Veteran Pros Move to Top at Winneconne PWT
Category: Tournament
Apr 26th, 2007 by OutdoorsFIRST
Modified Apr 26th, 2007 at 12:00 AM
The In-Fisherman Professional Walleye Trail scoreboard boasts some heavyweight pros on top after two days at the Johnsonville Brats Pro-Am. The full field of pros and amateurs fished all the waters of the Winnebago chain, concentrating on the lakes near Winneconne, Wis., tournament headquarters.Under less than ideal conditions (rain, 45-degree temps, wind), the pro standings feature Gary Parsons, Glidden, Wis., in first place with 23.99 pounds. He has scored 23 top10 place finishes, has three PWT victories, two Johnsonville Angler of the Year titles, and is now fishing his 18th PWT season. He was also 9th at Chamberlain earlier this month. He is alone on Lake Winnebago’s east shore.In second place, Scott Fairbairn, Hager City, Wis., has 23.34 pounds. He is also a past Angler of the Year, 2-time PWT winner, was second at last year’s Mercury Championship, and has 15 top 10’s. Pat Neu, Forestville, Wis., a PWT winner in his rookie year last year (Escanaba, Mich.) is in third with 23.07 pounds. He brought a 5.62-pounder to the scales. Last year’s Mercury Champion Tom Kemos, Oconomowoc, Wis. is in fourth with 22.90 pounds. Jesse Buechel, Fond du Lac, Wis., fishing his first PWT tournament as a pro is in fifth place. Jeff Roberts, New London, Wis., is leading the amateur race. The Coleman Big Fish of the day and the tournament so far weighed 6.01 pounds, and was caught by pro Barry Walker, Big Springs, Neb., and amateur Kevin Stobb, Ripon, Wis.Through two days, the 120 boats (one pro and one amateur each) brought in 456 walleyes on day one and 530 walleyes on day two. The average weight was 1.71 pounds.Due to inclement weather, not as many youngsters climbed the free rock wall or fished for catfish in the free fishing pond. But, forecasts for temperatures in the 60-degree range and sunny skies by Friday afternoon should entice many young folks to join in the festivities. The final-day weigh-in ceremonies begin at 3 p.m., and the winners will be crowned about 6 p.m. at Winneconne’s Waterfront Park.The PWT is an integral element of the In-Fisherman Communications Network headquartered in Baxter, Minnesota, and INTER-MEDIA, America’s leading producer of targeted media. PWT promotional partners include: Mercury Marine, Lund Boats, Berkley, Lowrance Electronics, Optima Batteries, Minn Kota, Realtree, MotorGuide, Johnsonville Brats, Outdoor Channel, Coleman, Northland Fishing Tackle, StowMaster, Reef Runner, Yo-Zuri Quality Lures, Smooth Moves Seat Mounts, Kwik Pfyt Mud Flaps, Yellow Bird Planer Boards, Allstar Graphics, Ram Mounts, Element Edge, Pflueger, Plano Tackle Systems, Aikens Lake Wilderness Lodge, E-Cell, Cannon, Fin-Tech Tackle, Do-It Molds, Winneconne Village 920.582.4851 and the Chamber of Commerce 920.582.4775.