Wisconsin angler leads wire to wire

FLIPPIN, ARK (August 11, 2016) Ranger Boats Pro Jason Przekurat won the Cabela’s National Walleye Tour Championship on Lake Oahe at Mobridge, South Dakota. The angler’s three-day total of 36.67 pounds netted a combined $88,566, including a fully rigged Ranger 621FS with 250 HP Evinrude outboard. 

Good wind on days one and two delivered a steady bite and respectable limits. Przekurat concentrated on four areas located in pre-fishing. The angler targeted deep walleyes staged around submerged cottonwood and willow trees in water approximately 100 feet deep. 

“I was targeting the outside river bend turns that came up on the flat,” said Przekurat. “The flat then intercepts the shoreline break. It’s a strong summertime pattern, it was just a matter of getting the baits to them.” 

Przekurat held a near seven-pound lead going into the final day. With calm waters, the bite enjoyed the previous two days disappeared. 

“I just had the feeling deep down like the bite was going to die down,” said Przekurat. “We had a good two-day blow and the fish actually bit real well. They don’t really do much when it gets calm.” 

Przekurat returned to a spot productive on previous days but failed to find any walleyes willing to bite. 

“I made a couple of passes through there and never had a bite,” said Przekurat. “It was one of those things where you can’t sit there and hope for the best. You got to make something happen.” 

Przekurat fired up his Ranger 621FS and made the run to a spot located during pre-fishing but had yet to tap into during the tournament. The angler boated a 14.5-inch walleye before moving on. 

“I didn’t go much farther and caught a 20.25,” said Przekurat. “Then I was feeling more confident. I had two in the box and an active school of fish but made four or five more passes and never had another bite.” 

Przekurat hopped spots but struggled to locate active walleye. Other competitors fought the finicky bite as well. 

“You could see boats flying here or there,” said Przekurat. “You can tell when you are on the water that they aren’t catching them. But, I knew I still needed more fish to win.” 

Przekurat made one last run back towards the launch and stopped midway to make a few passes over the shallow trees at Swan Creek – an area that had previously produced for the angler. In his first pass, Przekurat landed a 21-inch walleye to give him three fish in the livewell. 

Although second-place finisher Joe Okada brought in 12.85 pounds on the final day, Przekurat’s day-three total weight of 6.67 combined with the lead from his first two days proved insurmountable. The winner gave high praise to his Ranger 621FS, which he cited as crucial to his win. 

“You have to go back to the first two days where we’re faced with 20 to 30 mile-per-hour winds with gusts up to 40,” said Przekurat. “I’m making a 35-mile run. That’s no easy accomplishment. And once you get there, it’s fishable. I’m able to maintain boat speed and keep the baits where I need them.” 

Przekurat’s total winnings included a boat and motor upgrade due to his participation in NWT’s contingency programs. These programs give competitors the ability to compound their winnings into much larger purses. 

“The contingency programs from Ranger are unbelievable,” said Przekurat. “Plus, you get to fish out of the best boat in the business.”