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Updated: 09/13/03
September 14, 2003
Dan Plautz, Veteran Pro, Wins Mercury PWT Championship in Houghton,
Mich.
Houghton, Michigan....To the cheers of more than
5,000 walleye fans,
veteran In-Fisherman Professional Walleye Trail (PWT) pro angler Dan
Plautz
won the $113,000 Mercury Championship first prize. His 49.86
pound catch
beat 51 of the world¹s best walleye anglers on the Keweenaw Waterway
in
Houghton, Mich.
Plautz, Muskego, Wis., has now won more than $250,000
on tour with three
victories. He accepted the first place prize which included a
Lund boat
with a Mercury outboard on an Eagle trailer, and $75,000 cash.
He also
received a $3,000 diamond and gold ring from Richardson¹s Jewelers
in
Escanaba, Mich. Plautz landed a PWT limit of four walleyes daily.
³This is
one of the best fisheries I¹ve seen, but the walleyes just didn¹t
want to
bite like they did back in August,² he said. His trolling
pattern in 16 to
20 feet of water with Storm Hot Œn Tots and small Reef Runners just
six feet
under the surface proved to be the trick. His best area was on
the south
side of Portage Lake.
Rookie of the Year pro Kevin Schweder, Janesville,
Wis. said, ³Fishing
against my heroes was the greatest thrill of my life. This season
and this
tournament will remain in my memory banks forever.² He landed
34.50 pounds
and a prize of $40,000. Scoring his highest finish ever, Rich
Boggs,
Nisswa, Minn., collected the $30,000 third prize. Schweder trolled
gold
spinners within a foot of the bottom in 35 to 45 feet of water.
Boggs
preferred tiny Rapala Shad Raps.
Fourth place and $10,000 went to ³The Jigmeister²
Daryl Christensen,
Montello, Wis., who placed highest while pitching jigs and jigging
spoons in
shallow water. Keith Kavajecz, Kaukauna, Wis., failed to catch
a fish on
day three, but maintained a fifth place finish for $7,000. Every
pro (no
entry fee required) won at least $2,000.
PWT Angler of the Year Bill Ortiz, Dodgeville, Wis.,
was in position to
win an extra $250,000 from Mercury if he also won the Championship.
He
moved up to 9th position after two days, but was unable to climb higher.
However, as Angler of the Year, he netted $35,000 ($10,000 as a Mercury
bonus). Likewise, the Quantum $1,000,000 prize for any pro breaking
the
Michigan state record walleye went unclaimed. The largest walleye,
11.20
pounds, was recorded by Andy Kuffer, Fair Haven, Mich., He won $3,000.
Kavajecz won $1,000 for an 8.21-pounder. Schweder also won $1,000
for a
7.95 pound walleye.
The Optima Batteries Top Gun award of $5,000 went
to Kavajecz, who had
the highest rating of all PWT pros throughout the season. Top
Gun is
computed on overall finish (2nd), average place finish (2nd) and
Championship finish (5th). The Realtree Sportsman of the Year
award of
$500, voted by the Championship contestants, went to Bismarck, ND pro
Sheldon Meidinger, for his heroic efforts when he rescued two capsized
boaters on Lake Erie.
Plautz won the $1,000 Gander Mountain Heavy Weight
award of $1,000 for a
second day 19.77 pound catch. ³Actually, judging from the
fishing I did in
August, this represented only about half what I expected,² he
said. Eric
Naig, Cylinder, Iowa, moved up 28 places to win the $1,000 Coleman
Cool
Under Pressure award. The Norb Wallock Memorial Education award
went to pro
Brad Davis, Jackson, Wis. He won $500 based on nominations from
amateur
partners on the quality of what he taught them this season. Julie
Wallock,
Norb¹s widow made the presentation.
During the awards banquet, PWT officials recognized
many local
volunteers, including event chairman Gary Lubinski. Ted Takasaki,
president
of Lindy Little Joe fishing tackle in Brainerd, Minn., said, ³This
was a
great community with tremendous support, and I want to come back.²
His
opinion was shared by all contestants.
The PWT is an integral element of the In-Fisherman
Communications
Network headquartered in Brainerd, Minnesota, and PRIMEDIA, America's
leading producer of targeted media. PWT sponsors include: Mercury Marine,
Lund, Berkley Gulp!, Trilene, PowerBait, Realtree, Frenzy, Lowrance,
MinnKota, Optima Batteries, Gander Mountain, Nissan, Blue Fox, Northland
Fishing Tackle, Lindy Legendary Fishing Tackle, Coleman, Storm, Eagle
Trailers, Raymarine, Rapala, Matzuo, Pflueger, Ram rod holders, Drift
Control, DeeZee, Cotton Cordell, Seal Skinz, Aqua-Vu, IMCO, Plano,
KeepAlive, Stowmaster.net, Quantum Performance Tuned rods & reels
Fish
Clix Banner Exchange
Walleyes Inc. website is maintained
by Randy
Tyler Fishing the In-Fisherman Professional Walleye Circuit, Masters
Walleye Circuit and the Wal Mart RCL Circuit. All rights reserved.Copyright
1999/2003
Please visit these site sponsors
Daiichi/Tru-Turn Hooks,
Lindy
Little Joe,
R-A.M Mounting Systems,
Ranger
boats, Mercury Outboards,Bedford
Sales , Church Tackle, Panther
Marine Products,
Webfoots body sock,
Bait
Rigs Tackle ,Dual Pro Charging Systems,
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Rods and Reels,
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Wind socks,
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