Walleye pros to take the stage at Bismarck Civic Center

BISMARCK, N.D. -- The nation's top walleye pros gather here for the $100,000 Professional Walleye Trail championship Sept. 13-15.

Leading the pack of 45 qualifiers onto the Missouri River will be Wisconsin pro Gary Gray, who won this year's Angler of the Year award for weighing the most pounds of walleyes over six qualifying tournaments. Wisconsin leads the way with 12 anglers in the field, followed by Minnesota with 10, Michigan with 6, North Dakota and South Dakota with four apiece, Iowa. Illinois and Ohio with two apiece, and Colorado, New York and Wyoming with one apiece.

Locally, Ted Takasaki, East Gull Lake, is the only qualifier. Takasaki is seeking his second championship title.

The field also includes defending two-time champion Ron Seelhoff, Burlington, Colo., and Rick LaCourse, Oregon, Ohio. Ten anglers are fishing their first championship and three are rookies, including Rick Walter, Casper, Wyo., Keith Segar, Muskegon, Mich., and Jeff Russell, Grand Haven, Mich.

Weigh-ins begin at 4 p.m. daily and an adjacent sport show gives fans a chance to look over new boats and fishing equipment. The first 500 kids on Day One will receive a tackle pack. On Day Two the first 500 get a Plano tackle box and on Day Three the first 500 win a Pinnacle/Silstar spinning rod and reel.

PWT Championship contestants: Gary Gray, Oshkosh, Wis., Pete Harsh, Sauk Centre, Minn., Perry Good, Eagan, Minn., Kim Papineau, Escanaba, Mich., Todd Frank, Pulaski, N.Y., Norb Wallock, Conover, Wis., John Kolinski, Menasha, Wis., Mark Brumbaugh, Arcanum, Ohio, Rick Olson, Mina, S.D., Gary Parsons, Glidden, Wis., Bill Ortiz, Dodgeville, Wis., Dave Hanson, Bemidji, Minn., Keith Kavajecz, Kaukauna, Wis., Tommy Skarlis, Walker, Minn., Eric Naig, Cylinder, Iowa, Dan Stier, Pierre, S.D., Doug Burns, Estherville, Iowa, Dave Kraft, Bismarck, N.D., Ted Takasaki, East Gull Lake, Minn., Mike McClelland, Pierre, S.D., Daryl Christensen, Montello, Wis., Rick LaCourse, Oregon, Ohio, Tony Puccio, Madison, Wis., Mike Gofron, Antioch, Ill., Jeff Taege, Rhinelander, Wis., Scott Fairbairn, Walker, Minn., Johnnie Candle, Devils Lake, N.D., Will Lage, Rapid City, S.D., James Myszkewicz, Burlington, Wis., Mark Broderick, East Bethel, Minn., George Barach, Barryton, Mich., Bruce Samson, Cambridge, Minn., Dean Miller, Stevens Point, Wis., Jimmy Bell, Ham Lake, Minn., Bill St. Peter, Bay City, Mich., Les Vietz, Bismarck, N.D., Dan Plautz, Muskego, Wis., Rick Walter, Casper, Wyo., Keith Segar, Muskegon, Mich., Jim Peterson, Elk River, Minn., Jeff Russell, Grand Haven, Mich., Tom Backer, Fargo, N.D., Ron Seelhoff, Burlington, Colo., Mark Martin, Twin Lake, Mich., Rich Sidor, Clarendon Hills, Ill.

Schedule of Events

Saturday, Sept. 8 -- First Day of Practice (launch at any ramp)

Sunday, Sept. 9 -- Pro-Am Celebrity Tournament (launch at any ramp)

Monday, Sept. 10 -- Third Day of Practice (launch at any ramp)

Tuesday, Sept. 11 -- Fourth Day of Practice

8 p.m. -- Fellowship of Christian Anglers meeting; Radisson Inn; guest speakers Al and Mary Lindner

Wednesday, Sept. 12 -- Final Practice Day

Thursday, Sept. 13 -- Championship Day 1

6:50 a.m. -- Opening ceremonies at Rifle Range ramp

2 p.m.- 9 p.m. -- Championship Sport/Outdoor Show, Exhibit Hall, free admission;

4 p.m. -- Weigh-in begins at Civic Center

Friday, Sept. 14 -- Championship Day 2

4 p.m. -- Weigh-in begins at Civic Center

Saturday, Sept. 15 -- Championship Day 3

4 p.m. -- Weigh-in begins at Civic Center

7:30-8:30 p.m. -- Social Hour for pros/press/observers/volunteers and sponsors, Radisson Inn Ballroom

8:30 p.m. -- Championship Banquet & Awards Ceremonies (ticket required), Radisson Inn Ballroom