PMTT Chippewa Flowage, WI 2005

The legendary, spectacularly beautiful waters of Sawyer County Wisconsin's amazing Chippewa Flowage, home waters to Louis Spray's world record and, not surprisingly, many of this country's best known and accomplished Musky Hunters, served appropriate backdrop for the most exciting finish in Professional Musky Tournament history when John Steckel and partner Randy Machtan, both of Marshfield, WI. , triggered Musky of 36-¼, 36-½ & 44-½ inches Saturday, taking three of the 21 fish registered and released on day one to score the highest single day points total of the event to lead a field dominated by local anglers looking to disprove the "home waters jinx" myth.. winning the first ever tie-breaker for a 1^st Place Finish in PMTT history, claiming both the 2005 MUSKY HUNTER FALL MELTDOWN TITLE and over $15,000 cash!

"I have almost 17, maybe 18 years overall experience on these waters", shared a visibly excited John, who's Team is fast becoming a force with their second Top 10 PMTT in a row, with 7^th and Big Fish at the past Eagle River event! "Scouting the waters, baitfish, shallow water and barometric pressure where all important parts of the pattern. We came up two-and-a-half weeks ago and found deep suspended fish that were very lethargic in near 90-degree water. We felt the fish had moved shallow to follow the bait and utilize water that was now a more comfortable 69 to 70-degrees".

A mildly, yet understandably disappointed Paul Parise and Mike Etzel of nearby Ladysmith, WI. gamely added fish of 38 and 35-½ inches to their fat 43-½ inch first day effort to finish in a first ever dead-tie . only to lose to the day one leaders on total single day points. "We knew what they had yesterday , but were not sure how the extra points went and stuff or if they were catching fish. We knew it would be close and that we had to beat them outright because of their great catch yesterday and did not know whether we had it until the last second", said Parise who also added that tapering points, weeds and a steady diet of jerk baits in perch patterns were what worked in earning them the hefty $3,866 check and an exciting 2^nd Place finish.

Rounding out the Top Three, totally busting the old "home waters jinx" myth, well-known area Guide and creator of the Pacemaker top water lure, from Hayward, WI. Ty Sennet and Eau Claire partner JoDon Thompson claimed the 3^rd Place Trophy and $2,706 for the 36-½ & 39-¾ inch fish they registered. " I get out on the water every once in awhile", joked Sennet who has been an extremely successful guide on this system for 17 years. "I am glad to see everybody so excited by the size of the 36 fish caught here this weekend, but the truth is that the Big Girls are still about a month away from moving in". When asked by Tournament Director Tim Widlacki if the low water, almost down three feet, had been a factor Ty responded that it had been a pretty typical bite, with few follows; either they bite or you see few. "The trick is backing off a bit and fish weed edges, but you can't give up because you don't see fish, they just do not show themselves as often here . it's very typical".

4^th Place finishers, Phil Gutmann and Bob Blanke of the Chicagoland area also doubled to claim $1,638 using Mepps bucktails in outside weed edges to narrowly edge Duane Landmeier & Dana Smith of Hinkley and Senneca, IL respectively who threw Suicks and Crane baits into skinny water to locate their quarry and take 5^th Place and $1,546. "We are just very glad to have earned a berth at 'the big dance, Ranger Boats World Championship. even if it was at the last event . Man, we're going to 'Tonka!!"

Ranger Boats Representative Steve Lindahl was on hand to personally deliver the $1,000 Ranger Cup Check to Ron Haynes & Wally Prociuk who finished as the highest placing registered Ranger owner at 7^th Place with a heavy 45-¼ inch fish. Mr. Lindahl proudly announced that this brought the 2005 Ranger Cup Program pay-out-to-date . to a whopping $2.3 million! He also assured all in attendance that the highly anticipated unveiling of the newly designed 2006 Ranger 620 will take place, "on schedule", in about a month. Musky Hunter Magazine Editor, Jim Saric noted what an amazing increase there has been over the past seven years that they have been sponsoring the Pro Trail in the level and quality of competition. "From top to bottom, every man and women on this Trail can win any given event. No lead is safe . new tactics and techniques develop at almost every event . they always produce some quality fish. What a great group of anglers".

Special thanks go out to the fine folks at Ranger Boats, Mercury Marine, Musky Hunter Magazine, Heckel's Marine, Crash's Landing, Extreme Musky Expo, North Country Adventure Television and all associate and contributing sponsors, as well as Host Site Sponsors; Morehead Tourism Commission, Eagles Nest Resort, Eagle River Area Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Center, the Medina Entertainment Center and of course the Hayward Country Inns & Suites . without who's continuing support none of this would be possible today.

The final event will be the prestigious Ranger Boats World Championship on Lake Minnetonka, MN. October 15th & 16^th. The Top 50 Musky Anglers of 2005 will be invited to compete for both the Top Gun and Championship Title with a prize package that includes a 2006 Ranger 619 Fisherman - RangerTrail Trailer - 150 hp Mercury package ... plus cash ... totaling nearly $40,000*! Watch Fox Sports North Country Adventure Television beginning in January for this and all of the exciting PMTT Qualifying events. Learn from the Pros ... be a part of the action ... help show your support for Musky fishing. Anyone can join the PMTT and everybody is warmly invited to enter this fast-growing and addictively exciting competition. Keep your eyes open for upcoming 2006 schedule announcements and who knows . maybe you have what it takes to be the next World Champion?

To register or obtain more information on joining the 2006 PMTT or any individual Qualifiers, please visit them on the Web @ www.promusky.com or call PMTT Director, Tim Widlacki @ 815-264-3228

36 total Muskies caught, 16 40"+, with 7 Tigers including the 46 1/4" Big Fish of the Tournament.