John Butts Takes Lead at PWT Super Pro
Category: Tournament
May 10th, 2006 by OutdoorsFIRST
Modified May 10th, 2006 at 12:00 AM
Limits ruled on day one at the Berkley/Lund Pro-Am in Chamberlain, SD. The Super Pro series presented by MinnKota, saw the top-ranked 61 In-Fisherman Professional Walleye Trail anglers hit the Missouri River for day one of the competition, May 10.The top 49 pros landed 5-fish limits, with Dryden, Ontario pro John Butts, leading with 11.65 pounds. The second-place pro Jay Janny, Eagle, Wis. had 11.28 pounds, with Tom Kemos, Oconomowoc, Wis. in third with 11.13 pounds. Another 15 pros scored 10 pounds or better. Don Baker, O’Neil, Neb., leads the amateur/co-angler field.With the slot limit of 15 to 20 inches and one over 20 inches (and the “overs” being scarce), pros were forced to make tough decisions. They could not upgrade; once a walleye was in the livewell, it became part of the limit and could not be replaced.Pros found lots of walleyes during pre-fishing and on the first day of the event. The key will be catching those fish closest to 20 inches, or hopefully a couple exceeding this magic number on the final two days. Leader Butts captured a victory last season in the opening PWT tournament, and would like to take the first place prize of $60,000 to Canada later this week. Pros were successful with these tactics:trolling crankbaits with boards;trolling crankbaits on leadcore;running bottom bouncers with spinners & crawlers;bouncers with floating jig-heads;casting jigs with minnows;jigs with half-crawlers;jigs with PowerBait Minnows;casting crankbaits (Shad Raps).Some anglers motored upstream to Big Bend dam, while others traveled through some rough stretches to the Highway 44 bridge. They fished shorelines, channel edges and flats everywhere in-between, continuing to look for and find fish.The final two weigh-in days take place at Cedar Shore Resort on the west shore of the Missouri River in Chamberlain/Oacoma, beginning about 5 p.m. In addition to the tournament, families and fans will have fun at the PWT Outdoor Festival, which includes free activities at the Cabela’s and Shakespeare trout fishing pond, the Outdoor Channel rock climbing wall, the GAMO air rifle shooting range and the famous “jumping” Dock Dogs. These festivities begin at 1 p.m. daily.