PWT Starts Today Thru Friday

[The Cranker]

Wind and rain will be the conditions today's opening day. With a number of cold fronts that have come thru the lake area all thru the last week of pre-fishing it seems though that everyone is still catching good numbers of slot fish.

With the slot being fish under 20 inches and one fish over 28 its going to be a strategy filled three days. Does one keep a limit of fish with some 17 inchers? Or do you fish only for fish over 18 inches? And when do you head out for a fish on the flats that is over 28 inches? Its going to be interesting to see how the first major tourney pans out this year. I am sure the winning strategy will be copied for the Wave Wacker in some way or another. The Wave Wacker is just around the corner too.

Both Paul and I have had the pleasure to do a little pre fishing with some of these PWT guys and they all have been just awesome to have around Appeldoorn's Sunset Bay Resort. Everyone sharing info with one another which is always interesting.

The weigh-ins have been moved back due to a later start of 8am. With over a hundred boats there wae no way to get all the boats in the water before 7am due to the night ban of 10pm to 6am. (No boat shall be on the lake with fishing gear between these times) First flight will be in at 4pm at Tourney headquarters Nitti's Hunters Point. The Tourney runs thru Friday.

I invite all of you to come up and see these pros over the next three days.

I will have the leader board posted here at the end of the day.

Fish On!!!

[Sportland_Bait]

Hi Cranker, I finally had the chance to stop at Appeldoorns and take a look at all the changes last Sunday. What a great set up. You guys have done a great job over there. I wish you guys the best of luck. The cabins look awesome and the grounds have lots of space to move around. Perfect for a family fishing resort. I was fishing with some of the PWT pros staying at your place. They had nothing but good things to say about you guys. Keep up the good work.

Jason Erlandson

[danwilliams]

I'm enjoying watching the show. Rooting for Marie (Furton) in the amateur ranks. Go get em Girl!!!!!

[Paul Waldowski]

Day One Standings:

