Lake Oahe stretches 231 miles across the western prairie. This Missouri River impoundment is the fourth largest man-made reservoir in the country. In a few days it will be home to the In-Fisherman Professional Walleye Trail anglers as they pursue walleyes. The pros and amateurs will start and end each competition day in Mobridge, South Dakota.

They will fish from the state border downstream to Highway 212. Bays, main channels, flats, trees, shorelines, mudlines and every place that could hold walleyes will be investigated. Pros gain their advantages during the time they explore Lake Oahe in the "practice" days. Then, when the starting gun goes off, they take their amateur/co-angler partners to their best spots.

Under the PWT format, pros and amateurs fish together for the maximum boat weight. At Mobridge, during the Lowrance Pro-Am, part of the Regional Series presented by MotorGuide, each boat will be allowed a maximum of five walleyes per day. State regs dictate that only two of those may exceed 20 inches. Mike Haas, director of the Mobridge Chamber said, "If the fishing remains as hot as it's been all year, the PWT guys and gals will have a great time."

Weigh-ins each day will be held in the Mobridge ALCO store, which is just west of the city on Highway 12. These fun-filled ceremonies begin at 3 p.m. daily. Pros will tow their boats in front of the crowd and stage, step onto the stage and talk about their time on the water. On Friday, July 28, pros describe what and where and how they caught their big catches.

One race to watch is the Tommy Docks Regional Champion's race. Second-year pro Tom Gatzke, Merrill, Wisconsin, leads with 161 points. He won the opener. Another Wisconsin pro, Tom Kemos from Oconomowoc is 18 points behind, while Colorado pro Ron Gazvoda is in third with 140 points. The top five are rounded out by Minnesota pros Rick Franklin, Park Rapids, and Ernie Olson, Foley. The Tommy Docks Champion will receive $5,000.

The Lowrance Pro-Am still has a few amateur/co-angler openings. Pros provide all the gear and tackle necessary to catch fish, and since the fish caught by amateurs counts for pros (and vice versa), pros
want their partners to catch fish. Teaching is a big part of every day on the water. To enter, call the PWT home office at 218-829-0620. Or, check in at PWT headquarters in Mobridge Monday or Tuesday, July 24-25. That phone contact is 605-845-2322.

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, the Mobridge Chamber of Commerce; 605.845.2387