Houghton, Michigan.....Day one of the Mercury Championship proved that cold fronts affect even the world’s best walleye anglers. The In-Fisherman Professional Walleye Trail (PWT) Championship contestants fished the Keweenaw Waterway in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula Friday, Sept. 17.

They fished a day after a cold front pushed 55 mph winds through the region and dropped temperatures 20 degrees. Knowing the challenge, most pro anglers slowed down and rigged and jigged nightcrawlers as slow as they could. Leading the way, with an ultra-slow presentation was Grand Rapids, Minnesota pro Scott Glorvigen. His PWT limit of four walleyes weighed 14.09 pounds.

He leads second place pro Brad Davis, Jackson, Wisconsin by nearly three pounds. Montana pro Jim Muzynoski is in third with 10.93 pounds, while Minnesota pro Mark Courts is in fourth with 10.67 pounds. Green Bay, Wisconsin pro Carl Grunwaldt holds fifth place with 10.08 pounds. They are the only pros in double-digits.
Half the field had two or fewer fish.

The 51 pro contestants qualified by their success on tour this season. They were joined by the Mercury Top Amateur, Rick Willett-Johnson, Omaha, Nebraska, who blanked on day one. Eighteen pro anglers limited on Portage and Torch Lakes and connecting bays and canals. Keweenaw and Huron Bays were also open.

Glorvigen said, “With stable weather, I expect the fish will get back on their feeding patterns. I feel comfortable in this system; it’s a lot like northern Minnesota.” Second place Davis said, “My goal is four bites, and get ‘em in the boat.”

The Mercury Championship includes a Saturday and Sunday Boat & Sport Show presented by Moyle Construction. This will be inside the Gates Tennis Center starting at 10 a.m. each day. The daily weigh-in ceremonies take place at the Michigan Tech MacInnes Ice Arena starting at 4 p.m. All events are free to the public.
One youngster was heard to say, “This was like a rock concert, only with fish, and I like fish.”

On Saturday, the first 250 youngsters receive free Plano tackle boxes, and Sunday, the first 1,000 kids receive free Shakespeare spinning and rods and reels.

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. PWT sponsors include: Mercury Marine, Lund, Berkley Gulp!, The Outdoor Channel, Trilene, Optima Batteries, Realtree, MotorGuide, Mr. Clean, PowerBait, Lowrance, MinnKota, Frenzy, Gander Mountain, Blue Fox, Northland Fishing Tackle, Lindy Legendary Fishing Tackle, Coleman, Storm, Boat Buckle, Smooth Moves Seat Mounts, Kwik Pfyt, Beckman, Rejuvenade, E-Z Loader, Raymarine, Rapala, Matzuo, Pflueger, Ram rod holders, Drift Control, Aqua-Vu, Plano, Stowmaster.net. Copper Country Ford, Moyle Construction, MacInnes Ice Area and MTU Staff, Best Western Franklin Square Inn & Martineau & Morris Contracting.