The In-Fisherman Professional Walleye Trail expands into Canada in 2007. The prestigious PWT tour will bring the best competitive pro walleye anglers to Dryden, Ontario, July 25-27. There, they will explore Wabigoon Lake.

The Dryden Super Pro series tournament, presented by Minn Kota, will be an invitational to 60 pros, which will also fish a Super Pro tournament on northern Minnesota’s walleye-factory, Cass Lake, Sept. 5-7.

The PWT also conducts four Regional series events, presented by MotorGuide. Amateur anglers may enter one or more of these Pro-Am events. They will compete in boats with pros, using their gear and going to their best spots. Amateurs fish for a first place boat valued at $17,000, and a host of great merchandise prizes and gift certificates. This year, Regional amateurs pay only $375, which is less than ever before in PWT history, for three days fishing with pro anglers.

Regional series tournaments begin with a pre-spawn bite on the Missouri River and Lake Francis Case in Chamberlain, SD. Every boat could weigh a limit every day; according to South Dakota guide Bob Propst, Jr., who won the Chamberlain tournament in 2006. He said, “I predict more and bigger fish (some 8’s to 10’s) will be caught than when I won.” This event will occur April 4-6. Another popular April tournament occurs at Winneconne, Wisconsin April 25-27, with fishing on all of the Lake Winnebago chain, as well as the Fox and Wolf Rivers. 2006 winner Tom Gatzke said, “Being a week later will open up more spots…this is anybody’s ballgame.”

The remaining Regionals take place on Mille Lacs Lake in north-central Minnesota, May 30 – June 1, at the peak of the “hot-bite.” In 2006, pro winner Ron Seelhoff trolled while second place pro Sheldon Meidinger slip-bobbered. “Everybody loves Mille Lacs,” Seelhoff said.

The final Regional on Little and Big Bays de Noc in Escanaba, Aug. 8-10 presents numerous open water and near-shore big-fish opportunities. Pro Pat Neu said after his 2006 victory, “Bay de Noc forces pros to explore structure and adapt tactics to weather and water conditions if they want to win.” At the conclusion of the season, the top 20 Regional anglers and the top 30 Angler of the year pros slug it out at the Mercury Championship.

The Lake Wabigoon Super Pro will present the ultimate challenge to Super Pros, with only one pro ever fishing Wabigoon and the attached lakes. Hometown Super Pro angler and PWT winner John Butts said, “Some of the biggest walleyes of the season will come from Wabigoon. It’s a shallow system, and every tactic known in the walleye-world will be used. What a great Canadian vacation for amateurs from the states.”

Pros will once again share their knowledge and walleye secrets with their amateur/co-angler partners. The pros share their boats, gear, night crawlers, tackle and fishing hotspots with their partners. Amateurs and co-anglers enter tournaments individually, but some travel and fish with pros during pre-fishing time.

Details, entry blanks, site details, history, stats, photos and updates can be found on the PWT web, www.professionalwalleyetrail.com <http://www.professionalwalleyetrail.com> . Or, call PWT headquarters, 218-829-0620, for more info and an entry blank. Amateurs pay $750 to fish with Super Pros and $375 on the Regional series.


The PWT is an integral element of the In-Fisherman Communications Network headquartered in Baxter, Minnesota, and INTER-MEDIA, America's leading producer of targeted media. PWT promotional partners include: Mercury Marine, Lund Boats, Berkley, Lowrance Electronics, Optima Batteries, Minn Kota, Realtree, MotorGuide, Johnsonville Brats, Outdoor Channel, Tommy Docks, Coleman, Northland Fishing Tackle, StowMaster, Aqua-Vu, Reef Runner, Yo-Zuri Quality Lures, Smooth Moves Seat Mounts, Kwik Pfyt Mud Flaps, Yellow Bird Planer Boards, Gemini Sport Marketing, Ram Mounts, Element Edge, Pflueger, Plano Tackle Systems, Aikens Lake Wilderness Lodge, E-Cell, Cannon, Mack’s Lure and Do-It Molds.