Dan Plautz, Veteran Pro, Wins Mercury PWT Championship in Houghton, Mich.

    Houghton, Michigan....To the cheers of more than  5,000 walleye fans,
veteran In-Fisherman Professional Walleye Trail (PWT) pro angler Dan Plautz
won the $113,000 Mercury Championship first prize.  His 49.86 pound catch
beat 51 of the world¹s best walleye anglers on the Keweenaw Waterway in
Houghton, Mich.  

    Plautz, Muskego, Wis., has now won more than $250,000 on tour with three
victories.  He accepted the first place prize which included a Lund boat
with a Mercury outboard on an Eagle trailer, and $75,000 cash.  He also
received a $3,000 diamond and gold ring from Richardson¹s Jewelers in
Escanaba, Mich.  Plautz landed a PWT limit of four walleyes daily.  ³This is
one of the best fisheries I¹ve seen, but the walleyes just didn¹t want to
bite like they did back in August,² he said.  His trolling pattern in 16 to
20 feet of water with Storm Hot Œn Tots and small Reef Runners just six feet
under the surface proved to be the trick.  His best area was on the south
side of Portage Lake.

    Rookie of the Year pro Kevin Schweder, Janesville, Wis. said, ³Fishing
against my heroes was the greatest thrill of my life.  This season and this
tournament will remain in my memory banks forever.²  He landed 34.50 pounds
and a prize of $40,000.  Scoring his highest finish ever, Rich Boggs,
Nisswa, Minn., collected the $30,000 third prize.  Schweder trolled gold
spinners within a foot of the bottom in 35 to 45 feet of water.  Boggs
preferred tiny Rapala Shad Raps.

    Fourth place and $10,000 went to ³The Jigmeister² Daryl Christensen,
Montello, Wis., who placed highest while pitching jigs and jigging spoons in
shallow water.  Keith Kavajecz, Kaukauna, Wis., failed to catch a fish on
day three, but maintained a fifth place finish for $7,000.  Every pro (no
entry fee required) won at least $2,000.

    PWT Angler of the Year Bill Ortiz, Dodgeville, Wis., was in position to
win an extra $250,000 from Mercury if he also won the Championship.  He
moved up to 9th position after two days, but was unable to climb higher.
However, as Angler of the Year, he netted $35,000 ($10,000 as a Mercury
bonus).  Likewise, the Quantum $1,000,000 prize for any pro breaking the
Michigan state record walleye went unclaimed.  The largest walleye, 11.20
pounds, was recorded by Andy Kuffer, Fair Haven, Mich., He won $3,000.
Kavajecz won $1,000 for an 8.21-pounder.  Schweder also won $1,000 for a
7.95 pound walleye.

    The Optima Batteries Top Gun award of $5,000 went to Kavajecz, who had
the highest rating of all PWT pros throughout the season.  Top Gun is
computed on overall finish (2nd), average place finish (2nd) and
Championship finish (5th).  The Realtree Sportsman of the Year award of
$500, voted by the Championship contestants, went to Bismarck, ND pro
Sheldon Meidinger, for his heroic efforts when he rescued two capsized
boaters on Lake Erie.

    Plautz won the $1,000 Gander Mountain Heavy Weight award of $1,000 for a
second day 19.77 pound catch.  ³Actually, judging from the fishing I did in
August, this represented only about half what I expected,² he said.  Eric
Naig, Cylinder, Iowa, moved up 28 places to win the $1,000 Coleman Cool
Under Pressure award.  The Norb Wallock Memorial Education award went to pro
Brad Davis, Jackson, Wis.  He won $500 based on nominations from amateur
partners on the quality of what he taught them this season.  Julie Wallock,
Norb¹s widow made the presentation.

    During the awards banquet, PWT officials recognized many local
volunteers, including event chairman Gary Lubinski.  Ted Takasaki, president
of Lindy Little Joe fishing tackle in Brainerd, Minn., said, ³This was a
great community with tremendous support, and I want to come back.²  His
opinion was shared by all contestants.

    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, Frenzy, Lowrance,
MinnKota, Optima Batteries, Gander Mountain, Nissan, 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

Now you can Join all of Walleyes Inc. mailing lists from one spot.  Sign up  to receive notice of updates in the Walleye fishing world and be eligible for great Members only discounts on  and Church Products. Only  from your one stop resource Walleyes Inc. Enter your email address below, then click the 'Sign Up' button