Results compliments of the In-Fisherman Network

FINAL DAY MINNKOTA/STREN NORTHEAST PRO-AM
ST MARY'S RIVER, SAULT STE MARIE, MI

Day Three Bio Data Air Temperature: 57 degrees @ 7 am; 72 degrees @ 5 pm Winds: calm all day Skies: clear @ 7 a.m.; partly cloudy by noon Water Temperature: 51 degrees-river; 63 degrees in back bays

Day One Bass Pro Shops Big Walleye $2,000; Mark Vink, Sault Ste Marie, MI, amateur, 7.78# $1,200; Larry Lambert, Marblehead, OH, pro, 7.15# $1,025; Pete Harsh, Sauk Centre, MN, pro, 7.07# $ 950; Derek Wilkes, Kentwood, MI, amateur, 6.38# Day Two Bass Pro Shops Big Walleye $2,000; Mark Vink, Sault Ste Marie, MI, amateur, 7.78# $1,200; Perry Good, Eagan, MN, pro, 7.98# $1,025; Steve Cannello, Sault Ste Marie, MI, amateur, 7.54# $ 950; Steve Fellegy, Aitkin, MN, pro, 6.49# Day Three Bass Pro Shops Big Walleye $2,000; Pete Harsh, Sauk Centre, MN, pro, 6.30# $1,200; Larry Lambert, Marblehead, OH, pro, 6.13# $1,025; Rob Mazzuca, Sudbury, Ontario, amateur, 5.71# $ 475; Mark Fike, Farmington, PA, amateur, 5.43# $ 475; Keith Krych, St Clair Shores, MI, pro, 5.43#

For Immediate Release

June 23, 2000

Mike Gofron Claims
First PWT Victory

Sault Ste. Marie, MI... With 20 top 10 place finishes in the toughest walleye competition in the world, Mike Gofron, Antioch, IL, claimed his first-ever top prize. He won $50,000 at the MinnKota/Stren Northeast Pro-Am at Sault Ste. Marie, MI Friday, June 23, leading every day.

Gofron, one of the most intense pro anglers on the In-Fisherman Professional Walleye Trail tour, specializes in finesse fishing under all conditions. The St. Mary’s River was “new” water for the anglers, and coupled with three severe cold fronts in eight days during the event, walleyes proved elusive.

Gofron attacked the system by locating the warmest back bays (10 to 13 degrees warmer than the main river). Then, he slowed his presentation of a Northland firetiger or copper #3 Indiana spinner blade and chartreuse beads coupled with a nightcrawler. Running at the 8 to 11 foot depths, concentrating on areas where weeds were starting to emerge, he triggered walleyes by slowly moving and tantalizing them by keeping the bait “in their faces.” A 1 1/2 ounce Northland Rock Runner bottom bouncer kept his bait in the zone. He landed 14 walleyes for 38.38 pounds. The victory pushed his total PWT winnings to $194,000. It also kept him in first place in the In-Fisherman Angler of the Year race, a title he currently holds from 1999.

The top amateur, winning a $12,000 Lund boat, Mercury outboard on an Eagle trailer, was William Needles, Necedah, WI. He collected another $300 as the Storm Heavyweight award winner. In second place was the highest placing female amateur angler in PWT history, Jennifer Pawinski, Brookfield, WI. She won $4,500 of PWT merchandise.

On the pro side, Gary Parsons, Glidden, WI, claimed second place on the strength of the Storm Heavyweight catch of the tournament on day three, 22.89 pounds. He won $15,500. Chris Gilman, Chisago City, MN, a 3-time PWT winner finished in third and netted $10,000. For using Berkley PowerBait as part of his presentation, Gilman also won $200 of PowerBait.

As amateur and pro contestants crossed the stage, they echoed how much they enjoyed the area, the scenery, the activities for spouses and the potential for a future event. Greg George, executive director of the Sault Convention and Visitors Bureau received the PWT Key Award for coordinating the hundreds of volunteers, the site and the great welcome from the community. PWT Championship winner Mark Martin, Twin Lake, MI, said, “This city opened its doors and I want to come back here again.” Of the 441 walleyes weighed, 95 percent were returned to the St. Mary’s River.

The overall Bass Pro Shops big fish winner of $2,500 was Kyle Morgan, Horicon, WI. His walleye weighed 8.06 pounds. On the final day, Pete Harsh, Sauk Centre, MN earned $2,000 for a 6.30-pounder. Larry Lambert won $1,200 for a 6.13 pound fish. Both Harsh and Lambert also won big fish prizes on day one. Third place and $1,025 went to Rob Mazzuca, Sudbury, Ontario. Fourth place was a tie. Mark Fike, Farmington, PA, and Keith Krych, St. Clair Shores, MI caught 5.43 pound fish and each won $475.

Pro Vaughn Cornelius, St. Cloud, MN advanced 56 places to win the $1,000 Coleman Cool Under Pressure award.Fred Goodrow, AuGres, MI moved up 58 places to collect $600. He is a former PWT amateur big fish record holder. Barry Walker, Big Springs, NE, is leading the Energizer Rookie of the Year race with 12th and 27th place finishes in the Dee Zee Western Division. Andy Kuffer, Fair Haven, MI, leads the Dee Zee eastern division.

