The PMTT Ranger Boats World Championship on Lake Minnetonka outside of Minneapolis, Minnesota, opened with warm, mid 80-degree air temperatures and water warming back up into the 60s with high blue skies. To say this made the muskies a bit lethargic is an understatement, but even with a tough bite, you can’t put the PMTT’s top 50 teams on the same water and not expect some good fish to be caught.
Todd Radke of Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin, and Nathan Leverance of Stoddard, Wisconsin, won first place in exciting fashion by being the only team to register fish on both days. On Saturday they caught a 47 1/4-inch musky on a Bull Dawg and on Sunday landed a 41 1/4-incher on a Double Cowgirl.
Neither angler had ever been on the lake before the tournament. They cast shallow weedbeds and inside weed edges to entice the fish. For their accomplishment they won a brand new 2011 Ranger 619 Fisherman boat, powered by a Mercury Outboard and Ranger Trail Trailer, worth more then $36,000.
Second Place went to Cesar Saucedo and James Reiter of Mundelein, Illinois, who caught and released two muskies that measured 42 and 42 3/4 inches. Their lure of choice was purple and blue spinner bait. They worked the baits slowly over weeds in the bays in 12 to 15 feet of water just above the weed tops.
Third place and big fish of the day for Sunday were won by Dan Lewein of Waukesha, Wisconsin, and Greg Haluska of West Allis, Wisconsin, with a 51-inch beast of a fish. They had seen the fish Saturday but it would not bite, so they went back Sunday and she was still there and hit almost right away. They concentrated on small weed points off of the main lake main points.
Fourth place and Saturday’s big fish of the day for Saturday went to Steven Rusteberg of Milwaukee and Ron Bowman of Carol Stream, Illinois. The two anglers caught their fish, a beautiful 49-incher, on a jerkbait. In fifth place were Mike Pecosky of Oregon, Wisconsin, and Tony Puccio of Verona, Wisconsin with a 48-inch musky on a Viper jerkbait.
The PMTT’s prestigious Top Gun/Team of the Year Award was also finalized at this event. It is given to the most consistent team throughout the PMTT season. The 2010 Top Gun Team of the Year is Troy Zuelzke of Watertown, Minnesota, and Josh Borovsky of Bloomington, Minnesota.
The anglers commented that to stay on the top throughout the year you have to keep your lure in the water and learn as much as you can about the lakes you fish. The two anglers are the first team in the PMTT’s 12-year history to catch a musky in every event, a huge feat. They received a nice large trophy and a check for $2,666 for their accomplishment.
In second place in the top gun standings were Mark Lijewski and Clay Shroeder of Hazlehurst, Wisconsin. Rounding out the top three is the team of Troy Bilbrey of Wyoming, Minnesota, and Jason Summers of Lino Lakes, Minnesota.
Tournament Director Tim Widlacki thanked all of the PMTT’s fantastic sponsors, especially Ranger Boats for their continued support of not only the PMTT but musky fishing in general. Also thanks to Mercury Marine, Musky Hunter Magazine, Keyes Outdoors Television, Eagle River Area Chamber of Commerce, Rollie & Helens Musky Shop, Musky Mayhem Tackle, Crash’s Landing, Chaos Tackle, Morehead Kentucky Tourism Commission and all the associate and contributing sponsors.
To obtain more information on becoming a member of the upcoming 2011 PMTT, or to view event photo album, please visit them on the Web @ www.promusky.com or call the PMTT office @: 815-478-4351