LAST UPDATE 09/15/01
In Fisherman
Professional Walleye Trail 2001 Championship
Septmeber 13-15 2001

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DODGE TRUCKS Championship

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2001 PWT Championship roster

Rank	First Name	Last Name	City	State
1	Gary	Gray	Oshkosh	WI
2	Pete	Harsh	Sauk Centre	MN
3	Perry	Good	Eagan	MN
4	Kim	Papineau	Escanaba	MI
5	Todd	Frank	Pulaski	NY
6	Norb	Wallock	Conover	WI
7	John	Kolinski	Menasha	WI
8	Mark	Brumbaugh	Arcanum	OH
9	Rick	Olson	Mina	SD
10	Gary	Parsons	Glidden	WI
11	Bill	Ortiz	Dodgeville	WI
12	Dave	Hanson	Bemidji	MN
13	Keith	Kavajecz	Kaukauna	WI
14	Tommy	Skarlis	Walker	MN
15	Eric	Naig	Cylinder	IA
16	Dan	Stier	Pierre	SD
17	Doug	Burns	Estherville	IA
18	Dave	Kraft	Bismarck	ND
19	Ted	Takasaki	East Gull Lake	MN
20	Mike	McClelland	Pierre	SD
21	Daryl	Christensen	Montello	WI
22	Rick	LaCourse	Oregon	OH
23	Tony	Puccio	Madison	WI
24	Mike	Gofron	Antioch	IL
25	Jeff	Taege	Rhinelander	WI
26	Scott	Fairbairn	Walker	MN
27	Johnnie	Candle	Devils Lake	ND
28	Will	Lage	Rapid City	SD
29	James	Myszkewicz	Burlington	WI
30	Mark	Broderick	East Bethel	MN
31	Mark	Martin	Twin Lake	Mi
32	Ron	Seelhoff	Burlington	CO
33	George	Barach	Barryton	MI
34	Bruce	Samson	Cambridge	MN
35	Dean	Miller	Stevens Point	WI
36	Jimmy	Bell	Ham Lake	MN
37	Bill	St Peter	Bay City	MI
38	Les	Vietz	Bismarck	ND
39	Dan	Plautz	Muskego	WI
40	Rick	Walter	Casper	WY
41	Keith	Segar	Muskegon	MI
42	Jim	Peterson	Elk River	MN
43	Jeff	Russell	Grand Haven	MI
44	Tom	Backer	Fargo	ND
45	Rich	Sidor*	Clarendon Hills	IL

    Bismarck, North Dakota....To a tremendous 6,000-walleye fan ovation, crowd favorite 
Mike Gofron captured the prestigious $100,000 first prize today.  The Dodge/Mercury Championship in Bismarck brought the "Best-of-the-Best" walleye anglers under one roof.

The In-Fisherman Professional Walleye Trail (PWT) touring pros also cheered Gofron, the Antioch, Illinois, angler who has the most top 10 PWT finishes (24).  This pushes the jigging expert to winnings over $300,000.  

Northlands  Buckshot Rattle Jig

Northland Buck Shot Rattle Rings

He fished the Porcupine Creek area, 18 - 22 feet deep, but the key to his success was the Buck-Shot rattling jig he fished vertically.  Tipped with fathead minnows, Gofron was catching five times the fish as other jiggers.

     The tremendous enthusiasm inside the Bismarck Civic Center became electrifying as the winner of the past two Championships, Ron Seelhoff, Burlington, CO, inched with ounces of his third straight victory.  Seelhoff weighed 26.26 pounds over the three days, and won a $30,000 Lund/Mercury boat package.  He has two firsts, three seconds and a fifth in the last six Championships.  Close behind was Tom Backer, Fargo, ND, with 25.80 pounds.  Bill St Peter was fourth overall and caught a 5.33-pounder, the Bass Pro Shops $800 big fish of the day.  He won a total of $800.  Overall, Daryl Christensen, won $1,000 for a 6.23 pound walleye on day two, the largest of the Championship.

