Dunkirk, New York....²This is a great fishery,² said Ernie Olson, Foley,
Minn., leader after day one of the MinnKota Northeastern Pro-Am today.  He
averaged better than eight pounds, and leads the In-Fisherman Professional
Walleye Trail (PWT) tournament on Lake Erie¹s eastern basin.  His 42.33
pounds for five walleyes places him slightly ahead of Jim Carpenter, Maple
Grove, Minn., with 42.27 pounds.

    Many anglers limited, and all enjoyed a ³flat² Lake Erie.  Some even
hesitantly suggested a bit of a breeze would be welcome.  Olson said, ³Never
wish for wind on the Great Lakes; I will take another day just like this.²
The leading amateur is Mike Baker, North East, PA.

    Under the Pro-Am format, amateurs fish with the world¹s best walleye
anglers, and share the pro¹s boat, gear, tackle and spots.  They fish
together for the maximum weight, which counts for both anglers.  The top 40
pros and amateurs after three days win $300,000 in cash and merchandise
prizes.  

    John Kolinski, Greenville, Wis., is in third with 41.69 pounds.  He was
the 2002 PWT Angler of the Year.  Rookie pro Marc Hudson, Fremont, Ohio, is
in fourth with 41.65 pounds.  Half the contestants are within 10 pounds of
the lead.  The average walleye weighed 6.43 pounds, and most were donated to
the western New York churches for their soup kitchens to feed the needy.

    The Miller High Life big fish went to pro Dwight Niemi, Woodbury, Minn.,
and amateur Adam Fernell, Canton, Ohio, with a 12.03-pounder.  They will
split at least $1,000 cash.  A total of 11 walleyes in excess of 10 pounds
came to the scales.

    Most anglers are employing varieties of trolling tactics to take lures
and spinners as deep as 70 feet.  Anglers are fishing approximately 15 miles
either side of Dunkirk to the United States/Canadian line.

    Days two and three take place from Chadwick Bay Marina, with daily
weigh-in festivities and stage show starting at 3 p.m. Thursday and Friday.
The action-packed fun is free and walleye fans are encouraged to attend.
The site is located adjacent to the Ramada Inn in Dunkirk.

    
    The PWT is an integral element of the In-Fisherman Communications
Network
headquartered in Brainerd, Minnesota, and PRIMEDIA, America's leading
producer of targeted media. PWT sponsors include: Mercury Marine, Lund,
Berkley Gulp!, Trilene, PowerBait, Realtree, Miller High-Life, Nissan,
Frenzy, Lowrance, MinnKota, Optima Batteries, Gander Mountain, Blue Fox,
Northland Fishing Tackle, Lindy Legendary Fishing Tackle, Coleman, Storm,
Eagle Trailers, Raymarine, Rapala, Matzuo, Pflueger, Ram rod holders, Drift
Control, DeeZee, Cotton Cordell, Seal Skinz, Aqua-Vu, IMCO, Plano,
KeepAlive, Stowmaster.net, Quantum Performance Tuned rods & reels and
Chautauqua County Visitors Bureau 800.242.4569.

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