The top three Super Pro anglers at the Optima Batteries/Berkley Pro-Am have all captured second place finishes, but never an In-Fisherman Professional Walleye Trail victory. They are one day away from that feat. Fishing on northern Minnesota’s famed walleye factory, Cass Lake, the three pros have stitched two great days together in the final Super Pro event of the season, presented by Minn Kota.

Holding first place with a two-day total of 27.77 pounds is Brad Davis, Jackson, Wis. He has been in the game for many years, and has second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh place trophies, but has not stepped into the winner’s circle. Chase Parsons, Brillion, Wis., has racked up 27.12 pounds, and as the youngest pro, won the PWT 2005 Rookie of the Year title, and placed second in the Championship that season. He has several top 10 finishes, including a sixth this year, already netting $16,819 in prize money. Jefferson, SD pro Gil Mollet has second and third place trophies, and a third at Mille Lacs two months ago for $13,000. He has 25.72 pounds for third place, following a 15.80-pound catch on day two.

The Coleman big Fish of the tournament, 6.89 pounds, was caught by Jay Weber, Annandale, Minn., which vaulted him to fourth place overall with 25.15 pounds. He was fishing with amateur Rob Rehms, Ankeny, Iowa. A number of five-pound plus walleyes came to the scales, but anglers talked of the dozens of walleyes they landed each day.

Typical patterns ranged from lead core crank bait trolling to live bait rigs with chubs, leeches and night crawlers. Chubs were the favored tactic. Boat control was lesson number one learned by the amateurs, according to their comments on stage. The Optima/Berkley Pro-Am continues for the final day Thursday, Sept. 6, with the weigh-in ceremonies at Stony Point Resort, just east of Cass Lake on Highway 2.

The final standings will reward the winning pro with an $86,000 payday, while the top amateur wins a Lund 1675 walleye boat with a 60-hp Mercury outboard valued at $19,000. Currently, Wayne Linstad, Bemidji, Minn., leads the amateur race. In addition, the Johnsonville Angler of the year will be crowned with a $35,000 cash prize. The top 30 in the Super Pro series will be invited to the Mercury Championship, presented by the Dow Chemical Company on Saginaw Bay in May 2008.

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, International Truck, Ram Mounts, Element Edge, Pflueger, Plano Tackle Systems, E-Cell, Cannon, Fin-Tech Tackle, Do-It Molds, Cass Lake Chamber of Commerce, 800.356.8615, Palace Casino & Hotel, 877.972.5223 and Stony Point Resort, 218.335.6311.