“Best bite in years,” was the most repeated phrase as In-Fisherman Professional Walleye Trail pros and amateurs described their tournament fishing on Lake Mille Lacs, Wednesday, May 30. They were competing in the Lowrance/Realtree Pro-Am, part of the MotorGuide Regional series.

The competitors aimed west, south and north from Hunter’s Point Resort on Mille Lacs’ east shoreline, searching the big lake for walleyes. With the slot limit, anglers were able to keep five walleyes, and the chore was finding fish under 20 inches long or over 28 inches. Of the 119 pro-am partnerships, a total of eight walleyes over 28 inches came to the scales.

Leading after the first day is pro Al Sholts, Alexandria, Minn., who was fishing with amateur Mark Compart, Lehigh, Iowa. Their biggest fish was 7.79 pounds (29 inches) and their total 5-fish weight was 16.48 pounds.

Pro Mark Courts, Harris, Minn., fished with Rick Willett-Johnson, Omaha, Neb., and they landed 14.96 pounds, and a 7.85-pounder. It is the Coleman big fish of the tournament through day one. The third place partners were pro Tom Backer, Fargo, ND, and amateur Anthony Berube, Mundelein, Ill. They weighed 14.77 pounds.

Anglers talked about all the 25 to 27 ¾ inch walleyes they were catching all day long. In fact, they caught numbers of them, and had a great time. Amateur Compart said, “The PWT is a great learning experience, and catching so many fish adds to the best fishing day I’ve had in a long time.”

In addition to the stage show, weigh-in, and visiting with pro anglers (and learning their tips), walleye fans brought their families and caught trout in the free trout fishing pond and climbed the rock-wall. On Thursday and Friday, fans are encouraged to come to Hunter’s Point Resort and enjoy the festivities, which run from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Photos and complete scores are featured on the PWT website, www.professionalwalleyetrail.com. Scores are also posted on the Mercury Real-Time Leader board as anglers cross the stage.

The PWT is an integral element of the In-Fisherman Communications Network headquartered in Baxter, Minnesota, and InterMedia, 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, Coleman, Northland Fishing Tackle, The Dow Chemical Company, StowMaster, Reef Runner, Yo-Zuri Quality Lures, Smooth Moves Seat Mounts, Kwik Pfyt Mud Flaps, Yellow Bird Planer Boards, Allstar Graphics, Ram Mounts, Element Edge, Pflueger, Plano Tackle Systems, Aikens Lake Wilderness Lodge, E-Cell, Cannon, Fin-Tech Tackle, Do-It Molds & Hunter’s Point Resort 320.676.3227.