The Morehead Kentucky Tourism Commission, southern hospitality and sunny skies all made the first qualifier of the 2010 Professional Musky Tournament Trail an awesome event. With over 160 anglers from all over the country visiting Cave Run Lake on April 17th &18, the anglers caught and released 36 muskies up to 48″ in length.
There was a steady weather pattern during the days before the big tournament. This brought clear water conditions which most anglers prefer. But heading into the evening before, a small cold front blew through dropping water and air temperatures a bit. This left the anglers wondering how the muskies would react to the change. The answer was the fish may have gotten a more active.
The anglers competing fish different water and weather conditions all across the country which prepares them for different challenges that occur, so someone no doubt figures out a pattern. This held true as two gentlemen who have had some success at Cave Run over the years connected on 3 muskies ranging in size from 32″, 37″ and 38″. The anglers Russell Schneider of Harrison, Ohio and James Wells of Walton, Kentucky won first place by trolling crank baits under schooled up bait fish. Then as they thought their baits were going under and through the bait the anglers would let off on the boats throttle and allow their lures to float up a bit into the bait fish and then hit the throttle again which caused a reaction from the muskies to strike the bait. Two muskies fell to this pattern and one other fish was caught casting doing the same thing. The anglers were using AC Baits in shad and nine dollar bass colors. Many anglers on the lake said that they heard a celebratory loud elated person yelling Yahoo after the last fish was caught. Can you blame him for being excited? The reward for their efforts was two beautiful trophies and over $12,600.00.
Second Place of $2,900.00 was won by Clay Schroeder and Mark Lijewski of Minocqua, Wisconsin. These two anglers are not strangers to placing high in muskie tournaments. They are very persistent and intelligent anglers. The two anglers caught muskies that were 31.25″, 36″ and 37.50″. Their technique was casting deeper weed edges and timber edges with green jerk baits. Most of their strikes came right at boat side. Talk about exciting the thrill of a boat side strike will keep you on your toes.
Third Place went to Josh Borovsky of Crystal, MN and Troy Zuelke of Watertown, MN. The muskies that they measured were 36″ and 37.50″. The two fishermen were using white and silver spinner bait and a fire tiger crank bait to entice their fish. Fourth Place went to two local Kentucky anglers Bill Burns of Olive Hill and David Tate of West Liberty. These guys had a real good pattern going all week. The two had really nice fish located that they caught prior to the tournament. The pattern held true during the two day event they landed two muskies that were 36.25″.
Rounding out the top five were Anthony Smith of Powell County Kentucky and Joey Reed of Montgomery County in Kentucky. Their team caught a beautiful upper 20 pound 48″ musky that was also the big fish of the tournament. The fish was caught off of a deep point casting a blue and white Deep Invader crankbait. The Saturday big Fish of the day went to Brian Clepper of Circle Pines, MN and Chuck Snyder of Cambridge, MN who landed a tank at 46″.
Tournament Director Tim Widlacki thanked all of the PMTT’s incredibly fantastic sponsors, especially the Morehead Tourism Commission and the entire community of Morehead, Ky for their continued support and for hosting the event. In addition Ranger Boats, Mercury Marine, Musky Hunter Magazine, Eagle River Area Chamber of Commerce, Keyes Outdoors Television, Rollie & Helens Musky Shop, Musky Mayhem Tackle, Crash’s Landing, Chaos Tackle, Superior-Douglas County Chamber, Barkers Island Inn, Comfort Inn, the Musky Shop and all 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 who chase her on the first, best and only truly National Musky Tournament Musky Circuit, the PMTT.
To obtain more information on becoming a member of the 2010 PMTT, or to view event photo album, please visit them on the promusky website or call PMTT office @: 815-478-4351By: Duane Landmeir, PR Mgr
