| "PEWAUKEE LAKE MAKES MUSKIE HISTORY"
With a full field of 60 teams, 120 anglers competed in the WMT's Pewuakee Lake muskie tournament on Saturday, May 10th. For the first time ever, one team would win $10,000.00 in a one day muskie tourney making tournament fishing history. On the day, 60 teams would be fishing for more than $20,000.00 in cash and prizes, not including angling for a $30,000 Ranger boat from Heckel's Eagle River Marina.
Perfect fishing conditions greeted the anglers on Saturday and the muskie response was positive. It didn't take long for the team of Chad Strutzel and Steve Imhoff to tally a 39 1/4" muskie at 6:30am closely followed by a 35" muskie at 6:35am by Dan Peckels and Steve Miljat. 1st place would change hands when the next muskie measured at 7:40am by Tom Perdzock and Jeff Geise at 44 1/2 inches.
Steve Imhoff and Chad Strutzel would recapture 1st place at 10:01am when they measured a 41" lunker. Their lead would be challenged when the team of Jeff Pomplun and Tim Cerny measured muskies of 38 1/2" and 41 1/2", but they would fall short by 1/4 of an inch. Imhoff and Strutzel's lead would falter when the team of Rick Busalacchi and Paul Meier would measure their second muskie of the day, a 44 1/2" beauty at 3:35pm to go along with their earlier 36 incher.
All in all, 17 muskies would be tallied with the additional muskies being caught by: Bill Ramsey and Jim Corbet measuring a 34 1/2", Jake Trussoni and Tim Thuemling capturing a 43 1/2 incher, Ken Soviak and Richard Runnings tallying a 36 1/2", Tony Lucchesi and Jeff Schroeder with a 37 1/2 incher, Mark Sankey and Mike Koepp measuring a 34" muskie, John Slaton and Bryan Stewart with a 38 1/2 incher, Charlie Buhler and Dennis Radloff capturing a 37 1/4" muskie, Jim Ernst and Rob Ernst measuring a 40 1/2 incher, and capturing the big fish honors was Doug Dollhopf and Scott Krohn with a 48 1/2" monster.
The tournament paid down 5 places:
1st place- Rick Bussalacchi and Paul Meier
2nd place- Chad Strutzel and Steve Imhoff
3rd place- Jeff Pomplun and Tim Cerny
4th place- Doug Dollhopf and Scott Krohn
5th place- Tom Perdzock and Jeff Geise
Local sponsors of the WMT's Pewaukee tournament are: The Golden Anchor, Smokey's Muskellunge Shop, Firehouse Pub and Grill, Curley's Waterfront Sports Bar, Wood on the Water Lures, Musky Magic Tackle, Pebblebrook Homes, Steve Mijat Muskie Prints, Hook Setters, Heckel's Eagle River Marina, G.Loomis, Miller Brewing, and Fittante Taxidermy.
The next muskie tournament for the WMT will be on May 17 & 18 at the Madison Chain of Lakes. Entries are still being accepted for the Madison tournament. The tournament is open to the public and additional information can be obtained by visiting the WMT's web site at www.WMTseries.com , e-mailing the WMT at [email protected] or by calling (715)369-1394. Entries will also be accepted between 5:00pm and 7:30pm Friday night May 16 at Christy's Landing on Lake Waubesa.
Thanks and have a great season,
Tom McInnis |
