| Pro Walleye Trail Heads to Devils Lake for Early Season Walleyes
Mike Gofron, one of the walleye world's all-stars, and 2005
Johnsonville Angler of the Year said, "Devils Lake is one
of the most versatile and challenging systems the PWT fishes.
I can hardly wait to see
it in the spring."
The full field of 120 pros fishing the In-Fisherman Professional
Walleye Trail's Regional series, presented by MotorGuide, shares
his sentiment. They compete head-to-head with the walleyes May
24-26
(Wednesday, Thursday and Friday), each trying to catch the largest
5-fish limits for the 3-day tournament.
Bragging rights and more than $50,000 goes to the winner.
The PWT Berkley/Outdoor Channel Pro-Am involves amateurs/co-anglers
who share boats and gear and fish as partners with the pros.
Devils Lake resident, guide and touring pro Johnnie Candle said,
"Fishing and learning while riding with the pros is a great
experience. I look forward to showing off 'my lake' to my co-anglers."
He would also like to show off some giant walleyes and win in
his adopted hometown.
Daily weigh-in activities take place at Graham's Island State
Park, west of the city of Devils Lake. The afternoon weigh-ins
(beginning at 3 p.m. and running to about 6 p.m.) are informative
and free of charge. Pros share their secrets, especially on
day three. They talk about where they fished and what worked
best. They describe their tactics. And, the stage show is fun
to watch.
Pro anglers and their partners will explore every inch of water
they can access with their boats. That water has expanded from
about 40,000 acres in the early 1990's to more than 130,000
acres now. The rising water (there'sno outlet to the lake) swept
over homes, farms, roads and everything in its
path.
Winner of the last two PWT trips to Devils Lake, Bruce "Doc"
Samson, said, "Even though I won in deep water, this will
be an entirely different system in May. It will be new to all
of us this year."
The Regional series tour events following are at Mobridge,
SD, and Escanaba, Mich., where amateurs may still enter.
Devils Lake Chamber, 701-662-4903
Julie Meister
7819 Highland Scenic Rd.
Baxter, MN 56425
218.824.2542
Fax: 218.829.2371
www.professionalwalleyetrail.com |
