“Saginaw Bay in May has a nice ring to it,”
said Jim Kalkofen, In-Fisherman Professional Walleye Trail executive
director,as he announced the next Mercury Championship. The Dow
Chemical Company will present the prestigious event for the elite
performers from the 2007 PWT season, May 16-18, 2008.
The PWT pro anglers competing right now will qualify if they place
in the top 30 in the Johnsonville Brats Angler of theYear competition,
or are in the top 20 in the Regional series race. Dow will work
directly with the PWT to highlight the greatresources, water quality,
fishery, and people in the many Michigan communities who live
on Saginaw Bay and the rivers thatfeed it.
“I am grateful for the opportunity that Dow provides me
to balance my work and personal time in the demanding world ofprofessional
walleye fishing,” says Mark Gwizdala, Dow employee and participant
on the PWT circuit. “This event willbring national attention
to the Saginaw Bay and mid-Michigan, as well as the outstanding
fishery and resources we have inthis part of the state.”
Fishing will take place on the Saginaw River and Saginaw Bay.
The Mercury Championship weigh-in, stage festivities,Sport Show,
Outdoor Festival, youth interactive activities, and more will
take place at The Dow Event Center in Saginaw,Michigan. All events
are free to the public.Championship week festivities are planned
in Midland, Bay City, Saginaw and other local communities. The
area is rich in
history and the outdoor-related pursuits have deep traditional
roots among the 250,000 residents living in the area. Walleyesare
the PWT game, and Kalkofen said, “With great fishing in
the rivers and the Bay, the pros will not have to travel far tocatch
fish.”
The Dow Chemical Company, Travel Michigan, regional tourism councils
and Convention and Visitors Bureaus are workingclosely to handle
the media and fans who will attend. Shirley Roberts, director
of the Bay City Convention & VisitorsBureau said, “In
2008, Bay City, Midland, Saginaw and other area communities will
host the PWT. The tremendous walleyefishery, with record numbers
of naturally-reproducing walleyes, will result in large catches
for the fishermen and great photo opportunities for the outdoor
press.”Previously scheduled commitments will keep Gwizdala,
a past Championship qualifier, from qualifying for the 2008 championship.Therefore,
he will chair local Championship activities.
This will be the third time the Mercury Championship has been
held on Saginaw Bay, and the fourth time in 18 years that theChampionship
has been held on a Great Lake. In 1991, the Championship was headquarted
in Bay City, and in 1995 it was at Au Gres. It was on Lake Erie
in 1992.
About PWTThe PWT is an integral element of the In-Fisherman Communications
Network headquartered in Baxter, Minnesota, and InterMedia, 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, The DOW Chemical
Company, 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, & Do-It Molds.www.professionalwalleyetrail.com.
About Dow Dow is a diversified chemical company that harnesses
the power of innovation, science and technology to constantly
improve what is essential to human progress. The Company offers
a broad range of products and services to customers in more than
175 countries, helping them to provide everything from fresh water,
food and pharmaceuticals to paints, packaging and personal care
products. Built on a commitment to its principles of sustainability,
Dow has annual sales of $49 billion and employs 43,000 people
worldwide. References to "Dow" or the "Company"
mean The Dow Chemical Company and its
consolidated subsidiaries unless otherwise expressly noted. More
information about Dow can be found at www.dow.com. |
