Young Gun Danny Plautz Takes PWT Super Pro Lead
Category: Tournament
Sep 5th, 2007 by OutdoorsFIRST
Modified Sep 5th, 2007 at 12:00 AM
Cass Lake in northern Minnesota provided the setting for the top 52 pro walleye anglers. They were competing in the Optima Batteries/Berkley Pro-Am, part of the Super Pro Series presented by Minn Kota. When the dust (or water) settled, one of the youngest pros on tour, Danny Plautz, Milwaukee, Wis., sat on top of the day one leader board. He fished with amateur Curt Holt, Lino Lakes, Minn., for a PWT limit of five walleyes that weighed 16.92 pounds, which leads the Dow Chemical Company Heavyweight standings. Their Coleman Big Fish weighed 6.50 pounds, a quarter-pound heavier than the second largest walleye by second place pro Marty Glorvigen. The Grand Rapids, Minn. pro weighed 15.03 pounds, fishing with Pequot Lakes, Minn amateur Mark Wallin.Plautz’ father with the same name, Dan Plautz, Muskego, Wis., sits in third place with 14.40 pounds. He fished with amateur Jerry Graske, Geneva, Ill. The youngest pro on tour, Chase Parsons, Brillion, Wis., is in fourth place with 14.26 pounds, while fishing with amateur Joe Roach, Edina, Minn. Parsons’ father, Gary, the leading Johnsonville Angler of the Year going into the Super Pro weighed slightly over 10 pounds, about the same as second and third place Angler of the Year pros Mike Gofron, Antioch, Ill., and Pat Neu, Forestville, Wis., respectively. The Angler of the Year receives $35,000, with $25,000 from Johnsonville Brats and $10,000 from Mercury Outboards, if the pro has driven a powerful Mercury all season.Cass Lake proved to be a fish-catching system with walleyes swimming from the weed edges out to 30 feet deep. Anglers on the PWT stage at Stony Point Resort, just east of the community of Cass Lake on Highway 2, talked about landing dozens of fish. In fact, 87 percent of the pro-am partnerships caught limits. Days two and three take place Wednesday and Thursday, beginning about 4:30 p.m. at Stony Point. Many displays are available for walleye fans, and the pros share their winning tactics and secrets at the final awards ceremony Thursday.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, Internationional Truck, Ram Mounts, Element Edge, Pflueger, Plano Tackle Systems, E-Cell, Cannon, Fin-Tech Tackle, Do-It Molds, Cass Lake Chamber of Commerce, 800.356.8615, Palace Casino & Hotel, 877.972.5223 and Stony Point Resort, 218.335.6311.