Clark and Tamulis Win The WMT's "Muskie Summit Championship™"

The Wisconsin Muskie Tour™ (WMT) hosted the first ever "MUSKIE SUMMIT CHAMPIONSHIP™" tournament on the Three Lakes Chain on Saturday and Sunday, September 12th and 13th. There would be forty two muskies registered during the two-day "MUSKIE SUMMIT CHAMPIONSHIP™" event with ten teams scoring on multiple fish during the event.

The first muskie of the day to be registered would come at 6:58am by the team of Neil Barnet and Bill Hill, when they tallied a 41.25" that would also be the biggest muskie of the day. The first team to double up for the day would be Ryan Bock and Tyler Maney at 10:16am when the duo scored on a 43.50" muskie to add to their 36.75" caught at 8:32am. The second team to tally two muskies on Saturday would be captured by Jerry Rzepka and Charlie Ross at 11:25am when they measured a 35.50" to go along with their 34.75" muskie at 9:16am. The next team to put two on the board would be Tim Rutzen Sr. and Jr. with a 37.25" muskie at 12:59pm and a 41.75" at 8:05am. Brandon Dunbar and Al Severson would measure two muskies also with fish of 36" at 7:43am and 36.75" at 1:23pm. The last team to double up for the day would be John Bennett and Chad Popp at 3:21pm scoring a 34.50" to add to their previous catch of a 37.50" at 12:25pm. Thirty two muskies would be captured during the first day of competition in what would be described as less than perfect fishing conditions.

Blue skies unseasonably warm temps and nearly a hint of a breeze continued as the conditions for the tournament anglers for the second day of competition but the weather would have little effect on the muskie activity as ten muskies would be registered for the day. The first muskie registered Sunday would come at 7:39am by Chris Clark and Frank Tamulis measuring 44", the largest fish of the day, and when combined with their catch on Saturday of 43.50" at 7:39am the duo would overtake the lead that they wouldn't relinquish. At 7:46am, Landy Roepke and Nick Helmich would be the seventh team to double up for the contest when they scored a 39.25" muskie to add to their previous days catch of 35.50" at 8:08am. Todd Luedtke and Bill Vierkandt would be the eighth team to score on two muskies at 10:37am with a 34.25" to add to their Saturday's 37" at 10:29am. Tony Warkoczewski and Marty Moser would join the teams with multiple fish at 10:32am, tallying a 38.50" muskie along with a 39" muskie at 11:26am, they would be the only team to score on two fish on the Sunday of competition. The final team to score on multiple muskies for the event was Al and Brad Wirt with a 35.50" muskie at 12:22pm on Sunday and a 42.25" muskie at 8:55am on the previous day's competition.

Other teams to score on muskies Saturday for the "MUSKIE SUMMIT CHAMPIONSHIP™" were: Lance Hemauer and Brad Burg 36.50" at 7:42am, Scott Kuharske and Joe Perry 34" at 8:07am, Don Groskopf and Dan Winkler 38" at 8:13am, Bob Cook and Bruce Ruberg 37.75"at 8:48am, Ben and Gary Zdroik 41" at 9:17am, Mark Gillich and Joey Rozanski 36,25" at 10:12am, Troy Hinchley and Eric Omit 34,25" at 11:46am, Tony Piantek and Art Anderson 35" at 11:54am, Dan and Mike Wojtusik 38,50" at 11:49am, Ivan Stross and Jeff Piazza 39,75" at 12:53pm, Matt Ebert and Larry Grems 34.75" at 12:58pm, Marty Forman and Mark Rottier 39.75" at 1:12pm, John Kleczewski and Mike Bruggink 39.75" at 1:21pm, Rick Anclade and Bill Goranson 35" at 2:25pm, Kenny Bowen and Rick Judd 40" at 2:42pm, Dave Schmitz and Chuck Bolton 41.50" at 3:20pm, and Brian Emmerich and Brian Kastner 37.25" at 3:33pm.< /p>

Other teams to score on muskies during the second day of competition of the "MUSKIE SUMMIT CHAMPIONSHIP™" tournament on Sunday were: Kevin Black and Phil Graham 36" at 10:22am, Ben Bain and Marcus Malyuk 36.50" at 11:04am, Andy Mann and Jeff VanRemortel 41" at 12:05pm, and Ken Kaegi and Joel Sass 40.75" at 12:18pm.

The WMT's Three Lakes Chain "MUSKIE SUMMIT CHAMPIONSHIP™" top ten finishers were:
1st - Chris Clark/Frank Tamulis
2nd - Ryan Bock/Tyler Maney
3rd - Tim Rutzen Sr. and Jr.
4th - Al & Brad Wirt
5th - Tony Warkoczewski/Marty Moser
6th - Landy Roepke/Nick Helmich
7th - Brandon Dunbar/Al Severson
8th - John Bennett/Chad Popp
9th - Bill Vierkandt/Todd Luedtke
10th -Jerry Rzepka/Charlie Ross

This was the first year that the WMT hosted the "MUSKIE SUMMIT CHAMPIONSHIP™" and it was a big hit with the competing anglers. Across the board, each angler loved the new format that made for a very exciting weekend of tournament angling.

The next tournament for the WMT is a "2009 WMT INVITATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP™" event on the Manitowish Chain the weekend of September 26th and 27th. If you would like to attend the "2009 WMT INVITATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP™"" tournament on the Manitowish Chain and talk first hand to 2009's top muskie anglers, the headquarters for the event are being held at Little Bohemia Lodge in Manitowish Waters on HWY 51 just one mile north of Greer's Pier.

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 & 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.