North Dakota Pro Maintains PWT Top Spot at Sault Ste. Marie
Category: Tournament
Aug 26th, 2005 by OutdoorsFIRST
Modified Aug 26th, 2005 at 12:00 AM
After a strong finish on day one, Aaron Abaurrea, Fargo, ND, limited again to maintain his top spot after two days. With a 5-fish limit each day, his total of 36.55 pounds, gives Abaurrea a one-half pound lead over Jim Muzynoski, Bozeman, Montana. This is the final $300,000 qualifying event for the In-Fisherman Professional Walleye Trail 2005 tour.Abaurrea and Muzynoski crossed three and four states respectively beforeentering Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Like the best walleye tournamentanglers in North America, they traveled to Sault Ste. Marie to catch walleyes. They were competing in the Lund/Outdoor Channel Pro-Am on the St.Mary’s River, which empties from Lake Superior and flows to Lake Huron. The third and fourth place anglers remained the same, with Mark Martin, Twin Lake, Mich., in third, and Tom Backer, Fargo, ND in fourth. The top four are within one and one-half pounds. Friday’s weights will determine the Mercury Championship invitations and year-end awards.All activities take place beginning at 3 p.m. Friday, Aug. 26, at Aune Osborne Park, just downstream from the Soo Locks. The top amateur/co-angler is Peter Straton, Lyons Falls, NY. The winning amateur on Friday will tow home a $20,000 Lund/Mercury boat on an E-Z-Loader trailer.Most anglers fished the main river channels from a few miles below Sault Ste. Marie to Munuscong Bay. They also found fish in Lake George. Many tactics revolved around bottom bouncers and spinner rigs, dragged at specific spots and depths. The Coleman Big Fish of the day, 5.53 pounds, went to rookie pro Scott Cain, Midland, Mich., and amateur/co-angler Kim Schmidt, Clayton, Ind. They split $1,000. All eyes are on the Johnsonville Brats Angler of the Year race.Mike Gofron, Antioch, Ill, and Martin are only three points apart for the top spot, with the advantage to Gofron. Final results will determine the winner, with many pros in the running.Quality Inn & Suites (906-635-6918), Sault Convention Bureau (800-647-2858), Kewadin Casino (906-632-0530) and these business partners: Mercury Marine, Lund, The Outdoor Channel, Berkley, Optima Batteries, Realtree, MotorGuide, Lowrance, MinnKota, Trilene, Frenzy, Blue Fox, Powerbait, Johnsonville Brats, 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.