Godin and Cestkowski Win WMT'S "Autumn Classic Championship"™

The Wisconsin Muskie Tour™ (WMT) concluded the regular season with the last of three "MUSKIE OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP"™ qualifiers for the 2010 tour on August 28th and 29th, on the Eagle River Chain of Lakes. There would be a total of twenty six muskies registered for the weekend event.

High skies and strong winds would make fishing difficult at best for the opening day of the event. However, even though once again the would barely be a cloud in the sky on Sunday, the reduced winds would allow the competitors to properly present their lures to the muskies and a total of ten muskies would be registered during the six hours of competition on the final day. Six teams would score on multiple fish for the contest leading with Jon Cestkowski and David Godin when they tallied muskies of 39 inches at 10:03am and 38" at 3:07pm,, along with a Sunday fish of 36.50" at 11:24am for a total of 113.5 inches. The second highest total would be landed by Marcus Malyuk and Ben Bain with their Saturday catches of a 40 incher at 7:26am and 41.25 inches at 1:33pm that totaled 81.25 points. Scoring on two muskies also on Saturday, was the team of Justin Gaiche and Jordan Kelbley with muskies of 42.50 inches at 9:47am and 35.75 inches on 3:36pm for a final score of 78 inches. Andy Jackson and Brandon Leinon would tally two muskies with the first coming on Saturday and measuring 42.50 inches at 6:31am and the second muskie landed on Sunday counting for 35.50 inches, totaling 78 points as well. The team to land two muskies on Sunday would be Jared Adamovich and Curt Priefer with muskies of 35.75 inches at 6:48am and 41 inches at 9:59am for a finishing score of 75 points. Tony Piantek and Bill Vierkandt registered a 35.50" muskie at 10:22am on Saturday, and a muskie of 34.25" inches at 8:55am on Sunday that landed the duo a sixth place finish with 69.75 inches. The largest muskie of the contest would also be the first muskie as well that was scored by Brian Krelle and Tim Miller at 6:21am and measured 43 inches.

Other anglers to score muskies during the WMT's Eagle River Chain "AUTUMN CLASSIC"™ "MUSKIE OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP"™ on Saturday were: Dan Buss and Todd Luedtke 38.50" at 6:41am, Chris and Deb Uttech 36.75" at 7:00am, Marty Forman and Seamus Hanley 40.50" at 7:22am, Mark Lijewski and Jeff Piazza 37" at 9:32am, Brad Wirt and Kurt Hagen 34" at 10:50am, Chuck Miesfeld and Bill Griffin 42.50" at 12:57pm, and Scott Spangle and Mike Jurgella 42" at 2:55am. Other teams to score on muskies Sunday were; Doug Steiner and Jim Rutkowski 38" at 6:27am, Scott Lewandowski and Dan Dassow 35" at 8:01am, John Bennett and Brent Kiedrowski 39" at 8:50am, Ken Mack and Dawson Usack 35" at 7:54am, and Chad Popp and Al King 36.50" at 9:30am.

The WMT’s Eagle River Chain "AUTUMN CLASSIC"™ "MUSKIE OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP"™ top eight finishers were:

1st - David Godin/Jon Cestkowski
2nd - Marcus Malyuk/Ben Bain
3rd - Jordan Kelbley/Justin Gaiche
4th - Andy Jackson/Brandon Leinon
5th - Jared Adamovich/Curt Priefer
6th - Tony Piantek/Bill Vierkandt
7th - Brian Krelle/Tim Miller
8th - Chuck Miesfeld/Bill Griffin

Even though the WMT's regular season has been completed, there is still one final chance for teams to qualify for the "WMT'S INVITATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP"™ at the second annual Three Lakes "MUSKIE SUMMIT CHAMPIONSHIP"™ September 11th and 12th. The winners of the Three Lakes "MUSKIE SUMMIT"™ will have an invite to the WMT's Championship. The WMT had to bring back the "MUSKIE SUMMIT CHAMPIONSHIP"™ because it was so popular last year, being the largest professional muskie tournament of the season, where the winners took home over $28,000.00 in cash. With a full field of participants, the Three Lakes "MUSKIE SUMMIT"™ will pay out $30,000.00 to the winners with a purse of over $45,000.00 There are still some spots open for the tournament with the Three Lakes Chain "MUSKIE SUMMIT"™ and it is open to the public. If you would like to fish the Three Lakes Chain event, you can sign up for the tourney on Friday, September 10th at The Big Stone Golf Course on HWY 32 in Three Lakes on Big Stone Lake, between 5:30pm and 7:30pm.

Teams competing in the Eagle River tournament that did well will go on to compete in the WMT'S INVITATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP™ on the Pike and Round Lake Chain just west of Minocqua on the last weekend of September. Anglers earning their place at muskie tournaments fishing most prestigious event, the WMT' "INVITATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP"™ will be fishing for the guaranteed $30,000.00 first place money and for the $42,000.00 purse. The full field of sixty six teams at the Championship will be finalized after the WMT's Three Lakes "MUSKIE SUMMIT"™ tournament.

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) 277-4411.

Local sponsor partners for the Wisconsin Muskie Tour Eagle River and Three Lakes tournaments are: Rollie and Helen's Musky Shop, Big Stone Golf Course, Pine Isle Pub, Tooth Tamer Rods, Fittante Taxidermy, Wild Eagle Lodge, Tackle Industries, Chanticleer Inn, and Eagle River Inn.