., with 33.45 pounds. He won $18,000 for jigging near Fremont, then moving to Lake Winneconne where he trolled Shad Raps. Just a whisker back was Pat Neu, Forestville, Wis., with 33.32 pounds, good for $13,000. The pros netted $216,500 and the amateur/co-anglers won more than $50,000 in prizes and merchandise.
The Coleman Big Fish, 6.01 pounds paid $1,500 to pro Barry Walker, Big Springs, Neb., and amateur Kevin Stobb, Ripon, Wis., who won $500. Pro John Zirzow, Eagle River, Wis., advanced 69 places to win the Coleman Cool Under Pressure award, while amateur Clyde Brown, Onsted, Mich, moved up 79 places to claim his special Coleman Cool Under Pressure honors.
Most anglers fished Lakes Poygan, Winneconne and Butte des Morts, within an easy boat ride of tournament headquarters in downtown Winneconne. The community opened its arms and doors to the touring anglers. The new Critter's Bait Shop and Woodeye Restaurant received the PWT Superior Award for their tremendous support and assistance during tournament week.
Water temperatures dropped from 59 degrees on the first morning to 53 degrees on Friday, and affected the big-fish bite. "This system is in prime shape and will be for years to come," Parsons said. A huge influx of tourists will be in Winneconne for walleyes and the fabled white bass run in the next several weeks.
Results and photos are featured on the PWT website, www.professionalwalleyetrail.com, along with entry blanks for the only PWT tournament with amateur/co-angler openings at Escanaba, Mich, Aug. 8-10. The next tour stop is on Minnesota's famous Mille Lacs Lake, May 29-June 1.
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, Do-It Molds, Winneconne Village 920.582.4851 and the Chamber of Commerce 920.582.4775. |
Back To Top
|
| Veteran Pros Move to Top at Winneconne PWT |
The In-Fisherman Professional Walleye Trail scoreboard boasts some heavyweight pros on top after two days at the Johnsonville Brats Pro-Am. The full field of pros and amateurs fished all the waters of the Winnebago chain, concentrating on the lakes near Winneconne, Wis., tournament headquarters.
Under less than ideal conditions (rain, 45-degree temps, wind), the pro standings feature Gary Parsons, Glidden, Wis., in first place with 23.99 pounds. He has scored 23 top10 place finishes, has three PWT victories, two Johnsonville Angler of the Year titles, and is now fishing his 18th PWT season. He was also 9th at Chamberlain earlier this month. He is alone on Lake Winnebago's east shore.
In second place, Scott Fairbairn, Hager City, Wis., has 23.34 pounds. He is also a past Angler of the Year, 2-time PWT winner, was second at last year's Mercury Championship, and has 15 top 10's. Pat Neu, Forestville, Wis., a PWT winner in his rookie year last year (Escanaba, Mich.) is in third with 23.07 pounds. He brought a 5.62-pounder to the scales. Last year's Mercury Champion Tom Kemos, Oconomowoc, Wis. is in fourth with 22.90 pounds.
Jesse Buechel, Fond du Lac, Wis., fishing his first PWT tournament as a pro is in fifth place. Jeff Roberts, New London, Wis., is leading the amateur race. The Coleman Big Fish of the day and the tournament so far weighed 6.01 pounds, and was caught by pro Barry Walker, Big Springs, Neb., and amateur Kevin Stobb, Ripon, Wis.
Through two days, the 120 boats (one pro and one amateur each) brought in 456 walleyes on day one and 530 walleyes on day two. The average weight was 1.71 pounds.
Due to inclement weather, not as many youngsters climbed the free rock wall or fished for catfish in the free fishing pond. But, forecasts for temperatures in the 60-degree range and sunny skies by Friday afternoon should entice many young folks to join in the festivities. The final-day weigh-in ceremonies begin at 3 p.m., and the winners will be crowned about 6 p.m. at Winneconne's Waterfront Park.
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, Do-It Molds, Winneconne Village 920.582.4851 and the Chamber of Commerce 920.582.4775. |
Back To Top
|
| Hot Bite Thwarted by Strong Winds at PWT |
Spring finally arrived in central Wisconsin over the weekend, and In-Fisherman Professional Walleye Trail anglers surprised themselves at the size and numbers of walleyes in the Lake Winnebago system. Then the Johnsonville Brats Pro-Am, part of the MotorGuide Regional series, opened with northeast winds, blowing apart most game plans.
