Air Temperature: 54 degrees @ 7 am; 60 degrees @ 5 pm
Winds: 5 - 15 mph westerly
Skies: overcast and cloudy; sunny after 5 p.m.
seas: calm to 2-foot waves
Water Temperature: 47 - 55 degrees
$2,000; Greg Horoky, Harrow, Ontario, pro, 3.95#
$1,200; Melvin Fluth, Bridgewater, SD, amateur, 3.50#
$1,025; Michael Dahl, Fargo, ND, pro, 3.32#
$ 950; John Pratt, Roberts, MT, pro, 3.22#
Day Two Bass Pro Shops Big Walleye
$2,000; Ellis Boucherie, Henderson, KY, amateur, 4.08#
$1,200; Larry Stiefel, Buena Vista, CO, amateur, 3.80#
$1,025; Louis Fosselman, LaPorte City, IA, amateur, 3.35#
$ 950; Ross Grothe, Apple Valley, MN, pro, 3.25#
Day 2 Press Release, May 11, 2000
For Immediate Release
Limits Again Rule as PWT
Anglers Learn Lake Sharpe
Pierre, SD....Fishing the Missouri River as it flows from Pierre, South Dakota, into Lake Sharpe, has been a learning experience for In-Fisherman Professional Walleye Trail (PWT) anglers. Pro Sam Anderson, Eagan, MN captured the lead after two consistent days at the Lowrance Midwest Pro-Am with a total of 24.27 pounds. This is the fourth time Anderson has led going into the final day of a PWT tournament. He said, “With the correct decisions, I hope to claim a victory on Lake Sharpe tomorrow.”
The race is tight, with any pro capable of leaping into the winner’s circle on the final day with one or two big walleyes. The race is one of the tightest competitions in the 12-year history of the PWT. Only five pounds separate the top 73 contenders.
In second is pro Greg Horoky, Harrow, Ontario with 23.13 pounds. The third place pro is Dave Spaid, Pierre. He has 22.32 pounds. On the amateur side, Ed Steidler, Bismarck, MN leads after fishing with pros Doug Burns, Estherville, IA, and Keith Kavajecz, Kaukauna, WI. The winning pro will collect a $50,000 prize. The top amateur will tow home a new Lund boat on an Eagle trailer with a Mercury outboard.
The day dawned calm and cloudy, but by afternoon the winds shifted to the west at 10 to 15 mph, despite a forecast for 30 mph winds. Predominant patterns include vertical jigging along specific breaks in the 9 to 16 foot range, while some anglers are pitching jigs shallower. Trolling crankbaits has produced big numbers for some, while the traditional western bottom bouncer with a plain hook or spinner/crawler harness has also been successful. Minnows are the bait of choice for most anglers.
Bass Pro Shops Big Fish on day two included the $2,000 top prize for amateur Ellis Boucherie, Henderson, KY with a 4.08 pound walleye. Second paid $1,200 to amateur Larry Stiefel, Buena Vista, CO. He had a 3.80-pounder. Amateur Louis Fosselman LaPorte City, IA weighed a 3.35 pound walleye for $1,025. Ross Grothe, Apple Valley, MN landed a 3.25 pound fish for $950. A total of 126 pro/am partnerships caught 6-fish limits on day two, compared with 110 on day one.
The final day weigh-in and distribution of $225,000 in prizes will take place Friday at Pierre’s downtown park on the river starting at 3 p.m. Results will be posted on the PWT web site, www.in-fisherman.com, then follow the tournament link.
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 auto and marine 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 Pierre Chamber of Commerce 800-962-2034.
LAKE SHARPE, PIERRE, SOUTH DAKOTA
Air Temperature: 49 degrees @ 7 am; 75 degrees @ 5 pm
Winds: 10 - 20 mph westerly
Skies: partly cloudy
seas: calm to 3-foot waves
Water Temperature: 47 - 55 degrees
$2,000; Greg Horoky, Harrow, Ontario, pro, 3.95#
$1,200; Melvin Fluth, Bridgewater, SD, amateur, 3.50#
$1,025; Michael Dahl, Fargo, ND, pro, 3.32#
$ 950; John Pratt, Roberts, MT, pro, 3.22#
For Immediate Release
PWT Anglers Explore
South Dakota’s Lake Sharpe
Pierre, SD . . . . “Springtime walleye fishing doesn’t get much better than this,” said Gary Parsons, 2-time PWT winner and pro angler from Glidden, WI. “Catching 50-60 fish a day; this is fun,” he continued.
Catching walleyes on day one of the Lowrance Midwest Pro-Am proved to be the rule as 139 pros and their amateur partners brought 110 limits to the scales. This is the first time the In-Fisherman Professional Walleye Trail (PWT) targeted the Missouri River/Lake Sharpe system from Pierre to the Big Bend dam.
Leading after day one are pro Greg Horoky, Harrow, Ontario and amateur Jason Martin, Orono, MN with 12.51 pounds. With the “slot” limit regulation, boat partners are allowed only two walleyes over 18 inches and four from 15 to 18 inches. In second are pro Doug Burns, Esthervillle, MN and amateur Ed Steidler, Bismarck, ND. Only 2.5 pounds separates the first 51 anglers.
Bass Pro Shops Big Fish awards went to Horoky with a 3.95-pounder. He won $2,000. Amateur Melvin Fluth, Bridgewater, SD landed a 3.50 pound walleye for $1,200. Third and $1,025 went to pro Mike Dahl, Fargo, ND with a 3.32 pound walleye. Fourth paid $950 to rookie pro John Pratt, Roberts, MT for a 3.22-pounder.
In addition to numerous walleyes and saugers, anglers commented on the exciting action from northern pike, white bass, smallmouth bass, catfish, rainbow trout and salmon. Lake Sharpe flows from the dam at Pierre approximately 60 miles to Big Bend Dam. Several launch ramps service the river.
The final two tournament days occur Thursday and Friday with weigh-in festivities on the river at Pierre’s downtown park starting at 3 p.m. A total of $225,000 will be paid out Friday.
Results are posted daily on the PWT website at www.in-fisherman.com, follow the PWT tournament link.
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 auto and marine 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, Raytheon Marine, Shimano rods, Storm Lures, Stren fishing lines, T-H Marine, Veryfine, the official beverage of the PWT and the Pierre Chamber of Commerce 800-962-2034.