111 1 Al Sholts

Alexandria, MN 16.48 5 16.48 5

#12 2 Mark Courts

Harris, MN 14.96 5 14.96 5

#41 3 Tom Backer

Fargo, ND 14.77 5 14.77 5

#68 4 Robert Heaford

Mason City, IA 14.50 5 14.50 5

#24 5 Bill Ortiz

Richland Center, WI 14.12 5 14.12 5

#101 6 Steve Brandt

Hudson, WI 14.05 5 14.05 5

#116 7 Mike Abrahamson

Brainerd, MN 14.00 5 14.00 5

#114 8 Kevin McQuoid

Isle, MN 13.65 5 13.65 5

#107 9 Mark Leadens

Elk River, MN 10.94 5 10.94 5

#45 9 Jay Janny

Eagle, WI 10.94 5 10.94 5

#29 11 Dave Van Oss

Appleton, WI 10.77 5 10.77 5

#10 12 Todd Riley

Amery, WI 10.72 5 10.72 5

#118 13 Pete Hein

Princeton, MN 10.71 5 10.71 5

#8 14 Bobby Crow

Peterson, WA 10.64 5 10.64 5

#56 15 Chuck Emery

Altadena, CA 10.33 4 10.33 4

#37 16 Daryl Christensen

Montello, WI 10.31 5 10.31 5

#34 17 Rick Olson

Mina, SD 10.30 5 10.30 5

#104 18 Cobi Hood

Brainerd, MN 10.28 5 10.28 5

#112 19 Ron Ernesti

Buffalo, MN 10.20 5 10.20 5

#13 20 Mark Martin

Twin Lake, MI 10.15 5 10.15 5

#55 21 Mark Christianson

Walker, MN 10.09 5 10.09 5

#92 22 Pete Harsh

Sauk Centre, MN 10.05 5 10.05 5

#26 23 Dan Stier

Pierre, SD 10.03 5 10.03 5

#44 24 Mark Brumbaugh

Arcanum, OH 9.98 5 9.98 5

#46 25 Don Roethler

Mandan, ND 9.97 5 9.97 5

#73 26 Steve Bohn

Fairgrove, MI 9.96 5 9.96 5

#58 27 James Orcutt

Ely, MN 9.94 5 9.94 5

#103 28 Matthew Ernst

Minneapolis, MN 9.87 5 9.87 5

#18 29 Perry Good

Eagan, MN 9.82 5 9.82 5

#64 29 Jay Wendt

Bloomington, MN 9.82 5 9.82 5

#38 31 Mike Kulm

Rapid City, SD 9.79 5 9.79 5

#27 32 Karyl Walcher

Minneapolis, MN 9.77 5 9.77 5

#52 33 Gil Mollet

Jefferson, SD 9.74 5 9.74 5

#70 34 Brad Davis

Jackson, WI 9.72 5 9.72 5

#48 35 Dave Anderson

Apple Valley, MN 9.59 5 9.59 5

#22 36 Todd Frank

Pulaski, NY 9.56 5 9.56 5

#1 37 Gary Parsons

Glidden, WI 9.50 5 9.50 5

#25 38 Jay Weber

Annandale, MN 9.48 5 9.48 5

#72 39 Scott Glorvigen

Grand Rapids, MN 9.43 5 9.43 5

#30 40 David Andersen

Amery, WI 9.41 5 9.41 5

#36 40 Gary Roach

Merrifield, MN 9.41 5 9.41 5

#16 42 Jon Thelen

Crystal, MN 9.38 5 9.38 5

#78 43 Brent Gutzman

Aitkin, MN 9.37 5 9.37 5

#93 44 Ron Smith

Hudson, WI 9.34 5 9.34 5

#96 45 David Bunch

Schoulcraft, MI 9.31 5 9.31 5

#51 46 Barry Walker

Big Springs, NE 9.27 5 9.27 5

#99 47 James Chitko

Greenleaf, WI 9.25 5 9.25 5

#82 48 Theresa Meade

Ingleside, IL 9.23 5 9.23 5

#33 49 Sheldon Meidinger

Bismarck, ND 9.19 5 9.19 5

#40 50 Ernie Olson

Foley, MN 9.15 5 9.15 5

#59 51 Shannon Kehl

Menoken, ND 9.14 5 9.14 5

#7 52 Keith Kavajecz

Kaukana, WI 9.12 5 9.12 5

#76 52 Bruce Samson

Minnetrista, MN 9.12 5 9.12 5

#100 54 Geoff Bradt

Osceola, WI 9.07 5 9.07 5

#35 55 Chad Schilling

Akaska, SD 9.06 5 9.06 5

#32 56 Tom Gatzke

Tomahawk, WI 9.01 5 9.01 5

#2 56 Mike Gofron

Antioch, IL 9.01 5 9.01 5

#60 58 Johnnie Candle

Garrison, ND 8.98 5 8.98 5

#115 59 Steve Bissett

Garrison, MN 8.97 5 8.97 5

#11 60 Tommy Skarlis

Walker, MN 8.89 5 8.89 5

#74 61 Dan Plautz

Muskego, WI 8.87 5 8.87 5

#94 62 Dan Swanson

Fort Collins, CO 8.83 5 8.83 5

#21 62 Bill St Peter

Bay City, MI 8.83 5 8.83 5

#120 64 Kevin Kraft

Maple Grove, MN 8.80 5 8.80 5

#108 64 Scott Hauge

Mahtomadi, MN 8.80 5 8.80 5

#109 66 Jack Dunn

Maple Grove, MN 8.75 5 8.75 5

#113 67 Jerry Fox Jr

