Heckel and Jacobs Win PMTT Ranger Boats Championship!
Category: press release
Oct 23rd, 2007 by OutdoorsFIRST
Modified Oct 23rd, 2007 at 12:00 AM
Cave Run Lake in the town of Morehead in eastern Kentucky was the focus of the angling community’s attention the weekend of October 20th & 21st as the Professional Musky Tournament Trail rolled into town for the 2007 RANGER BOATS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP, to bestow one of Musky fishing’s most highly regarded honors, the Ranger Boats World Championship crown. Of the more than 450 top esox anglers, representing 23 states and Canada, who competed in this challenging series of 4 national qualifiers, only 50 get an invitation and those that do earn the right to be here eagerly want to prove that they are indeed the ‘best of the best’! Under mostly sunny skies with air temps in the upper seventies and the water in the sixties the team of Dick Heckel and Bill Jacobs, both from Eagle River Wisconsin put together one of the most exciting finishes in the PMTT’s nine year history. They captured the ‘Big Fish’ award both days of the event at 40 & 48 inches for an extra $1,000, adding to the 2007PMTT-Ranger Boats World Championship Title, a Brand New 2008 RANGER 619 Fisherman – RangerTrail Trailer – 150 Mercury Optimax and $5,000 cash. “After boating a 40″ fish and moving into third place in day one, we knew we had to do things a little different on the second day if we were going to have a shot at winning this thing”, stated Jacobs. As they cast their black Bulldawgs on day two of the tournament, they moved off the structure and away from the crowds. “We figured that with everyone beating the weeds and breaklines so hard before and during the event, that maybe the fish would move out deeper”, Heckel explained. Well, their strategy paid off as they boated the largest fish of the tournament with less then an hour to go and sealed up the victory. While leading after day one with three fish of 32.50″, 35″ & 36.25″, the team of Jeff Anderson and Mike Crawford both from the Bimidji Minnesota area could not get another fish to bite on the second day. They slow rolled spinnerbaits off the deep weed edges the first day, but had no takers on day two. They walked away with a second place finish and $7,000 in cash. In third place was Ross Korpela and John Adkins with three fish taken on Bulldawgs and $3,500 cash, followed by local favorites Scott Salchli and Anthony Smith with two fish also taken on Bulldawgs and $2,500 in winnings. Rounding out the top five was the team of Dewey Stewart and Forrest Kay also with a double and $1,700 in cash. Winning the prestigious Ranger Boats ‘Ranger Cup’ for an unbelievable seventh time, when no other PMTT angler has won it even three times is Jason Summers of Lino Lakes Minnesota. Jason is always one of the top anglers on the trail and he takes home an extra $1,000 for winning the cup, again. The PMTT Top Gun – Team of the Year Award was also handed out as the duo of Tom Rozek and Jeff Pagel both from the Milwaukee Wisconsin area racked up 617 points to easily run away with the trophies and $4,500 in cash as they placed in four out of the five tournaments. Tournament Director Tim Widlacki thanked all of the PMTT’s incredibly fantastic sponsors, especially Ranger Boats for sponsoring the tournament. In addition Mercury Marine, Farm & City Insurance Services, Musky Hunter Magazine, Heckel’s Marine, Keyes Outdoors Television, Rollie and Helens Musky Shop, Wildlife Energy Drink, Extreme Muskie Expo’s, Crash’s Landing, Morehead Tourism Commission, Eagle River Area Chamber of Commerce, Village of Antioch and the Antioch Chamber of Commerce and all of the associate and contributing sponsors. Please let these fine folks know that you appreciate their promotional efforts in support of freshwaters most challenging fish … and those extreme anglers who chase her on the first, best and only truly National Professional Musky Circuit … the PMTT! To obtain more information on becoming a member of the 2008 PMTT, results or to view event photo album, please visit them on the Web @ www.promusky.com or call the PMTT @: 815-478-4351 2007 Ranger Boats World ChampionshipHeckel & Jacobs Win PMTT Ranger Boats Championship!TOP 5 PLACES 1st Place Dick Heckel and Bill Jacobs 40″ & 48″2nd Place Jeff Anderson and Mike Crawford 32.25″, 35″ & 36.25″ 3rd Place Ross Korpela and John Adkins 33″, 34″ & 35″4th Place Scott Salchli and Anthony Smith 33″ & 42″5th Place Dewey Stewart and Forrest Kay 37.25″ & 38.50″ PMTT TOP GUN – Team of the Year Winners1st Place Tom Rozek and Jeff Pagel 617 points 2nd Place Tom Ustaszski and George Benda 483 points3rd Place Greg Thomas and Dave Grochowski 478 points