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PWT DAY ONE NEWS RELEASE Fox Chain Walleyes React as Mother
Nature Moves back to Springtime
The Mercury dropped 20 degrees in a few minutes, and the Fox
Chain of Lakes walleyes reacted negatively. The “bite” slowed
considerably as temperatures in the 60’s dropped into the 40’s,
seemingly in a few minutes about 10 a.m. The In-Fisherman Professional
Walleye Trail anglers fishing the Berkley/Optima Pro-Am faced
adversity on the first day. Several overcame the conditions
by slowing their presentations. Day one pro leader Rick Franklin,
Park Rapids, Minn., had a limit by 8:10 a.m He was fishing with
amateur/co-angler Jim Cranmer, Engelwood, CO. They weighted
11.54 pounds. Pro Dave Adnerson, Apple Valley, Minn., PWT tournament
winner and MortorGuide division winner in 2004, holds second
place with 10.95 pounds. He fished with Jim McDonald, Mundelein,
IL. A limit gave pro Scott Ziegler, North Platte, NE and amateur
partner Jerry Graske, St. Charles, IL. 9.06 pounds and third
place. Local favorite Mike Gofron, Antioch, IL., scored 6.47
pounds and holds 12th place. Coleman big fish honors went to
Dryden, Ontario pro John Butts and his amateur/co-angler partner
Bryan Doering, Fond du Lac, WI. They will split $1,000 for a
5.42 pound walleye. This is the first visit to the villages
of Fox Lake and Antioch, where the anglers explored every nook
and cranny of the Fox Chain. After low water (minimal snow run-off),
the dam was closed last week, which brought water levels up
a foot. Some walleye anglers caught fish in a foot of water;
most were caught in less than five feet.
Popular tactics were shallow-running crankbaits, jigs with
Gulp!, PowerBait or livebait, and various combinations of 3-way
livebait rigs. Trolling crankbaits also produced results in
three feet to 10 feet of water. The Chain is relatively shallow
and water clarity is rated in in inches. The north Lakes are
deeper and clearer. Angler suffered sunburns with 80-degree
temperatures for several days, until the cold front rolled through
this morning. The weigh-in crowd numbered in the hundreds, despite
the conditions. Warmer afternoons Thursday and Friday, April
21-22, should bring out the region’s many walleye fans for the
final two days. The fans enjoy meeting the pros and learning
about the Fox Chain.
The PWT was hosted by villages and Chambers of Fox Lake and
Antioch, and the pros were involved in numerous youth activities
via the State Bank Group. The PWT works with marketing partners
Mercury Marine, Lund, The Outdoor Channel, Berkley, Optima Batteries,
Realtree, MotorGuide, Lowrance, MinnKota, Trilene, Frenzy, Blue
Fox, Powerbait, Northland Fishing Tackle, Lindy Legendary Fishing
Tackle, GULP!, Coleman, Storm, Boat Buckle, Smooth Moves Seat
Mounts, Kwik Pfyt, E-Z Loader, Raymarine, Rapala, Matzuo, Pflueger,
Ram rod holders, Gerbing’s Heated Clothing, Aqua-Vu, Save Phace,
Plano, Stowmaster.net, Navionics, Access Roll-up Cover, Yellow
Bird, DOW Chemical, Dave’s Lures, The State Bank Group, Yo-Zuri
and Reef Runner. 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.
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