D. Landahl
04-07-2004, 03:20 PM
PWT & BASS Join Forces for 2-Species
Tournament at Great Outdoor Games
Two of the most respected competitive fishing organizations, BASS,
the worldwide authority on bass fishing, and the In-Fisherman Professional
Walleye Trail (PWT) will join forces in the Freshwater Doubles event at the
ESPN Great Outdoor Games presented by Dodge July 8-11, in Madison, Wis.
In past years, the Great Outdoor Games featured only bass
competitions, but in 2004, the bass and walleye pro anglers will be teamed
together (one walleye pro and one bass pro per boat). Teams will compete
for medals and cash prizes by catching the best combined weight of three
bass and three walleyes.
"This will give pro walleye anglers a chance to share boats and
skills with their counterparts in BASS," said Jim Kalkofen, PWT executive
director. "I've never seen grown men so excited about any fishing
opportunity. This is an ideal format for stars from each circuit to combine
tactics and strategies and teach all of us a little more about fishing."
All contestants earned the right to compete in Madison, including
the defending gold medalists from the 2003 Great outdoor Games bass fishing
tournament, as well as the respective 2003 CITGO Bassmaster Classic champion
and PWT/Mercury Champion, the 2003 CITGO Bassmaster Angler of the Year and
the PWT Angler of the Year, the top two all-time BASS money winners, and the
top four PWT all-time money winners.
The 2003 Gold Medalists returning are Shaw Grigsby, Jr.,
Gainesville, Fla., and Gary Klein, Weatherford, TX. The BASS field will be
finalized upon commitments from the eligible pro anglers.
Representing the PWT are Mercury Champion Dan Plautz, Muskego, Wis.,
and Angler of the Year Bill Ortiz, Dodgeville, Wis. The top four PWT money
winners are Ron Seelhoff, Burlington, Col., Mike Gofron, Antioch, Ill.,
Perry Good, Brainerd, Minn., and Gary Parsons, Glidden, Wis. Profiles
follow:
Shaw Grigsby, Jr., 2003 ESPN Great Outdoor Games bass fishing gold
medalist (team), 2002 ESPN Great Outdoor Games bass fishing gold medalist
(individual), 10 CITGO Bassmaster Classic appearances, 8 BASS wins, 43 top
10 finishes, winner of $1,229,380. Pro Angler and TV host of "One Last Cast
with Shaw Grigsby."
Gary Klein, 2003 ESPN Great Outdoor Games bass fishing gold
medallist (team), 2001 & 2002 ESPN Great Outdoor Games bass fishing silver
medalist (individual), 21 CITGO Bassmaster Classic appearances, 2-time
Bassmaster Angler of the Year, 8 BASS wins, 58 top 10 finishes, $1,172,218
in winnings. Pro Angler.
Dan Plautz: 2003 Mercury Champion, 3 PWT wins, qualified for 10
championships, 12 top 10 finishes, in the money 36 of 70 events. Pro
walleye angler and also owns a cleaning service.
Bill Ortiz: 2003 Angler of the Year, PWT winner, qualified for each
of last 5 championships, 5 top 10 finishes, 21 of 51 money finishes. Pro
walleye angler and union carpenter.
Ron Seelhoff: # 1 all-time PWT money winner, $479,125; most wins
(5) on tour, 4 second place finishes, 21 top-10 finishes, only back-to-back
and 2-time champion (1999 & 2000), won the championship on the Madison Chain
in 1999, qualified for 13 of 14 championships. Pro walleye angler and owns
and flies a crop-dusting service.
Mike Gofron: # 2 all-time PWT money winner, $347,350; most top 10
place finishes on tour (25), Championship winner (total of 2 tour wins), won
money in 31 of last 41 events fished; fished 11 of 14 years and made
championship every year. Pro walleye angler and owner of excavation
company.
Gary Parsons: # 3 all-time PWT money winner, $334,687; only
back-to-back and 2-time Angler of the Year, 17 top 10 finishes, 3 wins (all
on South Dakota's Lake Oahe), made 12 of 14 championships. Pro walleye
angler and former dentist.
Perry Good: # 3 all-time PWT money winner, $336,500; only pro to have
qualified for all 14 championships; has fished every PWT tournament, 24 top
10 finishes, 4 wins, 48 money finishes - the most of any pro. Pro walleye
angler and fishing guide.
The current PWT year begins April 21-23 on the Fox and Wolf River
systems in Winneconne, Wis. A few PWT amateur spots still remain at
Chamberlain, SD, in May, and Bull Shoals, Ark., in June. Reach the PWT for
entry info and details at 218-824-2542, or www.professionalwalleyetrail.com.
