Day One Bio Data Air Temp: 67 degrees @ 7 am 90 degrees @ 5 pm Winds: 5 mph - 20 mph; mostly west Skies: cloudy w/ rain; clear by 2 pm Water Temperature: 73-77 degrees

Day One Bass Pro Shops Big Walleye $2,000; Larry Lambert, Marblehead, OH, pro, 11.22# $1,200; Joe Mitchell, Cambridge, MN, amateur, 11.05# $1,025; David Blow, Fargo, ND, pro, 10.45# $ 950; Jason Enerson, Mandan, ND, amateur, 10.03#

August 2, 2000 

For Immediate Release

Eight Pound Average Takes PWT
Lead in Montana Walleye Tournament

Glasgow, MT....With an 8-pound average, pro Larry Lambert, Marblehead, Ohio, soared to the lead in the PowerBait Western Pro-Am on Fort Peck Reservoir today. Total weight for his In-Fisherman Professional Walleye Trail 6-fish limit was 47.73 pounds.

Competing against the top professional walleye anglers on the sprawling Fort Peck system, Lambert fished a combination of live bait early; then went to crankbait trolling. His big walleye weighed 11.22 pounds for the $2,000 Bass Pro Shops big fish honors.

Big fish were the rule, with the field averaging 3.55 pounds per walleye. The second place Bass Pro Shops big fish, 11.05 pounds, paid $1,200 to amateur Joe Mitchell, Cambridge, MN. Third, $1,025, was won by pro Dave Blow, Fargo, ND for a 10.45-pounder. Amateur Jason Enerson, Mandan, ND, won $950 for the fourth place 10.03 pound walleye.

Sitting in second place with two more competition days to go is Scott Fairbairn, Walker, MN, with 39.85 pounds. He won the PWT tournament two years ago on Fort Peck, and also claimed a PWT victory this year at Lake of the Woods.

Pro Dave Randash, Dillworth, MN claimed third with 31.22 pounds. The leading amateur, Mark Fling, Arvada, CO, fished with Lambert. Amateurs fish with a different pro daily.

The reservoir “bite” was going strong until thunderstorms chased anglers ashore in mid-morning. The activity slowed until later in the afternoon. Temperatures pushed into the 100-degree range for most of the practice days, but with rain and cloud cover, anglers enjoyed the cooler prairie weather today.

Following Friday’s final weigh-in, the In-Fisherman Angler of the Year will be crowned; Gary Parsons, Glidden, WI is the current leader. The Mercury Top Amateur will be named, as will the Energizer Rookie of the Year. All Championship berths will be awarded to the entire field and the Dee Zee divisions.

Weigh-in festivities take place at Fort Peck Marina, about 15 miles east of Glasgow, starting at 3 p.m. Thursday and Friday.

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.