Hometown Walleye Pro Takes PWT Lead on Lake Winnebago

Oshkosh, Wisconsin.....Hometown walleye professional angler Gary Gray fished his favorite spots to take the lead in the MinnKota/Mitchell Mideast Pro-Am on Lake Winnebago today. Gray's catch, 25.08 pounds, was the largest of the tournament through the first two days. His total is 39.67 pounds. The In-Fisherman Professional Walleye Trail event concludes with weigh-in ceremonies on the Pioneer Resort lawn, 3 p.m. Friday.

Gray is a PWT winner, and during his career, has averaged $2,834 per PWT tournament fished. He has 11 top 10-place finishes, including half a dozen third place trophies. He has won many Lake Winnebago and other team tournament titles. He won the prestigious Miller/In-Fisherman Angler of the Year title last year and leads again this season.

Day one leader Mike Gofron, Antioch, Illinois, the 2001 PWT Championship winner, limited again, but slipped to second with 37.98 pounds. Quin Papp, West Allis, Wis., is third with 36.66 pounds. On the amateur side, Ross Hosking, Gray Lake, Ill., leads the field. Amateurs fish each day with a different pro, accumulating their three days of walleye weights. The top amateur wins a Lund 17-foot walleye boat equipped with a Mercury outboard on an Eagle Trailer. The top 40 amateurs win merchandise prizes Friday.

The 40 winning pros start with a $53,000 first prize; second wins $15,000; third collects $10,500; fourth nets $9,500; fifth gets $8,500; for a total payout of nearly $250,000.

The Oshkosh event is the fourth tour stop, with Devils Lake, North Dakota, July 10-12, and Saginaw Bay, Michigan July 31-Aug. 2. Amateur openings exist in both, and entry blanks are available on the PWT web site, www.in-fisherman.com, or by calling PWT headquarters, 218-829-0620.

As a result of tournament catches, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources biologists collect significant data which show trends in walleye populations, year-class strengths, condition of the fish and returns of fish tagged during spring surveys. The biologists from the Oshkosh office have been conducting these surveys and assisting with catch and release efforts for the past 10 years. Throughout the tournament, 82 percent of the walleyes have been released. Approximately 400 fish have been weighed daily, or about two and one-half fish per boat per day.

The hot, humid day started with southerly winds which switched to the west, then calmed to nothing, with reports of late afternoon fish cooperating. Many anglers are trolling crankbaits and spinner/nightcrawler rigs for suspended main lake walleyes. Others are pitching jigs at shorelines or testing the river currents.

Miller High Life Big Fish of the day was a tie at 6.57 pounds with Gray catching one and amateur Jim Muzynoski, Jr., Bozeman, Montana catching another. The big fish pays $1,000 daily, with the largest overall walleye, currently a 7.90 pounder caught by amateur leader Hosking on day one, worth $3,000.

The PWT is part of The In-Fisherman Communications Network and PRIMEDIA, Inc., America's leading producer of targeted media. PWT sponsors include: Aqua Vu, Berkley PowerBait, Berkley Trilene, Blue Fox Tackle, Carhartt, Coleman, Cotton Cordell, Daiichi hooks, Dee Zee, Drift Control, DuBro Pro Services, Eagle Trailers, Gander Mountain, IMCO Boat Buckles, Leer, Lindy Little Joe, Lowrance Electronics, Lund Boats, Lund Intl, Mack's Lure, Matzuo, Mercury Outboards, Miller High Life, MinnKota, Mitchell reels, Rapala Lures, Northland Tackle, Oceanwave sunglasses, Pinnacle rods, Plano, RAM, Raymarine, Realtree, SealSkinz, Storm Lures, Yamaha all terrain vehicles, and Pioneer Resort & Marina 800-683-1980, the Oshkosh Hilton Garden Inn 920-966-1300 and Oshkosh Convention & Visitors Bureau 877-303-9200.