PWT Walleye Anglers Open Season on Missouri River at Chamberlain,
April 4-6
The In-Fisherman Professional Walleye Trail returns to Chamberlain,
SD April 4-6. This is the fifth PWT trip to this popular Missouri
River tournament site. Fishing takes place on the river, with
daily weigh-in festivities at the Cedar Shore Resort marina.
Last year’s winner, Bob Propst, Jr., now living in Bode,
Iowa, but with deep roots growing up and guiding in the Pierre
and Chamberlain areas, said, “The bite’s getting good.
I expect it to peak at tournament time.”
The PWT pros, each paired with an amateur/co-angler partner, will
explore the waters from the Fort Thompson dam downstream to the
Highway 44 bridge. They will be fishing for $200,000 in cash and
prizes.
The winning pro and amateur both receive Lund/Mercury boat packages
in this Lund/Berkley Pro-Am.
The Chamberlain event is the earliest the PWT has ever fished
the Missouri River system, and opens the Regional series season,
which is presented by MotorGuide. The younger Propst will be joined
in the field by his dad, Bob, Sr, Pierre, who has been guiding
and winning tournaments for four decades. Bob Sr. has also been
inducted into the National Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame as
a legendary angler.
Propst, Jr. said, “I expect the shallow bite to be iffy,
but the deeper bite should be productive. But, with the warmer
weather, the walleyes could move shallow at any time. This will
be a great challenge.” He predicted the “deep”
fish might be caught vertical jigging in 20 to 30 feet of water
on sand or channel breaks. He said lead core trolling with crankbaits
would play a part, which is the method Tom Backer, Fargo, ND used
to win the 2002 tournament.
In 2004, winner Mike Kulm, Rapid City, SD, cast crankbaits near
the dam, while 2001 winner Mark Martin, Twin Lake, Mich., jigged
for his fish shallow. Propst won by pitching jigs with PowerBait
Power Minnows right against the bluff banks.
Advice from Propst, “Old spots may not work this early.
Watch for some eight and nine-pounders.” Results are fun
when viewed from the Cedar Shore lawn, but can also be accessed
from the Mercury Real-Time Leaderboard on the PWT website, www.professionalwalleyetrail.com
<http://www.professionalwalleyetrail.com> . When anglers
cross the stage, starting at 3 p.m. daily, their weights are posted
immediately.
The PWT is an integral element of the In-Fisherman Communications
Network headquartered in Baxter, Minnesota, and INTER-MEDIA, America's
leading producer of targeted media. PWT promotional partners include:
Mercury Marine, Lund Boats, Berkley, Lowrance Electronics, Optima
Batteries, Minn Kota, Realtree, MotorGuide, Johnsonville Brats,
Outdoor Channel, Coleman, Northland Fishing Tackle, StowMaster,
Reef Runner, Yo-Zuri Quality Lures, Smooth Moves Seat Mounts,
Kwik Pfyt Mud Flaps, Yellow Bird Planer Boards, Allstar Graphics,
Ram Mounts, Element Edge, Pflueger, Plano Tackle Systems, Aikens
Lake Wilderness Lodge, E-Cell, Cannon, Fin-Tech Tackle Company,
Do-It Molds and the Chamberlain/Oacoma Chamber at 605-234-4416
and Cedar Shore Resort, 605-734-6376.
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