The next tour stop is Bay City, MI, July 12 - 14, with fishing on Saginaw Bay. PWT results and news can be found at the PWT web site, www.in-fisherman.com; then go to the tournament link. The PWT television show featuring Sault Ste. Marie will be shown on TNN on Aug. 14 and 17 and Sept. 4 and 7.

DAY 2 MINNKOTA/STREN NORTHEAST PRO-AM
ST MARY'S RIVER, SAULT STE MARIE, MI

For Immediate Release

June 22, 2000

Cold Front Greets PWT Anglers as
Illinois Pros Move into Top Two Spots

Sault Ste. Marie, MI...The wake-up call was wet and dreary on the second day of the MinnKota/Stren Northeast Pro-Am. A typical cold front followed the official first day of summer in this scenic bend on the St. Mary’s River. Temperatures barely nudging 57 degrees, slipped into the 40’s, then slowly hit the 60 degree mark when the clouds rolled east.

Wind accompanying the front pushed 10 to 20 mph from the northwest, and fishing action was impacted for the In-Fisherman Professional Walleye Trail (PWT) anglers. However, pro Mike Gofron, Antioch, IL, the first day leader managed to land three fish to maintain his position with one day remaining. He has a total of 25.75 pounds. Gofron also is atop the In-Fisherman Angler of the Year standings.

Another Antioch angler, Bill Vojak, on the strength of a 17.85 pound limit, moved to second place. He has a total of 22.97 pounds. Holding third is James Myszkewicz, Burlington, WI, with 22.61 pounds. Myszkewicz is leading the Storm Heavyweight award board with his 20.13 pound catch on day two.

Jennifer Pawinski, Brookfield, WI, fishing day two with Myszkewicz, leads the amateur standings with 22.56 pounds. Day one amateur leader Jim Steig, Janesville, WI, dropped to second with a total weight of 22.23 pounds. The winning amateur after Friday’s fishing takes home a Lund Boat, Mercury Outboard and Eagle Trailer valued at $12,000. The winning pro nets $50,000. A total of $225,000 will be awarded at Aune Osborne park after the final weigh-in Friday.

A huge crowd gathered at the park to cheer the anglers and applaud their catches and stories about fishing and life. Friday will bring better weather and more fish. Pro anglers will reveal their secrets at the stage on the final day. The free event brings walleye fans together with their heroes.

The second day catch showed the quality of the fishery, even if the overall catch reflected the impact of the severe cold front. Bass Pro Shops big fish awards went to Kyle Morgan, pro from Horican, WI, with an 8.06 pound walleye. He won $2,000. Second place paid $1,200 to pro Perry Good, Eagan, MN, with a 7.98-pounder. Third was worth $1,025 for Steve Cannello, Sault Ste. Marie, for a 7.54-pounder. Fourth, $950, went to Steve Fellegy, Aitkin, MN, with a 6.49 pound walleye

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 Sault Convention and Visitors Bureau (800-647-2858).

DAY 1 MINNKOTA/STREN NORTHEAST PRO-AM
ST MARY'S RIVER, SAULT STE MARIE, MI

For Immediate Release

June 21, 2000

Mike Gofron Leads PWT
Field at Sault Ste. Marie

Sault Ste. Marie, MI....The St. Mary’s River flowing from Lake Superior to Lake Huron carries tons of shipping traffic, a huge volume of water, is home to the Soo Locks and all the fish species of the Great Lakes. The particular focus of interest this week is walleyes, and the $50,000 first prize for the best catch in the MinnKota/Stren Northeast Pro-Am.

A total of $225,000 will be paid to winners at Sault Ste. Marie, the fourth In-Fisherman Professional Walleye Trail (PWT) event of the year. Headquartered on the banks of the St. Mary’s River in the third oldest city in the United States (established in 1668), the PWT contestants fished throughout the system. Anglers worked the north end of Lake George for big fish, but found most active fish in the warmer bays and cuts in the St. Joseph channel.

Scrounging the only 6-fish limit was Mike Gofron, Antioch, IL. He weighed 19.59 pounds, and claimed the lead in the tournament and In-Fisherman Angler of the Year standings. He was fishing with amateur Jim Steig, Janesville, WI. Gofron has 19 PWT finishes in the top 10, the most of any PWT pro.

Gofron has a seven pound advantage over Bill St. Peter, Bay City, MI and amateur Ed Horen, Warren, MI, who weighed 12.42 pounds. Third place anglers are pro Steve Poll, Fond du Lac, WI, and amateur Tim Stump, Luckey, Ohio, with 12.31 pounds.

Bass Pro Shops Big Fish awards went to amateur Mark Vink, Sault Ste. Marie, with a 7.78 pound walleye. He won $2,000. Pro Larry Lambert, Marblehead, Ohio won $1,200 for a 7.15-pounder. Pro Pete Harsh placed third and won $1,050 for a 7.07 pound walleye. Amateur Derek Wilkes, Kentwood, MI, was fourth place in the Bass Pro Shops listing with a 6.38 pound walleye worth $950.

It was said by pros and amateurs from all across the country when they crossed the PWT stage, “This is one of the most scenic locations ever fished.” The final two day’s catches will be weighed at Aune Osborne Park in Sault Ste. Marie beginning at 3 p.m. Thursday and Friday. All awards will be distributed after the final weigh-in.

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 Sault Convention and Visitors Bureau (800-647-2858).