Pro Gary Parsons, Glidden, Wis., was amazed at the great Lake Winnebago catches during the practice period, and expected much more weight than the eighth place 11.29 pounds he weighed on day one. His comments were repeated numerous times on stage at Winneconne's Waterfront Park in front of hundreds of hearty fishing fans.
Leading after day one is veteran pro Scott Fairbairn, Hager City, Wis. His 14.94 pounds eclipsed rookie pro Luke Leanna, Oakfield, Wis., who weighed 14.37 pounds. They fished with amateurs/co-anglers Adam Brueggen, Onalaska, Wis. and Bruce Peterson, Appleton, Wis., respectively.
Cedarville, Mich., pro Mike McMaken, holds third place with 12.55 pounds. Rookie pro Eric Schuelke, Jackson, Wis., who finished fourth at the recent Chamberlain, SD Regional, is in fourth place again with 11.75 pounds. Gary "Mr. Walleye" Roach, Merrifield, Minn., is fifth with 11.50 pounds. Only three pounds separate Roach from 40th place.
Leanna and Peterson caught the day one Coleman Big Fish at 5.46 pounds. Many anglers trolled crankbaits in the Lakes Poygan, Winneconne and Butte des Morts. Others slip-bobbered and jigged the rocks. Last year, the Wolf River above Lake Poygan proved popular for most of the field. This year, the lakes saw most of the action.
The full field of 120 boats heads out Thursday and Friday at 7 a.m., with weigh-in starting at 3 p.m. In addition to the stage fun, a free rock-climbing wall and catfish tank provide challenges to youngsters. On Friday, the pros share their what/where/when/how secrets.
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, Do-It Molds, Winneconne Village 920.582.4851 and the Chamber of Commerce 920.582.4775. |
Back To Top
|
| Touring Walleye Pros Aiming for Winneconne |
With all eyes on Winneconne, Wisconsin, the In-Fisherman Professional Walleye Trail pro anglers and their daily amateur partners are headed there for some hot walleye fishing action.
These top-ranked pro anglers will be competing in the Johnsonville Brats Pro-Am, part of the MotorGuide Regional series of high-stakes walleye tournaments. The April 25-27 dates will coincide with typical spring-like weather, according to predictions, and a great walleye population in this sprawling central Wisconsin lake and river system.
Anchored by Lake Winnebago, Wisconsin's largest inland lake, and the upriver lakes of Butte des Morts, Winneconne and Poygan, plus the connecting channels, bays and rivers, and the Fox and Wolf Rivers that spill into the lakes, this tournament provides the greatest variety of options of any PWT tournament waters.
Headquarters and the popular spectator weigh-in ceremonies occur at Waterfront Park, just south of the Winneconne bridge. Weigh-in ceremonies begin Wednesday, Thursday and Friday at 3 p.m. and are "family-friendly" with a free catfish pond and free rock-climbing wall for youngsters.
Doug Nelson, Winneconne businessman and tournament coordinator, said, "This year, the pros will see more and bigger fish. The tagging efforts by the DNR resulted in 10,000 walleyes being tagged, more than ever, and the big males from 20 to 22 inches surprised the biologists, but so did the many female walleyes that were much larger."
Living near the Wolf River his entire life, PWT pro John Kolinski, Greenville, Wis., said, "This year, it could be won anywhere. The fish have spawned in two waves, and will be done when we're there. The river in Oshkosh could be the key spot, or even Lake Winnebago, but I bet Wolf River will be a solid bet, but trolling in Poygan and around Winneconne could be the answer." He has a second and a 21st place finish at Winneconne.
Last year's winner Tom Gatzke, Merrill, Wis., who ended up as the 2006 MotorGuide Regional Champion, winning a total of $72,900 said, "My strategy could change this year. Being a week later will put the big spawned-out females in play, and I may gamble for big fish in the lakes. But, really, jigging in the Wolf River is so much fun, you'll probably see me there."
The PWT conducts tournaments throughout North America. Remaining events on the Regional tour include Mille Lacs in Minnesota and Bay de Noc in Escanaba, Mich, where some amateur/co-angler openings exist. The PWT Super Pro series, presented by MinnKota, with events in Ontario and Minnesota takes place in late summer. PWT news, stats, photos, entry blanks and the Mercury Real-Time Leaderboard are at 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, Do-It Molds, Winneconne Village 920.582.4851 and the Chamber of Commerce 920.582.4775.
|
Back To Top
|
|
|