Tournament at Great Outdoor Games
Two of the most respected competitive fishing organizations, BASS,
the worldwide authority on bass fishing, and the In-Fisherman Professional
Walleye Trail (PWT) will join forces in the Freshwater Doubles event at the
ESPN Great Outdoor Games presented by Dodge July 8-11, in Madison, Wis.
In past years, the Great Outdoor Games featured only bass
competitions, but in 2004, the bass and walleye pro anglers will be teamed
together (one walleye pro and one bass pro per boat). Teams will compete
for medals and cash prizes by catching the best combined weight of three
bass and three walleyes.
"This will give pro walleye anglers a chance to share boats and
skills with their counterparts in BASS," said Jim Kalkofen, PWT executive
director. "I've never seen grown men so excited about any fishing
opportunity. This is an ideal format for stars from each circuit to combine
tactics and strategies and teach all of us a little more about fishing."
All contestants earned the right to compete in Madison, including
the defending gold medalists from the 2003 Great outdoor Games bass fishing
tournament, as well as the respective 2003 CITGO Bassmaster Classic champion
and PWT/Mercury Champion, the 2003 CITGO Bassmaster Angler of the Year and
the PWT Angler of the Year, the top two all-time BASS money winners, and the
top four PWT all-time money winners.
The 2003 Gold Medalists returning are Shaw Grigsby, Jr.,
Gainesville, Fla., and Gary Klein, Weatherford, TX. The BASS field will be
finalized upon commitments from the eligible pro anglers.
Representing the PWT are Mercury Champion Dan Plautz, Muskego, Wis.,
and Angler of the Year Bill Ortiz, Dodgeville, Wis. The top four PWT money
winners are Ron Seelhoff, Burlington, Col., Mike Gofron, Antioch, Ill.,
Perry Good, Brainerd, Minn., and Gary Parsons, Glidden, Wis. Profiles
follow:
Shaw Grigsby, Jr., 2003 ESPN Great Outdoor Games bass fishing gold
medalist (team), 2002 ESPN Great Outdoor Games bass fishing gold medalist
(individual), 10 CITGO Bassmaster Classic appearances, 8 BASS wins, 43 top
10 finishes, winner of $1,229,380. Pro Angler and TV host of "One Last Cast
with Shaw Grigsby."
Gary Klein, 2003 ESPN Great Outdoor Games bass fishing gold
medallist (team), 2001 & 2002 ESPN Great Outdoor Games bass fishing silver
medalist (individual), 21 CITGO Bassmaster Classic appearances, 2-time
Bassmaster Angler of the Year, 8 BASS wins, 58 top 10 finishes, $1,172,218
in winnings. Pro Angler.
Dan Plautz: 2003 Mercury Champion, 3 PWT wins, qualified for 10
championships, 12 top 10 finishes, in the money 36 of 70 events. Pro
walleye angler and also owns a cleaning service.
Bill Ortiz: 2003 Angler of the Year, PWT winner, qualified for each
of last 5 championships, 5 top 10 finishes, 21 of 51 money finishes. Pro
walleye angler and union carpenter.
Ron Seelhoff: # 1 all-time PWT money winner, $479,125; most wins
(5) on tour, 4 second place finishes, 21 top-10 finishes, only back-to-back
and 2-time champion (1999 & 2000), won the championship on the Madison Chain
in 1999, qualified for 13 of 14 championships. Pro walleye angler and owns
and flies a crop-dusting service.
Mike Gofron: # 2 all-time PWT money winner, $347,350; most top 10
place finishes on tour (25), Championship winner (total of 2 tour wins), won
money in 31 of last 41 events fished; fished 11 of 14 years and made
championship every year. Pro walleye angler and owner of excavation
company.
Gary Parsons: # 3 all-time PWT money winner, $334,687; only
back-to-back and 2-time Angler of the Year, 17 top 10 finishes, 3 wins (all
on South Dakota's Lake Oahe), made 12 of 14 championships. Pro walleye
angler and former dentist.
Perry Good: # 3 all-time PWT money winner, $336,500; only pro to have
qualified for all 14 championships; has fished every PWT tournament, 24 top
10 finishes, 4 wins, 48 money finishes - the most of any pro. Pro walleye
angler and fishing guide.
The current PWT year begins April 21-23 on the Fox and Wolf River
systems in Winneconne, Wis. A few PWT amateur spots still remain at
Chamberlain, SD, in May, and Bull Shoals, Ark., in June. Reach the PWT for
entry info and details at 218-824-2542, or www.professionalwalleyetrail.com.