  Governor John Hoeven welcomed the anglers and fans saying, "Its really great to have the PWT pros in our state."  He also noted the special tribute made by the pros each day.  On day two all pros pulled their lines from noon to 12:15 for a period of personal reflection and prayer.

       Special awards went to Bill St Peter, Bay City, MI, for the largest one day catch, 11.16 pounds.  He won $500 as the Storm Heavyweight winner.  For advancing 26 places Ron Seelhoff, Burlington, CO, and Bill St Peter, Bay City, MI tied for the $1,000 Coleman Cool Under Pressure award.  Gofron also won the $1,000 T-H Marine Live Release award.  Of the 591 walleyes weighed, more than 95 percent were released into the Missouri River by the North Dakota Game and Fish Department.

  The PWT and sponsor Yamaha All-Terrain Vehicles donated a Big Bear $5,000 ATV to the North Dakota group Lure'em for Life which conducts youth fishing camps.  They also received $1,000 cash from Mid-Continent Communications, the local cable company, which assisted the PWT television show crew.

   Hundreds of youngsters cheered their personal favorites.  Each day 500 kids received the free tackle, free Plano tackle boxes and free Silstar spinning rods and reels.

A total of $250,000 was distributed to all contestants, raising the total PWT payout to more than $11,000,000 since 1989.  One contestant, Mercury Top Amateur Rich Sidor, Clarendon Hills, IL, qualified and won $4,000 as the top ranking amateur.  Fishing his first "pro" tournament, he said after the final day, "Now I know why the pros sit on the right side of the boat."

     The contestants praised the quality and quantity of walleyes on the river and the upper reaches of Lake Oahe.  Even though they could only keep five walleyes, with one over 18 inches, two-thirds of the pros landed limits everyday.

Schedule of Events
 

Dodge Truck/Mercury Outboards
2001 Championship
Missouri River, Bismarck/Mandan, North Dakota
September 6 - 15, 2001
 

Thursday, September 6 
6 - 8 p.m.              Mandatory Zebra Mussel & Milfoil Inspection             Radisson Lot

Friday, September 7         Navagation Day
          .               Launch at any ramp; explore; learn to run the river; punch GPS regularly; no fishing. 

Saturday, September 8   First Day of Practice (launch at any ramp)
6:00 a.m.               Boat yard opens - practice begins
5:00 p.m.               Boats off the water; park at Civic Center  Civic Center
7:00 p.m.               Pro Orientation meeting/Registration 

Sunday, September 9     Pro-Am Celebrity Tournament (launch at any ramp)
6  a.m.                 Meet celebrities at boat; depart Civic Center Boat Yard
4:00 p.m.             Boats off the water; return to Civic Center
5 - 6:00 p.m.        Park boat; bring measurements of celebrity or pro fish to stage PWT Stage - Civic Center

Monday, September 10    Third Day of Open Practice (launch at any ramp)
6  a.m.                 Meet press at boat; depart Civic CenterBoat Yard
5:00 p.m.             Boats off the water; return to Civic Center

