Fargo fisherman wins PWT Western Pro/AM

CHAMBERLAIN, S.D. -- After five seasons on the trail, Tom Backer, Fargo, N.D., claimed his first Professional Walleye Trail victory May 10 when he weighed 42.37 pounds, beating Gil Mollet, Jefferson, S.D. by 8 pounds.

Backer's victory came at the Western Pro/Am on Lake Francis Case, a Missouri River reservoir in the Chamberlain area. Backer won by trolling tiny white Walleye Divers and Shad Rap (shad pattern) crankbaits on lead core, concentrating on the 13- to 17-foot depths on the channel edge about 6 miles south of Chamberlain. Most competitors either trolled crankbaits or used livebait rigs with minnows.

The winning amateur was Steve Anderson, Lincoln, Neb. Pro John Butts, Dryden, Ontario, boated the biggest fish of the tournament, a 9.7-pounder. Butts also advanced 108 places to win the "Cool Under Pressure" award. His final day catch of 17.93 pounds earned the "Heavyweight" award. Butts placed third overall.

The top 10 pros from the West Division will qualify for the PWT Championship in September. Backer leads the race with tournaments remaining at Leech Lake (May 22-24) and Devils Lake (July 10-12). Amateur openings remain for Devils Lake.

The PWT's remaining East Division tournaments are at Lake Winnebago (June 19-21) and Saginaw

Bay (July 31-Aug. 1-2) .

Tommy Skarlis, Walker, holds the lead in the Angler of the Year race despite finishing 66th at Francis Case. But Michigan pro Kim Papineau is just a pound back and Wisconsin's Gary Gray is just 3 pounds behind.

At Francis Case, 40 pros caught limits each day and 2,117 walleyes were caught over the three-day tournament.

PWT Western Pro/Am

Lake Francis Case, S.D.

May 8-10, 2002

Final Pro Results (money winners only)

1 Tom Backer, Fargo ND, 42.37 pounds, $52,000

2 Gil Mollet, Jefferson, SD, 34.37, $15,000

3 John Butts, Dryden, Ontario, 33.12, $10,000

4 Kim Papineau, Escanaba MI, 32.16, $8,100

5 Will Lage, Rapid City, SD, 31.55, $6,500

6 Duane Tencate, Sioux Falls, SD, 31.25, $5,500

7 Gary Roach, Merrifield, MN, 30.62, $5,200

8 Dave Anderson, Apple Valley, MN, 30.23, $5,000

9 Gary Parsons, Glidden, WI, 29.98, $4,700

10 Scott Handel, Chamberlain, SD, 29.85, $4,600

11 Scott Fairbairn, Walker, MN, 29.62, $3,800

12 Doug Hartle, Calgary, Alberta, 29.55, $3,400

13 Eric Naig, Cylinder, IA, 29.28, $3,400

14 Scott Ziegler, North Platte, NE, $3,400

15 Ron Seelhoff, Burlington, CO, 29.03, $3,200

16 Dan Stier, Pierre, SD, 28.81, $3,200

17 Doc Johnson, Denver, CO, 28.78, $3,000

18 Mark Martin, Twin Lake, MI, $3,000

19 Jimmy Bell, Ham Lake, MN, 28.66, $2,800

20 Bob Souter, Sioux Falls, SD, 28.50, $3,100

21 Lee Pulse, Kimball, SD, 28.50, $3,100

22 Bill St Peter, Bay City, MI, 28.49, $2,800

23 Andrew Kuffer, Fair Haven, MI, 28.41, $2,800

24 Dale Kuklinski, Adell, WI, 28.35, $2,800

25 Dave Randash, Dilworth, MN, 28.29, $2,800

26 Marc St Martin, Circle Pines, MN, 28.22, $2,600

27 Kevin Herbert, Berthoud, CO, 28.18, $2,600

28 Sam Anderson, Inver Grove Hts., MN, 27.89, $2,600

29 Bill Ortiz, Dodgeville, WI, 27.79, $2,600

30 James Randash, Rapid City, SD, 27.69, $2,600

31 Barry Walker, Big Springs, NE, 27.52, $2,000

32 Lance Lemmen, Coopersville, MI, 27.40, $2,000

33 Kevin Kraft, Maple Grove, MN, 27.11, $2,000

34 Mike Gofron, Antioch, IL, 26.90, $2,000

35 Les Vietz, Bismarck, ND, 26.81, $2,000

36 Dave Hanson, Bemidji, MN, 26.56, $1,100

37 Steve Bissett, Garrison, MN, 26.50, $1,100

38 Mark Brumbaugh, Arcanum, OH, 26.38, $1,100

39 Richard Mealey, Westerville, OH, 26.11, $1,100

40 Byron Peterson, Blair, NE, 26.09, $1,100

41 Mike Woodard, Frazee, MN, 26.09, $1,100

42 Darold Swank, Pierre, SD, 26.07, $1,100

43 Jim Peterson, Elk River, MN, 25.87, $1,100

44 Ernie Olson, Foley, MN, 25.75, $1,100

45 Gary Gray, Oshkosh, WI, 25.70, $1,100