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09-16-2005, 11:13 AM
Pro walleye tourney comes to Milford
BY MICHAEL PEARCE
The Wichita Eagle
MILFORD RESERVOIR - From as far away as Montana and Ontario, 52 of the world's best walleye fishermen have come to Milford Reservoir.
After next Sunday, one will head home as the Professional Walleye Trail's 2005 champion. He'll also take back about $110,000 in money and prizes.
Most of the contestants began five days of pre-fishing Saturday morning.
"Yesterday was the first time I ever stepped foot in Kansas," said Mark Brumbaugh, of Pitsburg, Ohio. "We're probably all just trying to get to know the lake."
Jim Kalkofen, tournament executive director, said Milford was chosen so Kansans can get familiar with the professional tour, and so the professional anglers can get familiar with a different kind of fishery.
The 52 participants earned their way to the championship by placing in this year's six PWT regular contests, which were held at lakes in Arkansas, Michigan, Missouri, South Dakota, Illinois and Kentucky.
Kalkofen said the pros will compete Friday through Sunday, sharing their boat with just a non-fishing observer. Anglers will use no more than two rods at a time, and may keep only four walleye over the lake's 18-inch minimum length limit per day.
Their cumulative catches will be totaled on Sunday to determine the winner.
More than $350,000 in money and prizes are scheduled to be awarded.
The walleye fishing world's version of the Bassmaster's Classic, the 16th PWT championship is designed to draw, and entertain, a crowd.
"It's more than just for the pros to win the championship," Kalkofen said. "We'll have music, a big stage with a big production at the 4 p.m. weigh-ins, and a lot of displays. It's basically its own sports show. Each of those days we have special things planned for youngsters."
Next Sunday, for example, the tournament is expected to give away about 1,000 rod-and-reels to kids who attend the event held at the Milford State Park.
Several of the pros are scheduled to hold walleye fishing clinics around Junction City this week. Tuesday, they'll take soldiers from Fort Riley afloat for an afternoon of fishing.
Between those events, guys like Brumbaugh will be hustling to learn the ins and outs of late summer fishing at Milford.
At about 16,000 acres, Milford is believed to be the smallest lake to play host to a PWT event. Some tournaments have been held on huge waters like Lake Erie and South Dakota's Lake Oahe, which is 231 miles long.
Brumbaugh, who's competing in his 12th PWT championship, said the lake's size will make it easier to learn Milford's structure, but harder to find a spot or pattern that others don't know.
"We all first need to figure out the lake, then learn what triggers the walleyes to bite," Brumbaugh said as he trolled along a drop-off Saturday morning. "It's kind of like a new lake to everybody. Some guys fished it earlier in the year, but the June patterns are a lot different than September patterns."
By tournament rules, Milford's been off-limits to tournament anglers for about a month to even the playing field.
Kalkofen said the anglers sound confident, even though they don't totally know what to expect.
Brumbaugh agrees.
"Walleye fishermen are usually a lot more versatile than bass fishermen," Brumbaugh said. "To stay competitive enough to get here, we've had to be able to do it all. We can adapt."
He predicted anglers will employ tactics used wherever there are walleyes, including trolling with lead-core line to get baits deep.
Saturday he experimented with planer boards, which are flat, boat-like devices attached to the line to troll baits at long angles from the boat.
After only a few hours Saturday, Brumbaugh was already seeing some potential challenges.
His electronics showed many huge schools of tiny shad, which means the walleye don't need to be too aggressive to feed.
He wasn't pleased with Saturday's heavy winds. Even in his big, deep boat designed for rough water, Brumbaugh was repeatedly showered with waves coming over the bow as he moved from spot to spot.
"You never can control Mother Nature," Brumbaugh said, water running down his face after a drenching wave. "Right now, I'd have to say it may be our biggest challenge."
