LAST UPDATE 08/12/01
In Fisherman
Professional Walleye Trail

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Eastern Pro-AM

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Maps of tournament sites 

Brainerd, Minnesota . . . The walleye pros are coming to New 
York in search of monster walleyes.  Under the banner of the In-Fisherman Professional Walleye Trail (PWT), the top competitive  walleye anglers in North America will be on New York's northwestern shoreline for an Aug. 8 - 10 tournament.

The $250,000 event, the  Eastern Pro-Am, will be headquartered in Dunkirk, with fishing on Lake Erie, where big fish rule.  "This could be a PWT record-breaker," said pro Todd Frank, Pulaski, NY, who tours the country with the PWT, but guides on Lake Erie and Lake Ontario.  "With the right weather, the winning weight could average eight to 10 pounds," he said.  Frank is a past PWT winner and said it will be a relief to drive a few hours instead of a few days to a tournament site.

The PWT record one day catch (five walleyes) stands at 48.48 pounds and was caught on the western end of Lake Erie last year by Norb Wallock, Conover, WI.  The 3-day record weight for 15 walleyes is 121.80 pounds; the overall 3-day weight, 132.56 pounds, was set during a 6-fish per day tournament.  This is the eastern-most tournament for the PWT which conducts business as far west as Montana, along the United States--Canadian border, south to Arkansas and Missouri, with previous Lake Erie tournaments in Ohio.

The PWT is a Pro-Am, with pros providing all gear, tackle, bait and the boat.  Amateurs join them each day for a learning and fish-catching experience.  The boat-weight format credits each partner with the identical score, but on their respective cards. Amateurs fish with a new pro partner each day.  Total payout will be nearly $250,000, with the winning pro carving $50,000 from the purse. 
The top placing amateur wins a Lund 17-foot boat with a Mercury outboard on an Eagle trailer valued at $12,500.  The top 30 pros and amateurs win cash and or merchandise prizes.

Weigh-in activities are free to the public.  They take place in Dunkirk, adjacent to the Four Points Sheraton,  Aug. 8 - 10, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, starting at 3 p.m. daily.  Meet the pro walleye anglers, learn about boats, tactics, electronics and more. .

The PWT is part of PRIMEDIA, Inc., America's leading producer 
of targeted media headquartered in New York City. PWT sponsors 
include: City of Dunkirk and the Chautauqua County Visitors Bureau, 
716-357-4569.

	Eagle Trailers
Carhartt	Shimano
		Energizer
Bomber Lures	COTTON CORDELL
		Evertroll
Raytheon Electronics	GUEST Marine Products	DODGE TRUCKS
Very Fine Juices Mack's Lures	T-H MARINE Marinco	Ocean Wave Sunglasses
All Terrain Vehicles	Real Tree	IMPCO  Boat Buckles

Friday, August 3            Open fishing; launch at any ramp
Saturday, August 4         Open fishing; launch at any ramp
Sunday, August 5           Open fishing; launch at any ramp
 5 - 7 p.m.                      Mandatory pro registration; amateurs may also register    PWT tent next to 4 points Sheraton
7:00 p.m.        Anglers Advisory Meeting. Members: 
Scott Fairbairn, Mark   Martin, Jeff Taege; NPAA rep Rick 
Olson; Rocco Papendrea; Amateur rep John Solek

Monday, August 6        Open fishing; launch at any ramp
    8 a.m. - 4 p.m.        Amateur registration PWT tent
    6 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.        Pro Photo Night by In-Fisherman            Launch ramp by Chadwick Bay Marina

Tuesday, August 7        Open fishing; launch at any ramp
    8 a.m. - 3 p.m.        Amateur registration  PWT Tent
    Noon.            All contestants off the water
    Noon - 2 p.m.        Media Luncheon Sheraton 4 Points
    3:30 p.m. - 4:45 p.m.    PWT Amateur School: Recommended for 
all Amateurs
    4:45 p.m.        Meal (chicken BBQ) sponsored by Chautauqua Visitors       Chautauqua County  Fairgrounds,  Bureau, Dunkirk Observer, Jamestown 
Post Journal        Central Ave, Dunkirk
    6 - 7:30 p.m.        Mandatory Rules meeting for all contestants

Wednesday, August 8        Tournament Day 1
    6:55 a.m.        Opening Ceremony 
            Ceremonies & Weigh-in at
    7:00 a.m.        Contestants depart 
        PWT Stage next to 4 Points Sheraton
    9:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.    Tour for contestant families and 
media; departing from 4 Points Sheraton
    3:00 p.m.        Weigh-in Ceremonies begin
    3:15 p.m.        Flight #1 boats # 1 -45 return
    4:00 p.m.        Flight #2 boats #46 - 90 return
    4:45 p.m.       Flight #3 boats #91 - 135 return
    7:30 p.m.        Fellowship of Christian Anglers 
meeting            Days Inn
                guest speakers, Mike & Sally Simpson 
            Hwy 60 & I90 (exit 59)

Thursday, August 9        Tournament Day 2
    6:55 a.m.        Opening Ceremony 
            Ceremonies & Weigh-in at
    7:00 a.m.        Contestants depart 
            PWT Stage
    9:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.    Tour for contestant families and 
media; departing from 4 Points Sheraton
    3:00 p.m.        Weigh-in Ceremonies begin
    3:15 p.m.        Flight #1 boats # 91 - 135 return
    4:00 p.m.        Flight #2 boats #1 - 45 return
    4:45 p.m.        Flight #3 boats #46 - 90 return

Friday, August 10        Tournament Day 3
    6:55 a.m.        Opening Ceremony 
            Ceremonies & Weigh-in at
    7:00 a.m.        Contestants depart 
            PWT Stage
    9:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.    Tour for contestant families and 
media; departing from 4 Points Sheraton
    3:00 p.m.        Weigh-in Ceremonies begin
    3:15 p.m.        Flight #1 boats # 46 -  90 return
    4:00 p.m.        Flight #2 boats #91 - 135 return
    4:45 p.m.        Flight #3 boats #1 - 45 return
      6:00 p.m.        Awards presentation from main stage
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Sally Simpson                         218/824-2542
In-Fisherman PWT                218/829-3091 FAX
Two In-Fisherman Dr.
Brainerd, MN  56401