Chase Parsons Takes Johnsonville Pro-Am Tournament
Lead at Houghton, Michigan
Chase Parsons, 2005 In-Fisherman Professional Walleye Trail
Rookie of the Year, stood at the top of the standings after
day one of the Johnsonville Brats Pro-Am in Houghton, Michigan.
Young Parsons caught five walleyes for 19.8 pounds, including
the Coleman Big Fish at 7.42 pounds.
Parsons, fishing the elite Super Pro series presented by MinnKota,
used all his tricks on the Keweenaw Waterway. He was part of
the 60-boat field that includes only the top-ranked walleye
pro anglers. Last
year, Parsons, Brillion, Wis., cashed checks in six of seven
tournaments, and was second in the Mercury Championship, winning
a total of $63,000.
Pro Dave Van Oss, Appleton, Wis., netted four walleyes for
second place. He had 18.55 pounds. Sauk Centre, Minn., pro Pete
Harsh holds third place with 17.18 pounds. On the amateur/co-angler
side, Sheldon Hatch, Perth, Ontario, leads, after fishing with
Parsons. A total of 23 pros caught 5-fish PWT limits.
Anglers found walleyes, but admitted it was tougher than usual
for this time of the season. Methods included jigging with live
bait and Berkley PowerBait, jigging spoons, slip bobbers with
bait, rigging with bait, spinners and bottom bouncers, crank
bait trolling, and some finesse "secret methods" that
will be revealed Friday.
The Johnsonville Pro-Am runs Thursday and Friday, June 29 and
30, with all the trophies and awards distributed immediately
after the final pro weighs Friday. All activities begin at 5:30
p.m. at Chassell Centennial Park, on Pike Bay, the southern
arm of Portage Lake. The Keweenaw Waterway includes Portage
and Torch Lakes, with connecting shipping canals to Lake Superior
on either side of the Peninsula.
The winning pro will take home a first prize of $55,000, including
a Lund/Mercury/E-Z Loader walleye boat. The top amateur wins
a $15,000 Lund/Mercury. The large day one crowd of walleye
fans had a chance to visit with many of the pro anglers who
competed in the 2003 and 2004 Mercury Championships, also on
the same waterway.
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 promotional
partners include: 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, Tommy Docks, Smooth Moves Seat Mounts, E-Village, Kwik
Pfyt, Raymarine, Rapala, Pflueger, Ram rod holders, Gerbing's
Heated Clothing, Aqua-Vu, Plano, Stowmaster.net, Navionics,
Yellow Bird, Beckman, Drift Control, Gemini Sport Marketing,
Yo-Zuri , Reef Runner and the Keweenaw Peninsula Chamber of
Commerce, 906.482.5240 |