PWT Pro Gary Roach Leads Day One at Mobridge Tournament
One of the most well-known walleye anglers in North America,
Gary Roach, captured the day one lead at the Mercury/Johnsonville
Brats Pro-Am. Roach, popularly referred to as "Mr. Walleye,"
found an In-Fisherman Professional Walleye Trail (PWT) 5-fish
limit on expansive Lake Oahe at Mobridge, SD. The best walleye
fishermen in the world fish the PWT tour, and at Mobridge this
week the fishing sort of followed the weather. From temperatures
soaring above 100 degrees during pre-fishing to a Monday cold
front with a 40 degree drop in temperatures, the walleyes seemed
cooler on day one, July 27. Despite a "tough-bite," pros and
amateurs/co-anglers managed to catch 75 limits. Fishing with
bottom bouncers and various live bait and PowerBait or Gulp!
offerings, or trolling crankbaits, anglers fished from the Highway
212 bridge to the Dakota border, about 70 miles of river. After
weigh-in festivities, Roach, Merrifield, Minn. and his amateur
partner Roger Svebakken, Spring Valley, Minn. scored 13.41 pounds.
Svebakken said, "Several years ago Gary told me at a seminar
that fishing the PWT was the best learning opportunity in the
world. After a day in the boat with him, and with seven other
PWT tournaments under my belt, he's right." Holding second place
is pro Bobby Crow, Paterson, Wash., and amateur/co-angler Guy
Edwards, Charles, City, Iowa. They netted 13.26 pounds. Veteran
pro Keith Kavajecz, Kaukauna, Wis. and amateur/co-angler John
McFarland, Fremont, Neb. scored 12.66 pounds. Rookie pro Jason
Tomich, Omaha, Neb. Is in fourth with 12.63 pounds. He fished
with amateur/co-angler David Evert, Bloomington, Minn. The Coleman
Big Fish $1,000 honors went to pro Jeff Taege, Rhinelander,
Wis. and amateur/co-angler Kyle Middleton, Des Moines, Iowa.
It weighed 5.71 pounds. Jacksonville Angler of the Year leader
Mike Gofron, Antioch, Ill. caught 8 pounds, but with two more
days remaining, many pros are within striking distanace. Angler
of the year pays $35,000 if the winner drives a Mercury Outboard;
$25,000 otherwise. The daily weigh-in ceremonies take place
west of Mobridge at the Bay Resort, Thursday and Friday, starting
at 3 p.m. With the cooperation of the Mobridge Chamber of Commerce,
the Grand River Casino, the tribe and dozens of volunteers,
the drive-thru weigh-in ran smoothly. Anglers utilized the Indian
Creek Recreation Area to launch and motored to the Bay Resort
to show the walleye fans the results of their efforts. The fans
also saw the colorful boats and talked with pros about how their
boats were rigged. The PWT works closely with the Mobridge Chamber
of Commerce (605-845-2387) and the Grand River Casino (605-845-7104)
these business partners: Mercury Marine, Lund, The Outdoor Channel,
Berkley, Optima Batteries, Realtree, MotorGuide, Lowrance, MinnKota,
Trilene, Frenzy, Blue Fox, Powerbait, Johnsonville Brats, 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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