PWT Pro Gary Roach Leads Day One at Mobridge Tournament
Category: Tournament
Jul 27th, 2005 by OutdoorsFIRST
Modified Jul 27th, 2005 at 12:00 AM
One of the most well-known walleye anglers in North America, Gary Roach, captured the day one lead at the Mercury/Johnsonville Brats Pro-Am. Roach, popularly referred to as “Mr. Walleye,” found an In-Fisherman Professional Walleye Trail (PWT) 5-fish limit on expansive Lake Oahe at Mobridge, SD.The best walleye fishermen in the world fish the PWT tour, and at Mobridge this week the fishing sort of followed the weather. From temperatures soaring above 100 degrees during pre-fishing to a Monday cold front with a 40 degree drop in temperatures, the walleyes seemed cooler on day one, July 27. Despite a “tough-bite,” pros and amateurs/co-anglers managed to catch 75 limits.Fishing with bottom bouncers and various live bait and PowerBait or Gulp! offerings, or trolling crankbaits, anglers fished from the Highway 212 bridge to the Dakota border, about 70 miles of river. After weigh-in festivities, Roach, Merrifield, Minn. and his amateur partner Roger Svebakken, Spring Valley, Minn. scored 13.41 pounds. Svebakken said, “Several years ago Gary told me at a seminar that fishing the PWT was the best learning opportunity in the world. After a day in the boat with him, and with seven other PWT tournaments under my belt, he’s right.”Holding second place is pro Bobby Crow, Paterson, Wash., and amateur/co-angler Guy Edwards, Charles, City, Iowa. They netted 13.26 pounds. Veteran pro Keith Kavajecz, Kaukauna, Wis. and amateur/co-angler John McFarland, Fremont, Neb. scored 12.66 pounds. Rookie pro Jason Tomich, Omaha, Neb. Is in fourth with 12.63 pounds. He fished with amateur/co-angler David Evert, Bloomington, Minn.The Coleman Big Fish $1,000 honors went to pro Jeff Taege, Rhinelander, Wis. and amateur/co-angler Kyle Middleton, Des Moines, Iowa. It weighed 5.71 pounds. Jacksonville Angler of the Year leader Mike Gofron, Antioch, Ill. caught 8 pounds, but with two more days remaining, many pros are within striking distanace. Angler of the year pays $35,000 if the winner drives a Mercury Outboard; $25,000 otherwise. The daily weigh-in ceremonies take place west of Mobridge at the Bay Resort, Thursday and Friday, starting at 3 p.m. With the cooperation of the Mobridge Chamber of Commerce, the Grand River Casino, the tribe and dozens of volunteers, the drive-thru weigh-in ran smoothly. Anglers utilized the Indian Creek Recreation Area to launch and motored to the Bay Resort to show the walleye fans the results of their efforts. The fans also saw the colorful boats and talked with pros about how their boats were rigged. The PWT works closely with the Mobridge Chamber of Commerce(605-845-2387) and the Grand River Casino (605-845-7104) 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.