Meyer and Meyer Win WMT's R.A.M.M. Cup Open Championship

The Wisconsin Muskie Tour™ (WMT) second "OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP™" event of the season was held on the Manitowish Chain on Saturday and Sunday, August 21st and 22nd. There would be nineteen muskies registered during the two-day "R.A.M.M.CUP OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP™" qualifier.

The first muskie of the day to be registered would come at 6:44am by the team of Nate Osfar and Steve Devitt, when they tallied a 37.50". At 8:06am, the father and son team of Tim and Tom Mathu would land the largest muskie of the first day, a 42.50" muskie. Osfar and Devitt would tally their second muskie of the day at 1:56pm with an impressive 42" muskie for a total of 79.5 points. Ivan Stross and Jeff Piazza would tally their own 42" at 3:23pm. The final muskie of the day would be captured at 3:56pm by the team of Randy Kauranen and Phil Markgraf that scored 38.75", fortunately for the duo, it was their second muskie of the day with their first coming at 12:16pm, measuring 34.25". When the day’s competition had completed, there would be a total of nine muskies registered.

Cold air temps and a light vale of fog greeted the competitors on the second day of competition but the weather would have little effect on the muskie activity as ten fish would be registered, one more muskie then the previous day. Forty two minutes after the start of the competition, Peter Huettl and Andrew Schmidt didn't waste time scoring on a 42.25" muskie at 6:42am, giving the team their second muskie of the event with their earlier muskie being tallied on Saturday at 10:56am that measured 35.75". Ron and Ryan Meyer would not even see a muskie on Saturday, but at 6:55am Sunday their fortunes would change when they scored on a big 43" muskie, however the brothers weren't finished. It only took two cast before the Meyers would land their second muskie of the day at 7:25am with a 38", giving the two 81 points and eventually the most inches by any team and thus the victory. At 7:47am, the team of Travis Kopke and Andy Grimm would tally a 41". The team of Ryan Bock and Tyler Maney would measure a 41.75" muskie at 10:15am. The biggest muskie to be measured at the "R.A.M.M. CUP OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP™" would be from the team of Mark Lijewski and Clay Schroeder that scored in at 48.75" at 11:26am. The final muskie of the competition would be measured by the team of Jason Baratka and Jason Weik at 11:51am that was an impressive 43".

Other teams to score on muskies Saturday for the "R.A.M.M. OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP™" were:

Dan Dassow and Scott Lewandowski 36" at 7:13am, and Ken and Keith Krejci 35" at 8:12am.

Other teams to score on muskies during the second day of competition, Sunday were:

Matt Raley and Jeff VanRemortel 39.50" at 7:12am, Chad Popp and Al King 39" at 11:30am, and Steven Piper and Blake Herring 39.50" at 11:49am.

The WMT's Manitowish Chain "R.A.M.M. CUP OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP"™ top ten finishers were:

1st - Ron & Ryan Meyer
2nd - Nate Osfar/Steve Devitt
3rd - Peter Huettl/Andrew Schmidt
4th - Randy Kauranen/Phil Markgraf
5th - Mark Lijewski/Clay Schroeder
6th - Jason Baratka/Jason Weik
7th - Tim & Tom Mathu
8th - Ivan Stross/Jeff Piazza
9th - Ryan Bock/Tyler Maney
10th -Travis Kopke/Andy Grimm

The next tournament for the WMT is a "MAJOR OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP"™ event on the Eagle River Chain this weekend of August 29th and 30th. There are still some openings for the Eagle River tournament. If you would like to fish the "AUTUMN CLASSIC OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP"™ tournament on the Eagle River Chain, you can sign up for the tourney on Friday, August 28th at Wild Eagle Lodge on the shores of Duck Lake between 5:30pm and 7:30pm.

If you are interested in becoming the next big winner, meeting a great bunch of men and women, and learning more about this great fresh water game fish, fish the Wisconsin Muskie Tour. For more information about the WMT, log onto www.wmtseries.com or call (715) 369-1394.

Sponsor partners for the 2009 Wisconsin Muskie Tour season are: Shoeder's RV & Marine, G Loomis, Fittante Taxidermy, Rollie and Helen's Musky Shop, www.SimplyFishingMagazine.com , Badger Sportsman Magazine, Tackle Industries(Super D), A-Team Tackle Company, Hawg Seeker Tackle, Ace Baits, Suick, Bait Rigs, Worden's Lures, Yakima Bait Co., Bobbie Bait Muskie Lures, Cat's Tails Lures, RJ Lures, Skimmer Lures, Beast Teaser, HellRaiser Tackle Co., Musky Armor, Mud Puppy Lures, Grim Reaper Lures, Esox Edge Custom Lures, Trophy Hunter Glittertail Musky Lures, Inhaler Muskie Lure, www.MonsterLures.net Musky Mayhem Tackle, Dreamcatcher Bucktails and Tackle, River Run Tackle, Ducktail Lures, Big Game Tackle Co. LLC., Figure Eight Lures, Inhaler Lures and Tackle Co., and www.BigTalesTaxidermy.com and Lures.