Finally! Fish For FLW
Category: Tournament
May 18th, 2005 by OutdoorsFIRST
Modified May 18th, 2005 at 12:00 AM
The Wal-Mart FLW Walleye Tour has taken its lumps over the first half of the season. Such maladies as a low field turnout and an even lower fish count at Bull Shoals and another short field along with brutal conditions and a relatively small amount of fish caught at Port Clinton have plagued this lucrative tour. Times, however, look like they are changing. Reports of plenty of 4-to 6-pound walleyes in the bay, along with the occasional 7-to 8-pounder being hoisted aboard the tour boats during pre-fish, have provided that spark and hopefully, the excitement that these events usually provide. Many locals feel the FLW timed this event perfectly.Pzrekurat Feels GoodEvinrude/Gander Mountain pro and former Angler of the Year Jason Pzrekurat has a positive outlook for the Green Bay event.”I’m feeling pretty good about this tournament,” he said. “I’ve got four spots I have consistently been able to catch good fish. I’ve been getting the 4-to 5-pounders plus the occasional 7-pounder I’ll need to make it to the finals.”Stickin’ CloseLong runs are not advised by Pzrekurat.”I’m fishing relatively close to the launch site,” he said. “the fish I’ve located are not too far away. I feel that making really long runs will definitely limit your abilities to catch the fish you need in this event. More time fishing and less time running should pay off.Shallow ‘EyesWhile some anglers will certainly probe the depths for trophy walleyes, Pzrekurat plans on staying shallow.”I will be pulling spinners for sure,” he said. “I’m looking for the warmest water and that happens to be in the shallows. This is where I’ve found the fish and I’m sticking with it, unless something changes. I know I can get the quality fish I need.”His shallow walleyes are also in areas without much additional pressure.”I’m not fishing in the crowds,” he said. “This is not Lake Erie, where a large group of anglers can work a big pod of fish and catch them. If you get 20 boats in an area here, there are not enough fish to go around, especially over four days. The spots I’ve been fishing don’t have the pressure.”Quick BitesPzrekurat knows you can only make one mistake. “We are allowed to put 6 fish in the livewell,” he said. “We can weigh 5 fish. That allows for one mistake, one smaller fish can be kept. You better make sure your 5 fish are the biggest fish you can weigh.”His call for making the final round is 28 pounds of walleye per day.He is currently ranked 17th in the World Walleye Rankings and 2nd in the FLW Angler of the Year points race.