Tuesday, September 11        Fourth Day of Open Practice 
6 a.m.                  Meet press at boat; depart to Rifle Range ramp Civic Center Boat Yard All boats depart from Rifle Range ramp Rifle Range ramp
5:00 p.m.               Boats off the water; return to Civic Center
8:00 p.m.               Fellowship of Christian Anglers meeting; guest Radisson Inn
                              speakers Al and Mary Lindner
Wednesday, September 12     Final Practice Day
6 a.m.                  Meet press at boat; depart to Rifle Range ramp   Civic Center Boat Yard  All boats depart from Rifle Range Rifle Range ramp
Noon.                   Boats off the water; return to Civic Center
2:00 p.m.               Pro walk thru; drive thru procedures Civic Center main floor
6:30 p.m.               Pro/Press/Observer/Volunteer Dinner Elks Club (900 S. Washington)
7:00 p.m.               Rules Meeting; pros and observers
Thursday, September 13        Championship Day 1
5:45 - 6:00 a.m.     Pros meet observers at boats and depart  Civic Center Boat Yard
6:50  a.m.              Opening Ceremonies Rifle Range ramp
7:00 a.m.               Boats depart in order, #1 - #45
2 p.m. - 9 p.m.      Championship Sport/Outdoor Show  Exhibit Hall
free admission        Featuring what's hot in fishing tackle, boat and marine products; PWT Fishing Experience (for kids) hosted by NPAA.  Casting demonstrations by Stan Fagerstrom.
3:30 p.m.               Boats return to Rifle Range; check-in with timekeeper Rifle Range ramp
4:00 p.m.               Stage festivities commence 4:15 p.m.Weigh-in boats in order #45 - #1      Civic Center Press interviews; photos following weigh-in  PWT Stage
6:45 p.m.               After weigh-in meet the pros at the show - in sponsor booths    Exhibit Hall  500 Kids with coupons pick-up free tackle packets at Exhibit Hall
Friday, September 14   Championship Day 2
5:45 - 6:00 a.m.       Pros meet observers at boats and depart Civic Center Boat Yard
6:50  a.m.              Opening Ceremonies  Rifle Range ramp
7:00 a.m.               Boats depart in order, #45 - #1
10 a.m.                 Sponsor's Brunch hosted by Stu Legaard and Al Linder Raddisson
Noon                    PWT Spouse's Luncheon - sponsored by Gemini Sport Marketing     Radisson hosted by Marsha Kalkofen
Noon to 9:00 p.m.      Championship Sport/Outdoor Show Exhibit Hall
free admission          Featuring what's hot in fishing tackle, boat and marine products; PWT Fishing Experience (for kids) hosted by NPAA.Casting demonstrations by Stan Fagerstrom.
3:30 p.m.               Boats return to Rifle Range; check-in with timekeeper            Rifle Range ramp
4:00 p.m.               Stage festivities commence 
4:15 p.m.               Weigh-in boats in order #1 - #45   Civic Center                 Press interviews; photos following weigh-in  PWT stage
6:45 p.m.               After weigh-in meet the pros at the show - in sponsor booths    Exhibit Hall  First 500 Kids with coupons pick-up free Plano tackle boxes upstairs at Exhibit Hall
Saturday, September 15    Championship Day 3
5:45 - 6:00 a.m.          Pros meet observers at boats and depart                         Civic Center Boat Yard
6:50  a.m.              Opening Ceremonies Rifle Range ramp
7:00 a.m.               Boats depart in order, #1 - #45
10 a.m. to 9 p.m.    Championship Sport/Outdoor Show  Exhibit Hall  free admission          Featuring what's hot in fishing tackle, boat and marine products; PWT Fishing Experience (for kids) hosted by NPAA. Casting demonstrations by Stan Fagerstrom.
3:30                    Boats return to Rifle Range; check-in with timekeeper           Rifle Range ramp
3:30 p.m.               Special Entertainment  Civic Center
4:00 p.m.               Stage festivities commence
4:15 p.m.               Weigh-in boats  in order #45 - #1Civic CenterPress interviews; photos following weigh-in  Main Floor
6:45 p.m.               500 Kids with coupons pick-up free Pinnacle/Silstar rod and reel combo Exhibit Hall
7:30 - 8:30 p.m.     Social Hour for pros/press/observers/volunteers and sponsors Radisson Inn Ballroom
8:30 p.m.               Championship Banquet & Awards Ceremonies - ticket required      Radisson Inn Ballroom  $100,000 to winner; all contestants win prizes

PWT Headquarters phone: 701-250-7637; FAX 701-250-7638
Radisson Hotel:  701-258-7700; FAX 701-224-8212
Bismarck Convention & Visitors Bureau: 701-222-0647 or 800-767-3555
Civic Center: 701-222-6487

NOTE: First 500 youngsters with FolkFest buttons accompanied by parent or guardian receive coupons for tackle on Championship Day 1 and Plano tackle boxes on Day 2.  On the final day, the first 500 kids get coupons for Pinnacle/Silstar rod & reel combos.  Redeem coupons at Exhibit Hall following weigh-in.

.PWT sponsors 
include: 

	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