Houghton, Michigan.....Day one of the Mercury Championship proved that
cold fronts affect even the world¹s best walleye anglers.  The In-Fisherman
Professional Walleye Trail (PWT) Championship contestants fished the
Keweenaw Waterway in Michigan¹s Upper Peninsula Friday, Sept. 17.

    They fished a day after a cold front pushed 55 mph winds through the
region and dropped temperatures 20 degrees.  Knowing the challenge, most pro
anglers slowed down and rigged and jigged nightcrawlers as slow as they
could.  Leading the way, with an ultra-slow presentation was Grand Rapids,
Minnesota pro Scott Glorvigen.  His PWT limit of four walleyes weighed 14.09
pounds.

    He leads second place pro Brad Davis, Jackson, Wisconsin by nearly three
pounds.  Montana pro Jim Muzynoski is in third with 10.93 pounds, while
Minnesota pro Mark Courts is in fourth with 10.67 pounds.  Green Bay,
Wisconsin pro Carl Grunwaldt holds fifth place with 10.08 pounds.  They are
the only pros in double-digits.
Half the field had two or fewer fish.

    The 51 pro contestants qualified by their success on tour this season.
They were joined by the Mercury Top Amateur, Rick Willett-Johnson, Omaha,
Nebraska, who blanked on day one.  Eighteen pro anglers limited on Portage
and Torch Lakes and connecting bays and canals.  Keweenaw and Huron Bays
were also open.

    Glorvigen said, ³With stable weather, I expect the fish will get back on
their feeding patterns.  I feel comfortable in this system; it¹s a lot like
northern Minnesota.²  Second place Davis said, ³My goal is four bites, and
get Œem in the boat.²

    The Mercury Championship includes a Saturday and Sunday Boat & Sport
Show presented by Moyle Construction.  This will be inside the Gates Tennis
Center starting at 10 a.m. each day.  The daily weigh-in ceremonies take
place at the Michigan Tech MacInnes Ice Arena starting at 4 p.m. All events
are free to the public.
One youngster was heard to say, ³This was like a rock concert, only with
fish, and I like fish.²

    On Saturday, the first 250 youngsters receive free Plano tackle boxes,
and Sunday, the first 1,000 kids receive free Shakespeare spinning and rods
and reels.

    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!, The Outdoor Channel, Trilene, Optima Batteries,
Realtree, MotorGuide, Mr. Clean, PowerBait, Lowrance, MinnKota, Frenzy,
Gander Mountain, Blue Fox, Northland Fishing Tackle, Lindy Legendary Fishing
Tackle, Coleman, Storm, Boat Buckle, Smooth Moves Seat Mounts, Kwik Pfyt,
Beckman, Rejuvenade, E-Z Loader, Raymarine, Rapala, Matzuo, Pflueger, Ram
rod holders, Drift Control, Aqua-Vu, Plano, Stowmaster.net. Copper Country
Ford, Moyle Construction, MacInnes Ice Area and MTU Staff, Best Western
Franklin Square Inn & Martineau & Morris Contracting.
 

Results

Name    City    St.     #of Fish    Day One WT.

1    Scott Glorvigen    Grand Rapids    MN    4    14.09
2    Brad Davis    Jackson    WI    4    11.6
3    Jim Muzynoski    Bozeman    MT    4    10.93
4    Mark Courts    Harris    MN    3    10.67
5    Carl Grunwaldt    Green Bay    WI    4    10.08
6    Jeff Taege    Rhinelander    WI    4    9.64
7    Todd Riley    Amery    WI    4    9.61
8    Keith Kavajecz    Kaukauna    WI    4    9.31
9    Bill St. Peter    Bay City    MI    4    9.07
10    Gary Parsons    Glidden    WI    4    8.82
11    Jay Janny    Eagle    WI    4    7.2
12    Jerry Ruffolo    Manitowoc    WI    2    7.15
13    John Kolinski    Greenville    WI    3    6.99
14    Rick Olson    Mina    SD    3    6.63
15    Mike Gofron    Antioch    IL    4    6.28
16    Dan Stier    Pierre    SD    4    6.26
17    Shannon Kehl    Menoken    ND    4    6.25
18    David Kraft    Bismarck    ND    3    6.24
19    Marty Glorvigen    Grand Rapids    MN    4    6.13
20    Gerrick McComsey    Fort Pierre    SD    4    5.74
21    Brian Ney    Baudette    MN    3    5.72
22    Chuck Emery    Walker    MN    4    5.56
23    Tommy Skarlis    Walker    MN    1    5.24
24    Steve Bohn    Fairgrove    MI    4    5.22
25    Larry Smith    Berlin    WI    4    4.7
26    Pete Harsh    Sauk Centre    MN    2    4.66
27    Mark Gwizdala    Kawkawlin    MI    4    4.62
28    Danny Plautz    Muskego    WI    2    4.56
29    Mark Christianson    Walker    MN    3    4.41
30    Ron Seelhoff    Burlington    CO    3    3.77
31    Gary Gray    Oshkosh    WI    2    3.7
32    Mark Brumbaugh    Arcanum    OH    1    3.35
33    Ron Gazvoda    Lakewood    CO    2    2.7
34    Greg Ehli    Bismarck    ND    2    2.56
35    John Gillman    Freeland    MI    2    2.53
36    Bill Ortiz    Richland Center    WI    2    2.48
37    Mark Martin    Twin Lake    MI    3    2.42
38    Mike Kulm    Rapid City    SD    2    2.28
39    Gil Mollet    Jefferson    SD    2    2.17
40    Dan Plautz    Muskego    WI    1    1.91
41    Ted Merdan    Maple Grove    MN    1    1.9
42    Ernie Olson    Foley    MN    1    1.59
43    Charles Johnson    Merrifield    MN    1    1.5
44    John Bergsma    Walker    MI    1    1.47
45    Dan Swanson    Fort Collins    CO    1    1.35
46    Les Vietz    Bismarck    ND    1    1.3
47    Scott Fairbairn    Hager City    WI    0    0
48    Dave Anderson    Apple Valley    MN    0    0
49    Sam Anderson    Inver Grove Heights    MN    0    0
50    Ross Grothe    Northfield    MN    0    0
51    Steven Butchart    Duluth    MN    0    0
52    Rick Willett-Johnson    Omaha    NE    0    0
 

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