For tournament information, or to check on the competition after Friday's start, go to www.professionalwalleyetrail.com, and click on 2005 Mercury Championship.
http://www.kansas.com/mld/kansas/sports/12615935.htm
BY MICHAEL PEARCE
The Wichita Eagle
MILFORD RESERVOIR - From as far away as Montana and Ontario, 52 of the world's best walleye fishermen have come to Milford Reservoir.
After next Sunday, one will head home as the Professional Walleye Trail's 2005 champion. He'll also take back about $110,000 in money and prizes.
Most of the contestants began five days of pre-fishing Saturday morning.
"Yesterday was the first time I ever stepped foot in Kansas," said Mark Brumbaugh, of Pitsburg, Ohio. "We're probably all just trying to get to know the lake."
Jim Kalkofen, tournament executive director, said Milford was chosen so Kansans can get familiar with the professional tour, and so the professional anglers can get familiar with a different kind of fishery.
The 52 participants earned their way to the championship by placing in this year's six PWT regular contests, which were held at lakes in Arkansas, Michigan, Missouri, South Dakota, Illinois and Kentucky.
Kalkofen said the pros will compete Friday through Sunday, sharing their boat with just a non-fishing observer. Anglers will use no more than two rods at a time, and may keep only four walleye over the lake's 18-inch minimum length limit per day.
Their cumulative catches will be totaled on Sunday to determine the winner.
More than $350,000 in money and prizes are scheduled to be awarded.
The walleye fishing world's version of the Bassmaster's Classic, the 16th PWT championship is designed to draw, and entertain, a crowd.
"It's more than just for the pros to win the championship," Kalkofen said. "We'll have music, a big stage with a big production at the 4 p.m. weigh-ins, and a lot of displays. It's basically its own sports show. Each of those days we have special things planned for youngsters."
Next Sunday, for example, the tournament is expected to give away about 1,000 rod-and-reels to kids who attend the event held at the Milford State Park.
Several of the pros are scheduled to hold walleye fishing clinics around Junction City this week. Tuesday, they'll take soldiers from Fort Riley afloat for an afternoon of fishing.
Between those events, guys like Brumbaugh will be hustling to learn the ins and outs of late summer fishing at Milford.
At about 16,000 acres, Milford is believed to be the smallest lake to play host to a PWT event. Some tournaments have been held on huge waters like Lake Erie and South Dakota's Lake Oahe, which is 231 miles long.
Brumbaugh, who's competing in his 12th PWT championship, said the lake's size will make it easier to learn Milford's structure, but harder to find a spot or pattern that others don't know.
"We all first need to figure out the lake, then learn what triggers the walleyes to bite," Brumbaugh said as he trolled along a drop-off Saturday morning. "It's kind of like a new lake to everybody. Some guys fished it earlier in the year, but the June patterns are a lot different than September patterns."
By tournament rules, Milford's been off-limits to tournament anglers for about a month to even the playing field.
Kalkofen said the anglers sound confident, even though they don't totally know what to expect.
Brumbaugh agrees.
"Walleye fishermen are usually a lot more versatile than bass fishermen," Brumbaugh said. "To stay competitive enough to get here, we've had to be able to do it all. We can adapt."
He predicted anglers will employ tactics used wherever there are walleyes, including trolling with lead-core line to get baits deep.
Saturday he experimented with planer boards, which are flat, boat-like devices attached to the line to troll baits at long angles from the boat.
After only a few hours Saturday, Brumbaugh was already seeing some potential challenges.
His electronics showed many huge schools of tiny shad, which means the walleye don't need to be too aggressive to feed.
He wasn't pleased with Saturday's heavy winds. Even in his big, deep boat designed for rough water, Brumbaugh was repeatedly showered with waves coming over the bow as he moved from spot to spot.
"You never can control Mother Nature," Brumbaugh said, water running down his face after a drenching wave. "Right now, I'd have to say it may be our biggest challenge."
For tournament information, or to check on the competition after Friday's start, go to www.professionalwalleyetrail.com, and click on 2005 Mercury Championship.
http://www.kansas.com/mld/kansas/sports/12615935.htm