Lake Winnebago Walleyes Test
PWT Pros; Gofron Takes Lead
Oshkosh, Wisconsin.....In-Fisherman Professional
Walleye Trail 2001
Championship winner Mike Gofron, Antioch, Illinois, caught a great
limit to
take the first day lead. He was competing against the world’s
best walleye
anglers on Lake Winnebago in the MinnKota/Mitchell Mideast Pro-Am.
The PWT contestants, pros paired daily with amateurs,
fish again Thursday
and Friday with weigh-in festivities at the Pioneer Resort in Oshkosh,
starting at 3 p.m. Gofron, fishing with amateur Robert Brady,
Chicago,
Illinois, had 23.84 pounds for their six walleyes. In second
are Quin Papp,
West Allis, Wis., and amateur Brian Bancroft, Oshkosh, with 20.87 pounds.
Third place pro Shannon Kehl, Menoken, North Dakota, and amateur Ross
Hosking, Gray Lake, Illinois, have 20.84 pounds.
Hosking also caught the Miller High Life big fish
of the day, a Winnebago
“giant” at 7.90 pounds. It was worth $1,000 for the daily prize,
but could
pay another $2,000 if it’s the largest of the tournament.
The statistics show that the strong south winds (up
to 25 mph, blowing the
40-mile length of the lake) impacted the north-end trollers.
As a result,
only 21 pairs of anglers caught limits. Of the 154 boats on the
lake, 385
fish were weighed; 78 percent were released. The numbers indicate
each set
of partners caught 2 1/2 walleyes, or each person brought 1 1/4 walleyes
to
the scales.
The future of Lake Winnebago looks bright with numerous
fish pushing over
four pounds. And, anglers reported catching many fish from eight
to 14
inches, the next two year-classes moving up through the system.
Gary Gray, Oshkosh, increased his lead in the Miller/In-Fisherman
Angler of
the Year race, a $25,000 year-end reward. He has an eight pound
lead over
Tommy Skarlis, Walker, Minn. Gofron, the Angler of the Year in
2000, is in
third, only a pound behind Skarlis. On the Dee Zee East Division,
Mark Sak,
Imlay City, Mich., leads, Carl Grunwaldt, Green Bay, Wis., by three
pounds.
Tom Backer, Fargo, North Dakota, leads the Dee Zee West Division.
The PWT is part of PRIMEDIA, Inc., America's leading
producer of targeted
media headquartered in New York City. PWT sponsors include: Aqua
Vu,
Berkley PowerBait, Berkley Trilene, Blue Fox Tackle, Carhartt, Coleman,
Cotton Cordell, Daiichi hooks, Dee Zee, Drift Control, DuBro Pro Services,
Eagle Trailers, Gander Mountain, IMCO Boat Buckles, Leer, Lindy
Little Joe,
Lowrance Electronics, Lund Boats, Lund Intl, Mack's Lure, Matzuo, Mercury
Outboards, Miller High Life, MinnKota, Mitchell reels, Rapala Lures,
Northland Tackle, Oceanwave sunglasses, Pinnacle rods, Plano, RAM,
Raymarine, Realtree, SealSkinz, Storm Lures, Yamaha all terrain vehicles,
and Oshkosh Convention & Visitors Bureau, 877-303-9200, Hilton
Garden Inn,
920-966-1300 and the Pioneer Resort, 800-683-1980.
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