PWT Pro Ron Gazvoda Climbs
Into Winner’s Circle at Bay de Noc
Escanaba, Michigan….Ron Gazvoda is in the record books. The
Lakewood, Colorado, pro angler won the Outdoor Channel Pro-Am in Escanaba,
Michigan. He also collected the $64,000 first prize by outfishing the world’s 120
top-ranked pro anglers on Bay de Noc. It was the final In-Fisherman
Professional Walleye Trail (PWT) tournament of the year.
Like Gazvoda, the pros faced adverse weather all week as a cold
Front dropped water temperatures 15 degrees. On the final day, the wind
switched 180 degrees to the north at 10 to 20 mph, and air temps never passed
the mid-fifties. Despite that, the pros brought in about 300 walleyes each
day. Many large fish were discovered by trolling the areas south of Escanaba
Near rocky points along the west shoreline and the Minneapolis Shoals area.
Gazvoda weighed 10 fish for 56 pounds. In his third PWT season, he
Has cashed nine checks in 16 tournaments (5 of 6 in 2004). He also placed
second in the Angler of the Year standings. Winning that coveted
$25,000 title for the first time was Tommy Skarlis, Walker, Minn. He earned
$13,000 for third place, which brought his total PWT winnings for the year to
$123,000. John Gillman, Freeland, Mich. was second in the Outdoor
Channel Pro-Am and won $20,000.
Pros and amateurs netted nearly $300,000 in cash and merchandise
prizes. The top amateur, Aaron Martin, Warren, Mich., towed home a $17,000 Lund
Boat and Mercury outboard on an E-Z Loader trailer. Other amateurs winning
big were Mercury Top Amateur Rick Willet-Johnson, Omaha, Neb. who won $4,000 and
an entry into the Mercury Championship, and Pflueger Top Amateur of the
MotorGuide East Division Mark Butke, Hancock, Mich.
A special year-end award and a MotorGuide trolling motor went to pro
John Gillman for winning the MotorGuide East Division. The Stowmaster
Rookie of the Year $5,000 honors went to Ted Merdan, Maple Grove, Minn.
Gazvoda also won the Dee Zee VIP (Very Impressive Pro) $2,000 award for
advancing the most places from his standings in 2003 (38th place) to
second
this year. Final standings and Championship contestants are listed on http://www.professionalwalleyetrail.com.
On Bay de Noc, the Gander Mountain Heavyweight award went to pro Gillman($500) and amateur Kelly Pollock, Dryden, Ontario ($300). Their final day catch weighed 25.42 pounds. Pro Jamie Sherman, Cambridge, PA, advanced from a zero on day one to 20th place to win the Coleman Cool Under Pressure award of $1,000. Amateur Alvin Davis, Ada, Mich., moved up 94 places to win $500. He advanced to seventh.
Pro Larry Big Fish Smith, Berlin, Wis., and amateur Bob Kubacki, Eagle River, Wis., landed a 11.49 pounder, and split $2,500. Many other fish over nine pounds came to the scales. Several anglers averaged six and seven pounds for all their fish.
A PWT Key Award went to Tom Polkey, area tournament coordinator, for his behind-the-scenes and on-site efforts. Many volunteers made the event a success. Another Key Award went to Vickie Micheau with the Delta County Chamber of Commerce and Steve Masters with the Convention and Visitors Bureau, who cooperated closely with many details that allowed the event to run so smoothly.