LAST UPDATE 07/02/01
In Fisherman
Professional Walleye Trail

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Lake Sakakawea June 27 - 29 
Western Pro-Am

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    Beulah & Hazen, North Dakota....The In-Fisherman Professional 
Walleye Trail (PWT) touring pro anglers will soon arrive in these 
central North Dakota farming and mining communities.  While fishing 
famous Lake Sakakawea June 27 - 29 in the Lund Western Pro-Am, they 
will recognize the same terrain described by explorers Meriwether 
Lewis and William Clark two centuries ago.

    In fact, Lewis and Clark caught and first described saugers 
in this region.  The sauger (a close cousin to the walleye) fishery 
is strong in most Missouri River impoundments, however, walleyes 
generate the most attention.  "Walleyes in the four to seven pound 
range are common, and I expect to see plenty of them at weigh-in," 
said state fisheries chief Terry Steinwand.

    The huge 180-mile long reservoir stretches from near the 
Montana/North Dakota border to the Garrison dam, and walleye 
year-classes are strong.  Steinwand said supplemental stocking most 
years from the early 1990's fills in the blanks of Mother Nature. 
"Coupled with a strong smelt forage base, walleyes are looking good; 
10 percent of the population is above six pounds," he said.  This 
year, the state will stock about 5,000,000 walleyes.

    Pro anglers will fish from the upper end of Deepwater Creek 
to the Hwy 83 embankment and dam, with headquarters in Beulah Bay. 
The Lund Western Pro-Am June 27 - 29, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, 
marks the first-ever Sakakawea tournament for the PWT.

    Beulah and Hazen are preparing for the 300 PWT anglers with a 
Meet the Pros special evening celebration Sunday, June 24 at the 
Beulah Civic Center.  Starting at 5 p.m., the pros will bring their 
boats, register for the tournament, enjoy a meal and visit with 
walleye fans.  This is a great opportunity for all anglers to talk 
with pros about boats, electronics, tactics and perhaps pick up some 
tips.  Weigh-in festivities begin at 3 p.m. daily, with a $250,000 
total payout.  Follow the weigh-in via the PWT live leader board at 
www.professionalwalleyetrail.com

    Leading the field at the mid-point of the 6-tournament season 
is touring pro Tommy Skarlis, Walker, MN.  He is followed closely by 
Gary Gray, Oshkosh, WI, Kim Papineau, Escanaba, MI, and Ted Takasaki, 
Brainerd, MN.   Of those pro anglers fishing only the 3-tournament 
Dee Zee Western Division, Bruce Samson, Cambridge, MN leads, with two 
North Dakota anglers in second and fourth, Les Vietz, Bismarck and 
Myron Jacobson, Mandan.  Jimmy Bell, Ham Lake, MN is in third.

    The PWT is part of PRIMEDIA, Inc., America's leading producer 
of targeted media headquartered in New York City. PWT sponsors 
include: Beulah Chamber of Commerce (701-873-4585), Hazen Chamber of Commerce  (701-748-6848) and North Dakota Tourism (800-HELLO-ND),
 

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