The third event of the 2010 Professional Musky Tournament Trail took place on the historical Chippewa Flowage this past weekend with 150 anglers competing in the tournament. Weather conditions the weeks leading up to the tournament were very rainy to say the least. The rainfall produced some of the highest water levels in the flowages history.
Saturday was relatively nice with 80 degree air temperature with a cold front approaching for Saturday night into Sunday. You could anticipate that someone was going to get into them and get into them they did. There were a total of 28 muskies caught, 14 muskies caught on Saturday and 14 muskies caught on Sunday.
The team of Scott Donovan and Chris Riebe both from Illinois found a small bay with a cold water inlet pouring into it. This must have helped draw baitfish into the bay which helped draw the muskies into the bay also. The two anglers caught 5 muskies that were 36, 39.25, 43.25, 43.50, and 45 inches. Their presentation was Llungin Lures buck tails. The most incredible thing about their catch is that the two did not catch a fish on Saturday. The two gentlemen caught all 5 fish in one day on Sunday which was a first for any team to catch that many fish on day 2 in a PMTT event!
The team that pulled through with the win is no strangers to winning tournaments. The two anglers were the prestigious top team (top Gun) on the PMTT in 2009. The two savvy anglers took home the first place trophy and also a check for $10,880.
Second Place went out to Scott Kieper and Guy Mittlestadt of Stone Lake, WI… Their presentation consisted of throwing heavy Bulldogs over deep water structure with baitfish. Kieper said that the anglers had to make their lures stick out from the baitfish. In turn this means working the bait very violently to get the fishes attention.
This paid off for the two anglers who also caught the big fish of the day award with a 43.25? caught on Saturday.
Third Place went out to Tom Olsen of Northern Illinois and Tanner Wildes local musky fishing guide of Hayward, Wisconsin. Their muskies were 34 and 45.25 inches in length. The two anglers used a presentation of cowgirl buck tails in weeds in flame green color.
Fourth Place went out to Jeff and Joe Anderson from Baxter and St. Cloud, Minnesota respectfully. A 40 and 37.75 inch muskies fell to this teams bait presentation. They chose casting depth raider crank baits to the deep edge of the weeds where it changed to rock making sure they were contacting the bottom with their lure as they retrieved it.
Fifth Place was taken by Del Colvin of Essex, IL and Jeff Kozlowski of Lemont, IL. The two anglers caught and released a 47.25 inch flowage beauty caught on a mafia spinner. The fish also made them the big Fish of the day winner for Sunday.
Tournament Director Tim Widlacki thanked all of the PMTT`s fantastic sponsors especially Flat Creek Inn and Suites that generously helped out at this event.Among other sponsors that we would like to thank for all of their help throughout the year are Mercury Marine, Ranger Boats, Musky Hunter Magazine, Keyes Outdoors Television, Rollie and Helen’s Musky Shop, Musky Mayhem Tackle, Crash’s Landing, Chaos Tackle, Eagle River Area Chamber of Commerce, Morehead Tourism Commission, Superior Douglas Chamber of Commerce, Barkers Island Inn, Comfort Inn and all of the associate and contributing sponsors. Please let these fine folks know that you appreciate their promotional efforts in support of freshwaters most challenging fish ? and those extreme anglers that chase her on the first, best and only National Musky Tournament Circuit…the PMTT!By: Duane Landmeir, PR Mgr
