Lund Pro-Am Becomes 2-Man Race; PWT Pros Christensen
& Samson Rule the Water
Veteran In-Fisherman Professional Walleye Trail anglers Bruce
Samson and Daryl Christensen remained the top two pros in the
Lund Pro-Am at Ottertail, Minn. Samson from Minnetrista, Minn.,
and Christensen from Montello, Wis., flopped positions from
day one.
They are competing in the Super Pro series presented by Minn
Kota on Otter Tail Lake, a 13,000 acre natural lake filled with
an amazing amount of structure in west-central Minnesota. The
60 Super Pros fished a dozen tactics on hundreds of miles of
rock and sand breaks and patrolled weed edges. On Thursday,
June 15, at the final day weigh-in, the pros will share their
secrets at the Ottertail Fairgrounds (near the water tower).
Festivities start about 5:30 p.m.
A large crowd of walleye fans and families enjoyed the PWT
Outdoor Festival, set-up adjacent to the weigh-in stage. Free
activities include a rock climbing wall and a "host your
own PWT television show" simulator presented by the Outdoor
Channel. The free trout fishing pond is sponsored by Cabela's
and Shakespeare with youngsters able to win rod and reel combos
and tackle bags. The free shooting gallery (air rifles) is presented
by GAMO. These activities open at 1 p.m., and run through the
final-day stage ceremonies.
Samson and Christensen have five PWT victories combined, and
look to add one more trophy and the $55,000 first prize to one
of their collections. Both have won more than $200,000 on the
PWT tour. Samson, with 24.81 pounds is about one pound ahead
of Christensen, and about seven pounds ahead of Super Pro Mark
Christianson, Walker, Minn.
The Minnesotan Christianson scored the E-Cell Heavyweight of
the tournament through two days, 14.22 pounds for his PWT limit
of four walleyes. He fished with amateur/co-angler Bruce Boyne,
Wadena, Minn., and landed the Coleman Big Fish of the tournament
through two days. It weighed 6.62 pounds, and could mean $2,000
for the partners. The E-Cell Heavyweight pays $1,000. Boyne
leads the amateur division, and if he retains his position will
win a $15,000 Lund boat and Mercury outboard on an E-Z Loader
trailer.
Mark Martin, Twin Lake, Mich., a 2-time PWT winner and the
original Mercury Champion, jumped from 49th place to fourth
on the back of a 12.94-pound catch on day two. Bay City, Mich.
pro Bill St. Peter moved to fifth place with 16 pounds for two
days. Each Pro-Am boat could keep four walleyes,
with two in excess of 20 inches per day. The fish were filleted
and donated to the Ottertail Nursing Home, the Battle Lake Good
Sam Home and the Fergus Falls Veterans Home.
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 promotional
partners include: Mercury Marine, Lund, The Outdoor Channel,
Berkley, Optima Batteries, Realtree,
MotorGuide, Lowrance, MinnKota, Trilene, Frenzy, Blue Fox, Powerbait,
Johnsonville Brats, Northland Fishing Tackle, Lindy Legendary
Fishing Tackle, GULP!, Coleman, Storm, Tommy Docks, Smooth Moves
Seat Mounts, E-Village, Kwik Pfyt, Raymarine, Rapala, Pflueger,
Ram rod holders, Gerbing's Heated Clothing, Aqua-Vu, Plano,
Stowmaster.net, Navionics, Yellow Bird, Beckman, Drift Control,
Gemini Sport Marketing, Yo-Zuri , Reef Runner and the Ottertail
Country Tourism, 218.758.2716 |