New York Pro Todd Frank Vaults to PWT Tournament Lead on Bull Shoals
Category: Tournament
May 11th, 2005 by OutdoorsFIRST
Modified May 11th, 2005 at 12:00 AM
Bull Shoals Lake, bordering Arkansas and Missouri, proved that reservoir walleyes are reservoir walleyes no matter where the In-Fisherman Professional Walleye Trail (PWT) contestants fish. For the 3-day Berkley/Lowrance Pro-Am May 11-13, they will compete for $300,000 on this popular walleye lake for the second year in a row. On day one, anglers fished from the dam upstream about 50 miles. Some were fishing in water as shallow as seven feet by casting crankbaits; others were trolling shoreline contours to 30 feet; while some trolled for suspended fish 40 to 60 feet down over 190 feet of water. New York pro Todd Frank took the lead with five walleyes that weighed 24.27 pounds. He was fishing with amateur/co-angler Larry Devors, Salesville, Ark. In 1999, Frank won the PWT tournament on Lake Oahe at Mobridge, SD. He has a seven-pound lead over second place pro Bill Ortiz, Richland Center, Wis. Pat Degan, Des Moines, Iowa fished with Ortiz for 17.43 pounds.Dan Stier, Pierre, SD has 17.11 pounds for third place. He fished with amateur Bill Brewer, Omaha, Neb. Pros Jim Muzynoski, Bozeman, MT and Gary Parsons, Glidden, Wis. weighed 15.37 and 14.99 pounds for fourth and fifth. One angler to watch this tournament is Gary Parsons’ son Chase (ag 21), fishing as a rookie pro this season. Chase ended day one in 12th place with 12.06 pounds. Last year’s angler of the year Tommy Skarlis, Dorchester, Iowa, finished day one in seventh place.Anglers fished all day in blazing sun, quite a change from the 40-degree temperatures of their last tour stop on the Fox Chain in Illinois. The Bull Shoals Lake water temperatures have been rising rapidly, after an unusually late spring in the Ozarks. It’s now in the 70-degree range. A total of 12 limits (5-fish) were landed. The 169 walleyes weighed an average of 3.08 pounds.The day two and three weigh-in festivities take place at Bull Shoals Boat Dock at 3 p.m. Thursday and Friday. The public is welcome. Photos are posted on the PWT website, www.professionalwalleyetrial.com, and available for down loading and use (with appropriate credits) by media. Bulls Shoals Boat Dock (870-445-4424), Bel’Arco Resort (870-44504242), and Bull Shoals Chamber of Commerce (800-447-1290) and these business partners: Mercury Marine, Lund, The Outdoor Channel, Berkley, Optima Batteries, Realtree, MotorGuide, Lowrance, MinnKota, Trilene, Frenzy, Blue Fox, Powerbait, Northland Fishing Tackle, Lindy Legendary Fishing Tackle, GULP!, Coleman, Storm, Boat Buckle, Smooth Moves Seat Mounts, Kwik Pfyt, E-Z Loader, Raymarine, Rapala, Matzuo, Pflueger, Ram rod holders, Gerbing’s Heated Clothing, Aqua-Vu, Save Phace, Plano, Stowmaster.net, Navionics, Access Roll-up Cover, Yellow Bird, DOW Chemical, Dave’s Lures, The State Bank Group, Yo-Zuri and Reef Runner. The PWT is an integral element of the In-Fisherman Communications Network headquartered in Brainerd, Minnesota, and PRIMEDIA, America’s leading producer of targeted media.