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Ted Takasaki climbs to the top of the PWT Championship ladder 
Ted Takasaki over the top Dreams really do come true. Just ask Ted Takasaki,
who won the
DODGE / 
In-Fisherman Professional Walleye Trail Championship on the Missouri River
at Bismarck, N.D. Sept. 17-19.Takasaki took home the largest purse ever
awarded at a walleye event - $100.000 in cash and prizes.
Ted hoist's a fine Bismark walleye taken upstream from the Cannonball bridge
"I've been dreaming about this all my life, and this is even better than
die dream," said Takasaki 40, of Algonquin, IL. Takasaki is a Japanese
American and the only minority to compete on the PWT this season.
He balances his successful fishing career with a family and full-time job
for Hewlett Packard as a computer systems salesman; He logs 50,000 to 100.000
miles in three air each year on business in addition to the 25,000 miles
to from tournament locations. Takasaki's three-day catch of' 14 fish totaled
23.92 pounds to lead North Americas 42 best walleye anglers The field was
comprised of the 40 top finishers at the conclusion of the PWT's five regular
season qualifiers; 
Rick LaCourse, the 1997 champion; and the PWT's top amateur Contestant
Charlie Christoferson. Ron Seelloff 
of Nebraska was second to Takasaki with 21.14 pounds. Next came
Mark Martin of Michigan at third with 19.78 pounds; 
Mark Brumbaugh of Ohio with 19.43 pounds; and Mike Gofron of Illinois.
also from Illinois. with 18.97. Takasaki's championship win is the
first ever by an Illinois angler at a PWT event. His catch was one
fish shy of the 15 fish tournament limit of five fish per day. About
7.000 spectators in the Bismarck Civic Center roared their approval as
his victory was cinched by his third day, five-fish stringer of 10.35 pounds.
The heaviest one day total of the competition. Tournament boundaries began
at Bismarck on the north, then stretched southward through 50 miles of'
the Missouri River made treacherous by shifting sand and low water.
The river actually dropped three feet in one 24 hour period during pre-fishing
and continued to drop during the competition. Southern boundary was
at the South Dakota border. That meant about 20 miles of the upper
portion of Lake Oahe were open and some competitors made the hour trip
each way from the launch site to go there in search of big fish. While
planning his strategy, Takasaki knew the two; past PWT Championships at
Bismarck were won at bridges over feeder creeks. He also suspected
those bridges would be popular spots, so to avoid the crowds. Takasaki
searched for and found a way across shallow sand flat between the Missouri
River and the Cannonball River.
Ted hoist's a fine Bismark walleye taken upstream from the Cannonball bridge
At first glance, the spot seemed an unlikely place to hold walleyes.
The water was murky and current was nonexistent. But despite first
impressions, he found walleyes and saugers holding in 8- to 10 feet
deep holes on river bends. He jigged up his winning catch using-
1/4-and 3/8 ounce 
Fuzz-E-Grubs in hot -low yellow dressed with minnows tied to 8-pound 
Magnathin line on Pinnacle Rods and Reels "This is incredible," said Takasaki.
"This is a feeling that money can't buy. "Takasaki began professional tournament
fishing in the late 1980s in the Masters Walleye Circuit. He and
partner John Campbell were the 1991 MWC Team of the Year. The PWT
championship was Takasaki's first major win since joining the PWT in 1991.
He has nine top- 10 finishes and has qualified for the Championship six
times. He was also 1995's PWT Top Gun. He achieved that status
by combining the total weight of fish caught during- the regular season;
his average standings at each qualifier-, and his ranking at the Championship.
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