Algonac, MI 8.74 5 8.74 5

#81 68 Jayson Schenker

Waukesha, WI 8.72 5 8.72 5

#83 69 Bryan Backer

Bismarck, ND 8.71 5 8.71 5

#9 70 Eric Schuelke

Jackson, WI 8.64 5 8.64 5

#95 71 Mark Broderick

Coon Rapids, MN 8.63 5 8.63 5

#90 72 Chad Richardson

Milford, KS 8.60 5 8.60 5

#31 73 John Butts

Onatari, CN 8.56 5 8.56 5

#42 74 John Kolinski

Menasha, WI 8.55 5 8.55 5

#20 75 Rick Franklin

Park Rapids, MN 8.54 5 8.54 5

#49 76 Tony Puccio

Madison, WI 8.49 5 8.49 5

#3 77 Patrick Neu

Forestville, WI 8.48 5 8.48 5

#86 78 Doug Coley

McHenry, IL 8.42 5 8.42 5

#62 79 Jim Muzynoski Sr

Bozeman, MT 8.36 5 8.36 5

#15 80 Tom Kemos

Oconomowoc, WI 8.29 5 8.29 5

#63 81 Jon Lafontaine

Oshkosh, WI 8.18 5 8.18 5

#65 82 Kevin Randall

Fremont, NE 8.09 5 8.09 5

#57 83 Terry Nelson

Pierre, SD 8.08 5 8.08 5

#110 83 Doug Erickson

Pillager, MN 8.08 5 8.08 5

#75 85 Mike Peluso

Bismarck, ND 8.07 5 8.07 5

#23 86 Luke Leanna

Oakfield, WI 8.00 5 8.00 5

#85 87 Michael McMaken

Cedarville, MI 7.97 5 7.97 5

#54 88 Dave Randash

Dillworth, MN 7.92 5 7.92 5

#50 88 Dean Nathe

Sartell, MN 7.92 5 7.92 5

#47 90 Wally Luoma

Minneapolis, MN 7.85 5 7.85 5

#66 91 David Albright

West Des Moines, IA 7.84 5 7.84 5

#102 92 Jeff Sterriker

Staples, MN 7.77 5 7.77 5

#69 93 Doc Johnson

Denver, CO 7.72 4 7.72 4

#14 94 Jeff Taege

Rhinelander, WI 7.71 5 7.71 5

#6 95 Danny Plautz

Muskego, WI 7.70 5 7.70 5

#39 96 Marty Glorvigen

Grand Rapids, MN 7.68 5 7.68 5

#19 96 Bob Propst Jr

Bode, IA 7.68 5 7.68 5

#106 98 Chris Carlson

Elk River, MN 7.60 5 7.60 5

#117 99 Mark Carlyle

Ham Lake, MN 7.54 5 7.54 5

#97 100 John Zirzow

Fort Collins, CO 7.53 5 7.53 5

#77 100 Joe Barron

Ontario, CN 7.53 5 7.53 5

#119 102 Jim Carpenter

Maple Grove, MN 7.40 4 7.40 4

#91 103 Steve Poll

Fond du Lac, WI 7.39 5 7.39 5

#84 104 Bruce Mirabella

Bartlett, IL 7.35 5 7.35 5

#89 105 Gary Boeshart

Sioux City, IA 7.19 4 7.19 4

#4 106 Scott Fairbairn

Hager City, WI 7.02 4 7.02 4

#43 107 Scott Ziegler

North Platte, NE 6.83 4 6.83 4

#79 108 Bill Hall

Algona, IA 6.78 4 6.78 4

#53 109 Chase Parsons

Glidden, WI 6.77 4 6.77 4

#17 110 Richard Boggs

Nisswa, MN 6.68 4 6.68 4

#88 110 Randy Reek

Minocqua, WI 6.68 4 6.68 4

#67 112 Kevin Madigan

Yuma, AZ 6.64 4 6.64 4

#61 113 Jim Carroll

Minot, ND 6.60 4 6.60 4

#87 114 Gary Smikrud

Galesville, WI 6.47 4 6.47 4

#5 115 Byron Peterson

Blair, NE 6.25 5 6.25 5

#28 116 Ron Seelhoff

Burlington, CO 6.08 3 6.08 3

#105 117 Chuck Dube

Brookland Park, MN 5.36 3 5.36 3

#80 118 Kim Papineau

Escanaba, MI 3.18 2 3.18 2

#71 119 Steve Fellegy

Aitkin, MN 2.16 1 2.16 1

[randallt]

Dumb question here, but is the number posted after the weight the number of fish weighed in?

[Paul Waldowski]

Not a dumb question at all. They are fishing with an amateur in each boat and can weigh a total of 5 fish, only 2 of them over 28 inches.

[walleyedan]

Come on Jay Janny! My money is on this guy. I don't have much, but it's on Jay.

Walleyedan

[night bite]

So they can keep 5 and I can keep 4.

[PieEyed]

No, they can only keep 5 between the two of them. So that's 2.5 a person if you want to look at it that way.

[Paul Waldowski]

The start of Day 2 here early this morning.

[HARPOON-OR-BUST]

Yikes, that is some good weight!

