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Wisconsin Rookie Takes PWT Lead at Escanaba

Category: Tournament

 Aug 8th, 2007 by OutdoorsFIRST 

Modified Aug 8th, 2007 at 12:00 AM

In-Fisherman Professional Walleye Trail anglers had a leisurely troll on Bay de Noc Wednesday, Aug. 8. They completed day one of the Outdoor Channel/Optima Batteries Pro-Am under sunny skies and modest breezes. Leading the final regional series (presented by MotorGuide) tournament of the season is rookie pro John Schneider, Shawano, Wis., and amateur Ron Gordon, Sault Ste. Marie, Mich. They weighed four walleyes for 21.63 pounds. Pro Bob Propst, Jr., Bode, Iowa and amateur Bruce Frevert, Centerville, Iowa fished together in the random draw event, for second place, 21.10 pounds. The race is tight, with 16 pros and amateurs within four pounds of second place. The PWT daily limit is five walleyes to the scales. Two of those may exceed 23 inches, and the other three must be between 15 and 23 inches. The Coleman Big Fish of the day was 10.14 pounds caught by Tom Kemos, Oconomowoc, Wis. and amateur Barry Kuhl, Flushing, Mich. They are in ninth place with two walleyes that weighed 18.62 pounds.Most anglers trolled spinners and night crawlers from just under the surface to the bottom. Some anglers preferred trolling crank baits. However, some pros ventured into Little Bay de Noc, and fished with jigs around the rock reefs, docks, pilings and structure. In addition to fine walleye fishing, the fans climbed the rock wall and caught catfish in the events sponsored by the Outdoor Channel. Those activities open Thursday and Friday from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. Weigh-in ceremonies and stage excitement begins at 4 p.m. daily, at Escanaba’s Municipal Marina. Photos and complete scores are featured on the PWT website, www.professionalwalleyetrail.com. Scores are also posted on the Mercury Real-Time Leader board as anglers cross the stage.The PWT is an integral element of the In-Fisherman Communications Network headquartered in Baxter, Minnesota, and InterMedia, 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, The Dow Chemical Company, 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, Delta Chamber of Commerce, 888.335.8264 and Bays de Noc Convention & Visitors Bureau, 800.533.4386.

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