Results Pro Division
  

 Ron Seelhoff Wins Fourth PWT Tournament

Glasgow, MT . . Ron Seelhoff, Lewellen, NE, claimed his fourth In-Fisherman Professional Walleye Trail victory on Fort Peck Reservoir Aug. 4. Weighing 85.64 pounds for 16 walleyes over three days, the veteran pro won $50,000, pushing his total PWT winnings to $328,325.

Seelhoff is the only 4-time PWT winner, has 18 top 10 place finishes, is the top money winner, and a past Angler of the Year. He won the 1999 Dodge/Mercury Championship and leads the field to Bismarck, ND next month.

The PowerBait Western Pro-Am on Montana’s largest reservoir proved exciting, with anglers spread out as far as 50 miles from the Fort Peck dam. Most fished main lake points or trolled contours. Some fished crank baits, others preferred live bait tactics. Seelhoff fished live bait on Mack’s Lure Smile blades (with crawlers) behind bottom bouncers. When the “bite” slowed, he back-trolled his 225-hp Mercury OptiMax into the slight chop and ran leeches or crawlers on plain hooks.

Placing second was pro Larry Lambert, Marblehead, Ohio, who also won the Storm Heavyweight award with 47.73 pounds on day one. He trolled crank baits and won $15,600 for 81.17 pounds. Rick Olson, Mina, SD, fished bottom bouncers with blue blades and crawlers for third, 78.36 pounds, and $10,000. He has 13 top 10 place finishes. He also won the $21,000 In-Fisherman Angler of the Year award which included a Mercury 150-hp OptiMax.

Winning the $12,000 Lund 17-foot boat, Mercury outboard and Eagle trailer was amateur Randy Tyler, Hometown, IL, a tour regular with 22 tournaments to his credit. Amateurs fish with different pros daily to experience all aspects of competitive fishing.

Bass Pro Shops big fish of the tournament, 12.19 pounds, earned amateur Ellis Boucherie, Henderson, KY $2,500. Final day Bass Pro Shops awards went to pro Les Vietz, Bismarck, ND, 11.38 pounds. He won $2,000. Second place paid $1,200 to amateur Rick Hegvik, Glenfield, ND for his 10.45-pounder. Third, 10.21 pounds, earned $1,025 for amateur Glenn Crose, Marion, Iowa. He won a big fish award in each of the Dee Zee western division events, and also earned Mercury Top Amateur honors of $4,000 and an invitation to the Championship. Pro Gary Parsons, Glidden, WI, won $950 for a 9.81 pound walleye.

In addition to finalizing invitations to the Sept. 14-16 Dodge/Mercury Championship, the Dee Zee west division top five qualifiers were named. They are headed by Gary Roach, Merrifield, MN. Also Championship-bound are Dave Spaid, Pierre, SD, Dave Randash, Dillworth, MN, Barry Walker, Big Springs, NE, and Royce Drye, Spokane, WA. Walker also won the $3,000 Energizer Rookie of the Year award for being the top rookie on tour. He placed in the money in each west division event, 12th, 13th, and 27th. He is the only rookie in the Championship.

Jim Meder, New London, MN, advanced 104 places to win the Coleman Cool Under Pressure award, $1,000. Bill Mueller, Westminster, CO moved up the same number of places to win $600. On the local level, Alvie Hallock won the “Host” award and Alton Smith, the “Key” award for their contributions to the local tournament committee, boat patrols and extra effort whenever the PWT visits the Fort Peck and Glasgow communities. The tournament action will be shown on TNN Aug. 28 and Sept. 18 at 11:30 p.m. central time.

PWT sponsors include: Aqua Vu, Bass Pro Shops, Berkley PowerBait, Blue Fox Tackle, Carhartt, Coleman, Cotton Cordell, Daiichi hooks, Dee Zee truck accessories, Dodge trucks, Eagle Claw, Eagle Trailers, Energizer Automotive and Marine brand batteries, Guest chargers, Lindy Little Joe, Lowrance Electronics, Lund Boats, Mack’s Lure, Marinco, Mercury Outboards, Master Lock, MinnKota, Rapala Lures, Northland Tackle, Oceanwave sunglasses, Pinnacle rods and reels, Plano, Pugsley’s, the official PWT sandwich, Raytheon Marine, Shimano rods, Storm Lures, Stren fishing lines, T-H Marine, Veryfine, the official PWT beverage and the Glasgow Chamber of Commerce, (406) 228-2222.

Results Amateur Division

How Much They Won -- The Important Part