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

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RealTree Eastern Pro-AM

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Maps of tournament sites 

Dunkirk, New York....Fishing Lake Erie's eastern basin  produced big catches for the In-Fisherman Professional Walleye Trail  touring pro anglers.  They were competing on day one of the RealTree Eastern Pro-Am, for a share of the $240,000 purse.

With two days to go Thursday and Friday, Aug. 9 and Aug. 10,  Bill Ortiz, Dodgeville, WI, a past PWT winner, leads the pack.  He  weighed a five fish tournament limit for 35.11 pounds.  He fished with amateur Ron Gray, Grand Blanc, MI.  Each day the amateurs fish  with a different pro angler, using the pro's gear, boat and bait.

In second place are pro Scott Gerner, Chilton, WI, and  amateur Scott Herbolsheimer, Tekamah, NE, who scored with 34.25  pounds.   The third place partners were pro Byron Peterson, Blair, NE  and amateur Kevin Novak, Clarendon, NY.   They weighed 33.76 pounds.  A total of 19 anglers are within 10 pounds of Peterson.  The highest  ranking New York pro angler with 26.97 pounds is Bob Hollingsworth,  Kenmore, fishing his first PWT tournament.  Well respected in New York tournament circles with many top places in local events, Hollingsworth is in 10th place. 

Most anglers enjoyed the relatively calm conditions with seas in the "light" range (less than two feet)  most of the day, building to some three-footers later in the day.  Competitors could run any direction, fish their best tactics and return to Chadwick Bay Marina in comfort. 

Anglers used various equipment to present crankbaits or spinner/crawler combinations at the exact depth, from 15 feet under the surface to bottom-bouncing for walleyes right on the bottom 70 feet down.  To reach the customary depths of 35 to 55 feet, anglers used leadcore line, diving planes (Dipsey Divers), weights from two to five ounces clipped on their lines and down-riggers.  The eastern basin depths within PWT boundaries dipped to 100 feet.

With 25.44 pounds, pro   Kim Papineau, Escanaba, MI, re-captured the In-Fisherman Angler of the Year lead.  He is followed by three anglers,  Pete Harsh, Perry Good and  Gary Gray, within seven pounds, a race which won't  be settled until Friday, the final day of 
the PWT season.  Championship spots for the Dee Zee Eastern Division 
and from the touring pros will be determined, as will the Mercury Top Amateur and the RayMarine Rookie of the Year.

Lake Erie lived up to its big fish reputation with all Bass Pro Shops big fish awards to anglers with walleyes exceeding 9.66 pounds.  Claiming the $1,700 day one first prize was amateur Tom Gonya, Toledo, Ohio, with a 10.90 pound walleye.  Amateur Richard Franklin, Louisburg, Kansas, had a 10.26-pounder for $1,050.  Pros Peterson and Keith Eshbaugh, Washington, PA, weighed 9.69 and 9.66 pound walleyes for $900 and $750.  A total of 10 walleyes over nine pounds were weighed.

The final two weigh-in days and festivities take place in downtown Dunkirk, right on the waterfront and adjacent to the Four Points Sheraton.  Bleachers are set-up, and walleye fans can meet and \greet the top walleye professionals in North America.  The show is free of charge and begins at 3 p.m. each day.

The PWT is part of PRIMEDIA, Inc., America's leading producer of targeted media headquartered in New York City.  PWT sponsors
include: Chautauqua County Convention and Visitors Bureau, 716-357-4569 and the City of Dunkirk, 716-366-9858, with support from the Southtowns 
Walleye Association and the Northern Chautauqua County Conservation 
Club.

	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