Meyer and Meyer Win WMT's Three Lakes Badgerland Open

The Wisconsin Muskie Tour™ (WMT) first "OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP™" event of the season was held on the Three Lakes Chain on Saturday and Sunday, June 6th and 7th. Conditions weren't exactly ideal for the anglers competing in the "BADGERLAND OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP™", but the muskies action would prove to be very positive as thirty seven fish would be measured during the two day qualifier.

The first muskie of the day to be registered would come at 6:25am by the team of Troy Shulfer and Scott Cisewski, when they tallied a 34.75 incher. By 7:30am, Ryan Bock and Tyler Maney would be finished for the day when they scored an impressive double of 38.50 inches at 7:30am to add to their previous catch of 43 inches at 6:46am. Bock and Maney's lead would evaporate at 8:03am when John and Andy Meyer captured their second muskie of the day, a 46" dandy that when added to their previous score of 41.25 inch muskie at 7:35am, gave the team a demanding lead. The third team to double for the event would come at 8:19am when Shulfer and Cisewski scored on their second measuring 41.25 inches. At 1:06pm, Tim Rutzen and Tim Miller would be the next team to put two muskies on the board with a 38", with the previous fish scoring 36.25" at 8:20am. The final team to double up on the first day of competition would be Neil Barnett and Bill Hill when they score muskies of 38.50 inches at 10:54am and 34.50 inches at 2:16pm. When the day's competition had completed, there would be a total of twenty one muskies registered.

Cold and rain, greeted the competitors on the second day of the event but that would not deter the anglers or the muskies at the action would be fast and furious. Fourteen minutes after the start of the competition, Dan and Mike Wojtusik didn't waste time when the scored a 37.75" muskie at 6:14am, but the team wasn't finished, as they scored their second at 7:23am with a 36 incher. By 6:54am, Meyer and Meyer would ice the competition when they score on a third muskie for the event with a 39.25 inch that would prove to be too strong of a triple for any other team to overcome. At 7:20am, the team of Tony Piantek and Perrin Sanderson would score on their second fish of the event, a 38" muskie to add to their previous days catch of 38.75 inches at 2:23pm. The next team to catch multiple fish for the "BADGERLAND OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP™" would be Mark Lijewski and Clay Schroeder with a 36.75 incher to go along with their Saturdays catch of 36 1/4" at 10:36am. At 8:47am, the second team to tally three muskies would come from Rutzen and Miller when they scored a 35.75 incher. Overtaking second place, just ten minutes later, would be Shulfer and Cisewski when they scored their third at 8:57am and measuring 40 inches. The final team to score three would be Barnett and Hill at 10:16am that measured 36.50 inches. At 10:27am, the team of Jake Bucki and Luke Pernsteiner would tally their second muskie of the day with a 34 incher, their first coming at 8:12am. The final fish of the tournament would also be the last team to score on multiple fish for the competition at 11:37am, when Jarrod Adamovich and Brian Krelle measured a 39" muskie to add to their first day's catch of a beautiful 45.50" muskie at 2:19pm.

Other teams to score on muskies Saturday for the "BADGERLAND OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP™" were:

Troy Hinchley and Eric Omit 39.75" at 7:01am, Marty Forman and Tom Huser 34.75" at 7:32am, Nate Osfar and Steve Devitt 37.25" at 7:46am, Mark Gillich and Joey Rozanski 39 3/4" at 9:25am, Don Grant and Bob Weeks 34.75" at 8:28am, Keith Krejci and Scott Schaefer 34" at 12:04pm, and Jason Weik and Jason Baratka 34.25" at 1:21pm

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

Todd Perigo and Gary Bushong 34.25" at 6:16am, Dan Sheehan and Scott Gindt 38.50" at 7:15am, Rob and Rod Kahl 37" at 8:06am, Caleb Deffner and Aaron Zastrow 39.75" at 10:58am, and Brian Garvin and Phil Schweik 36 1/2" at 11:33am.

The WMT's Three Lakes "BADGERLAND OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP"™ top ten finishers were:
1st - John and Andy Meyer
2nd - Troy Shulfer/Scott Cisewski
3rd - Tim Rutzen/Tim Miller
4th - Neil Barnett/Bill Hill
5th - Jarrod Adamovich/Brian Krelle
6th - Ryan Bock/Tyler Maney
7th - Tony Piantek/Perrin Sanderson
8th - Dan and Mike Wojtusik
9th - Mark Lijewski/Clay Schroeder
10th - Jake Bucki/Luke Pernsteiner

The next tournaments for the WMT are "MUSKIE DOUBLE HEADER"™ events on Lake Mohawksin and Lakes Minocqua and Kawaguesaga this weekend of June 20th and June 21st. There are still some spots open for each tourney. If you would like to fish the Lake Mohawksin tournament, you can sign up for the tourney on Friday, June 19th at Sara Park on the shores of Lake Mohawksin between 5:30pm and 7:30pm. Registration for the Minocqua and Kawaguesaga Lakes event will be on Saturday, June 20th at the Island City Lanes on HWY 51 in Minocqua, just south of the Minocqua bridge.

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 and 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.