Current PWT Champ Charges to the
Lead by Trolling Cranks on Lake Oahe
Mobridge, South Dakota……Keith Kavajecz, Kaukauna, Wis., leads the
In-Fisherman Professional Walleye Trail (PWT) shoot-out on Lake Oahe. The
touring pro who won the 2002 Mercury Championship and $100,000 last
September, racked up 12.21 pounds. He fished with amateur partner Mark
Conrad, Wellington, Kan. Their cause was highlighted with the day¹s largest
walleye, 5.34 pounds, worth at least $1,000
They were trolling like many in the Realtree/Optima Batteries Western
Pro-Am, headquartered in Mobridge, SD. However, most trollers spent their
day tugging and battling the thousands of underwater cottonwoods that lined
the old Missouri River channel. Crankbaits were most effective when they
ticked the tree-tops, down about 30 feet in 60 feet or more of water.
Several pros reminded their walleye fans they would have to go to the
bank, then the tackle shop to re-supply their tackle boxes. Also trolling
was second place pro Duane Tencate, Sioux Falls, SD, fishing with Dave
Tuthill, Sandy Lake, Penn. They limited with six walleyes for 11.86 pounds.
A limit consisted of four walleyes from 15 to 18 inches and two over 18
inches.
Pro Gerrick McComsey, Fort Pierre, SD holds third place with 11.60
pounds. He fished with amateur Joe Artim, Tower, Minn. They were live bait
rigging, then trolled for their larger fish. Past PWT winner at Mobridge,
pro Gary Parsons, Glidden, Wis., is in fourth place with 11.45 pounds. His
amateur partner was Laurent Raymond, Pine Falls, Ontario. They were also
trolling.
Most anglers departed Mobridge and headed downstream, fishing as far as
the highway 212 bridge, about 60 miles away. After a cold front and storms
Tuesday, the fantastic week-long action slowed today. However, 14 anglers
racked up double digits, and the race is unusually close.
This is the final Dee Zee western tournament, which will determine the
top 10 pros from the division who will be invited to the Mercury
Championship. The final Dee Zee eastern tournament will take place next
month in Escanaba, Mich., and 10 eastern division winners will also be
invited to the Championship. The top 30 pros who fish all six PWT
tournaments also qualify for the prestigious Championship, where contestants
could win as much as $1,500,000. One million dollars is on the line if a
pro breaks the Michigan state record walleye (17.3 pounds) during
competition.
The final two days in Mobridge, Thursday and Friday, July 31 and Aug. 1,
feature exciting stage action and a chance to meet the pros as they weigh
their fish. The festivities begin about 3 p.m. (central time) each day at
the Bay, located by the bridge, just west of Mobridge on Highway 12. The
weigh-in includes a boat ³drive-by² as the pros and their amateur partners
arrive in their boats and move directly to the scales. The entire event is
as close as fans can get to being in the boats with their favorite pro
anglers.
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, Miller High-Life, Nissan,
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 Mobridge
Chamber of Commerce (888-614-3474)