[federline]

Those are very cool pics of all the pro boats lined up on the Sunset Bay beach! Good use of the low water real estate. Hope Steve F. has a better day today.

[B420]

Wow,

Fellegy got drilled out there! Along with WalleyeDan, I am pulling for Jay Janny. Got to fish with him on saturday and he definetely has some nice slots going out there. Anyone know what the big fish came on (cranks or rigs)?

[tom fellegy]

steve fellegy got 27 fish on the first day, only 1 was under 20 inches. today he did weigh 5, not real big ones..........tom fellegy

[ndsufootball]

I personally am pulling for close to home town boys, Mquoid, ernie olson, perry good, gary roach. Good luck to all though

[Shack]

That is by far the lowest I have seen that beach ever get. Thank god for the tractors. Cool line up of boats though.

Thanks for the pics....

[harvey lee]

Any second day finishes?

[Nelson380]

Day 3 weigh-in underway:

http://pwtleaderboard.com/leader.asp

[styx]

Was anyone there for the weigh ins? What were the successful strategies and areas they targeted?

[Write-Outdoor]

The release and full results are on the PWT page. Here's an excerpt with details on what were the winning strategies.....

Bradt, who in his “day job” is manager of new product development for Anderson Windows, but calls Mille Lacs his home lake, ran spinners near Spirit Island in the southwest corner of Mille Lacs. Specifically, he used small Colorado silver blades with chartreuse beads and an 11-foot snell. A two-ounce bell sinker with a 12-inch dropper kept the rig in the strike zone. His front hook was chartreuse and orange and the back hook was bronze. He used night crawlers and moved along at .9 to 1.1 mph, on the 22 to 25 foot mud/rock transition zone.

Most anglers ran either spinner rigs or live bait rigs, like the Roach rigs sold under the Northland Tackle banner, and named after the sixth place pro, Gary Roach, Merrifield, Minn. Roach netted $9,000. Amateur Brent Afseth, Preston, Minn., claimed the first place amateur/co-angler prize after fishing with Roach on day three. Afseth won a $19,000 Mercury-powered walleye rig. The second through sixth place amateurs earned Mercury rebate certificates up to $1,500, along with a tremendous array of merchandise and gift certificates from PWT sponsor-partners.

[The Cranker]

Congrats, to Steve Brandt on winning the PWT tourney! Also want say to great job to Kevin McQuiod on a great tourney, 8th place. And also a couple of guys Johnny Candle and Gary Roach. Both of these anglers climbed 40 plus positions,and had a great third day to put them in the top ten. Gary Roach 6th and Johnny Candle 7th. And also to Al Sholts who was in the lead most of the tourney and ended up 2nd.

Thanks to all the PWT anglers that stayed with us here at Appeldoorn's Sunset Bay Resort and our new Tourney House in Onamia, Mn. Paul and I wish all of you much success this year! We enjoyed getting to know you guys and I hope your stay with us at Appeldoorn's was as fulfilling to you, as it was for us!

To George Nitti and his crew at Hunters Point, a great job on hosting the PWT tourney and a big congrats goes out to that Resort on a job well done. One wouldn't expect anything else from George's Resort and his crew!

The next big tourney is the Wave Wacker, stay tuned Paul and I will have you posted.

Fish On!!!

[federline]

Quote:

---

Bradt, who in his “day job” is manager of new product development for Anderson Windows, but calls Mille Lacs his home lake, ran spinners near Spirit Island in the southwest corner of Mille Lacs. Specifically, he used small Colorado silver blades with chartreuse beads and an 11-foot snell. A two-ounce bell sinker with a 12-inch dropper kept the rig in the strike zone. His front hook was chartreuse and orange and the back hook was bronze. He used night crawlers and moved along at .9 to 1.1 mph, on the 22 to 25 foot mud/rock transition zone.

---

Excellent, plenty enough info to get people out of the places where the fish will actually be *this* week, where ever that ends up being. Wow, 11 foot snell.

[federline]

Quote:

---

steve fellegy got 27 fish on the first day, only 1 was under 20 inches.

---

I figured that had to be the case. All the talk about how many protected size fish were caught makes ya wonder what the standings would have been w/o a protected slot. If nothing else, it sure adds a challenging dimension to the strategy involved.