Mercury Marine's Summer Challenge
Eagle River, Wisconsin
June 25th & 26th, 2011

Pecosky & Puccio Win Mercury Marine Summer Challenge on Eagle River Chain!
 Light Line & Small Baits Equal Big Fish!

Click Here for the 2011 Eagle River Tournament Photo Album

Click Here for a complete list of Teams that caught fish

Click Here for details on the Eagle River Chain Event  

  

                                                  Event Big Fish - 48.5"                            Sunday Big Fish - 43"
                                                  Mike Pecosky & Tony Puccio              Mike Pecosky & Tony Puccio

Final Results - PMTT Q-2 @ Eagle River Chain, WI June 25th & 26th, 2011

Field safely released - 42 fish -  Sat 23 & 19 Sun - Event BIG FISH - 48.5 inches

 

Pecosky & Puccio Win PMTT - Mercury Marine Event
PMTT Press Release Editor,
Duane Landmeier

A warm front and stable weather made the fish turn on for the second qualifier of the 2011 Professional Musky Tournament Trail, Mercury Marine’s Summer Challenge that was held on the Eagle River Chain in Northeast Wisconsin on June25-26. There were 98 boats entered in this annual event that is hosted by the Eagle River Area Chamber of Commerce. Under bright skies & temperatures in the high 70’s, the anglers registered 42 muskies up to 48.50” during the tournament. The PMTT Mercury Marine Summer Challenge was won by the team of Mike Pecosky of Oregon Wisconsin and Tony Puccio from the same area, a team that used a normally unconditional way of catching muskies.

Puccio & Pecosky fished 8- 10 feet of water where a long point came out from an underwater hump that extended towards the shoreline. The two ripped the small crank baits through suspended bait fish and newly developing scattered cabbage weed beds. Pecosky & Puccio also used smaller diameter line that was 30 pound strength but the size of 8 pound mono on spinning gear to get their small 3” crank baits down deep enough into the bait fish and weeds. The anglers fought the fish slowly because of the small hooks and light tackle that they were using. The muskies that were 48.50 and 43.00 inches in length were also the big fish of the day for both Saturday and Sunday. The triumphant team took home the first place hardware and over $15,000 in cash.

In second place were two anglers from Illinois, Dennis Sweeney of Coal City and Dewey Stewart of Pawnee. The two gentlemen cast copper and black bucktails while holding the boat in 10-12 feet of water and casting to a 4 foot deep main lake weedbed.. The two anglers came upon a spot late on Saturday that they had never fished on the chain and lost two fish that they had on. They returned to the spot on Sunday and caught three muskies measuring 40.50”, 39.50”, and 34.00” and took home the 2^nd place trophies and a check for more than $3,500.

In third Place were Ryan Bock and Tim Rutzen of Three Lakes, WI.  The two local angler’s casted small chartreuse and fire tiger colored baits in shallow water while moving the baits fast to entice their fish of 41.25” & 38”. In Fourth Place was Jerome Morris of Minneapolis, MN. and Jake Bucki of Medford, WI. The muskies that the two anglers boated were 39.25” and 33.25”. The two men used Double Dawg lures, allowing them to sink to the bottom and then ripping them out of the weeds to trigger strikes.  Rounding out the top five was Chad Popp of Wausau, WI. and Brent Kiedrowski of Minocqua, WI. The anglers used Bulldawgs in walleye color to entice their fish of 42.75” & 31.75”.

Tournament Director Tim Widlacki thanked all of the PMTT’s fantastic sponsors, especially Mercury Marine and the Eagle River Area Chamber of Commerce. Also thanks to Ranger Boats, Chaos Tackle, the Morehead Tourism Commission, Musky Hunter Magazine, Keyes Outdoors Television, Rollie & Helens Musky Shop, Musky Mayhem Tackle, Crash's Landing, Birch Villa Resort and all the associate and contributing sponsors. Please let these fine folks know that you appreciate their promotional efforts in support of freshwaters most challenging fish … and those extreme anglers who chase her on the first, best and only truly National Professional Musky Circuit…the PMTT!

To obtain more information on becoming a member of the PMTT, or to view event photo album, please visit them on the Web @ www.promusky.com or call PMTT office @: 815-478-4351