For Immediate Release

First-Time Winner Terry Ryckman Claims
Lake Sakakawea $50,000 PWT Prize

Beulah Bay, North Dakota....After an hour’s worth of natural fireworks that delayed the start of the Lund Boats Western Pro-Am, the contestants headed out with expectations of another great fishing day on Lake Sakakawea. For one In-Fisherman Professional Walleye Trail (PWT) angler, Terry Ryckman, Toledo, Oregon, the fireworks occurred when he won $50,000.

Ryckman caught 17.39 pounds the final day of the June 27-29 tournament, for a 3-day total of 61.92 pounds. This is his first “money” finish in three seasons, while fishing the western division. The PWT pro-am format allows six walleyes per boat per day, which count for both pro and amateur. Finishing second was pro Rick Olson, Mina, SD, who made this his 16th PWT top 10 place finish. He weighed 60.58 pounds. They won $50,000 and $15,000 respectively.

Mike Kulm, Rapid City, SD placed third and won $10,000 with 56.70 pounds, while Mike Gofron, Antioch, IL won $7,500 for fourth. He had 56.63 pounds. The top amateur, Scott Kolling, Dickinson, ND, towed home his first prize Lund Boat, Mercury outboard and Eagle trailer valued at $12,500. A total of nearly $250,000 was awarded in front of a cheering hometown Beulah and Hazen, North Dakota crowd estimated at more than 1,000 spectators.

Anglers fished Lake Sakakawea from Deepwater Creek to the Highway 83 embankment and dam. The most popular method was jigging with crawlers or minnows in back bays in two to 12 feet of water. Rigging with nightcrawlers or leeches proved the ticket on main lake points, humps and shallow sand flats. Some crankbait trolling in the 12 to 16 foot depths proved effective.

Bass Pro Shops big fish of the tournament was 7.78 pounds, caught by Kevin Kraft, Maple Grove, MN on day one. He won $2,500. The final day big fish weighed 6.93 pounds and was worth $2,000 for pro Doug Burns, Estherville, Iowa. Local pro fishing his first PWT tour Jeff Zbasnik, Hazen, won $1,200 for a 6.05 pound walleye. Amateur Gary Bordewyk, Pueblo West, CO, won $1,025 for a 5.83 pounder, while a 5.78 pound walleye earned $950 for amateur Kirk Lauer, Bismarck, ND.

Winner Ryckman also netted the Storm Heavyweight award of $500, while amateur winner Kolling won $300. For advancing the most places, 92, pro Leon Houle, Little Canada, MN, won $1,000. On the amateur side, Royal Handegard, Almont, ND, moved up 112 places and won $600. Ryckman also won the T-H Marine Live Release $500 award for bringing the most releasable walleyes to the scales and placing the highest. Nearly 70 percent of the walleyes weighed were released. The remainder were cleaned and iced for a St. Martin’s Catholic church and St. Matthews Lutheran church youth benefit and fund raiser in Hazen.

A special award honored the Beulah Park Board for the reception they showed contestants. Bill Keller, president of the board, accepted the PWT “Host Award” for the extra efforts of Beulah Bay Park employees and the condition of the park. Earlier in the week, tournament committee chair Kay Ramsbacher, Beulah, ND was honored as the PWT “Key Award” winner for her efforts. Nearly 100 volunteers worked behind the scenes and welcomed the PWT event to Beulah and Hazen.

Bruce Samson, Cambridge, MN, placed first in the Dee Zee Western Division, winning a Yamaha ATV. Samson, winner of a PWT tournament last month, will lead the west division into the Championship. Also qualifying are pros Jimmy Bell, Ham Lake, MN; Les Vietz, Bismarck, ND; rookie Rick Walter, Casper, WY; Jim Peterson, Elk River, MN; and Tom Backer, Fargo, ND. They will compete with the top 30 pros who are fishing all six tournaments, the top six from the Dee Zee Eastern Division and last year’s Champion Ron Seelhoff, Lewellen, NE.

After four tournaments, the In-Fisherman Angler of the Year leader is Kim Papineau, Escanaba, MI. If he maintains that lead, he will win $10,000 cash and a Mercury outboard valued at $12,000. The PWT tour stops next in Sault Ste. Marie, MI, July 18-20, then heads east to Lake Erie with headquarters in Dunkirk, NY, Aug. 8-10, prior to the Championship.

The PWT is part of PRIMEDIA, Inc., America’s leading producer of targeted media headquartered in New York City. PWT sponsors include: Aqua Vu, Bass Pro Shops, Berkley PowerBait, Berkley Trilene, Blue Fox Tackle, Carhartt, Coleman, Cotton Cordell, Daiichi hooks, Dee Zee, Dodge truck, Eagle Claw, Eagle Trailers, Evercel, Flambeau, Guest chargers, IMCO Boat Buckles, Lindy Little Joe, Lowrance Electronics, Lund Boats, Mack’s Lure, Marinco, Mercury Outboards, MinnKota, Rapala Lures, Northland Tackle, Oceanwave sunglasses, Pinnacle rods and reels, Plano, RAM, Raytheon Marine, Real Tree, Shimano rods, Storm Lures, T-H Marine, Yamaha all terrain vehicles, Beulah Chamber of Commerce (701-873-4585), Hazen Chamber of Commerce (701-748-6848) and North Dakota Tourism (800-HELLO-ND).