Black and Graham Win Three Lakes "Badgerland Open Championship"™

The Wisconsin Muskie Tour™ (WMT) hosted the first "MAJOR OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP"™ of the 2010 season on the Three Lakes Chain during the weekend of June 19th and 20th. The WMT's Three Lakes "BADGERLAND OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP"™ produced twenty three muskies on Saturday and twelve muskies on Sunday for a total of thirty five muskies for the event.

Even though a slight cold front passed through the area the Friday before the tournament, dropping the overnight temps to 59 degrees, the muskies were willing to bite and the action would start right from the "opening gun". At 6:29am, Nate Osfar and Steve DeVitt would start off the tournament day of steady fishing measuring 36.25 inches. The largest muskie of the day, and of the tournament, was captured by the father and son team of George and Andy Kingsland at 6:41am with an impressive 46.50 incher. The first team to double up for the contest would come at 9:43am when Ivan Stross and Jeff Piazza scored on a 34.75" muskie to add to their earlier tally of 36 inches at 7:57am. John and Andy Meyer would be the next team to score on two muskies for the day at 12:45pm when they measured a 42.50 incher, that when added to their previous catch of 40 inches at 8:04am, would give the brothers the first day lead that would hold up for day one. Shortly after, at 1:00pm, Randy Peyer and Joe Malanche would register their second for the event with a 35.75" muskie to add to a catch of 39 inches at 10:48am. Two teams that needed to get on the board on the first day of competition, so they could add on to their totals come Sunday, would be Ryan Bock and Tyler Maney scoring on a 34.50 incher at 1:01pm and Kevin Black and Phil Graham at 2:54pm with a 36.50" muskie. The importance of scoring at least one fish the first day would be demonstrated by both teams the following day of competition. The final team to score on two muskies would be Bill Hill and Scott Chisholm with a 36.50 incher at 9:28am followed by a dandy 43.75" muskie at 3:53pm. Sunday, started much like the previous day not only weather wise, but also the continuous muskie action throughout the day. At 6:15am, the team of Bock and Maney scored on their second of the contest, a 43 incher, putting on the heat for the Meyer brothers who lead the contest after day one. Nate Osfar and Steve DeVitt would be the sixth team to tally multiple fish for the tourney at 6:37am when they measured a 43 incher of their own. Black and Graham would join in on the fun of scoring two muskies for the contest at 9:05am with the biggest muskie of the day, a 43.25" incher, but the duo wasn't done, as they would tally their second of the day and their third of the contest at 10:56am and 41 inches. Fishing alone for the tournament, Gene Erickson would score on a 40" muskie at 9:30am and with his Saturday total of 34.75 inches at 11:47am, became the eighth team to add inches. The last team to "score two", for the event would be Mark Lijewski and Clay Schroeder when they added their 38" muskie at 10:26am, to their previous catch of 36.50 inches at 11:10, Saturday.

Other anglers to score on muskies Saturday during the WMT's Three Lakes "BADGERLAND OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP"™ were: Greg and Tom Kliss 35.75" at 6:49am, Jim Olson and James Holloway 37.25" at 6:53am, Bob Rockowski 36.75" at 8:26am, Brad Wirt and Kurt Hagen 34.25" at 8:44am, Gary Tutaj and Jeff Venne 39.75" at 9:59am, Gene and Dan Schulz 41" at 9:52am, Blake Hering and Steve Piper 36" at 10:31am, Phil Markgraf and Randy Kauranen 35.50" at 11:58am, and Peter Huettl and Chris Sinnott 39" at 2:47pm.

Other anglers to tally muskies on the final day of the WMT's Three Lakes "MAJOR OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP"™ were: Greg Stubbe and Ryan Marbatovics 34.50" at 7:57am, Bob Dekker and Randy Pearson 35.75" at 8:21am, Tim Rutzen Sr. and Jr., John Bennett and Brent Kiedrowski 36.50" at 10:44am, and Rick Hess and Scott Clanton 35" at 10:58am.

The WMT’s Three Lakes "BADGERLAND OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP"™ top eight finishers were:
1st - Kevin Black/Phil Graham
2nd - Ryan Bock/Tyler Maney
3rd - John & Andy Meyer
4th - Bill Hill/Scott Chisholm
5th - Nate Osfar/Steve DeVitt
6th - Randy Peyer/Joe Malanche
7th - Gene Erickson
8th - Mark Lijewski/Clay Schroeder

The next tournaments for the WMT are "MUSKIE DOUBLE HEADER"™ events on Lake Mohawksin August 14th and Boom Lake on the 15th. There are still some spots open for these very popular tournaments. If you would like to fish the Lake Mohawksin tourney, you can sign up for the event on Friday, August 13th at Sara Park on the shores of Lake Mohawksin between 5:30pm and 7:30pm. Registration for Boom Lake will be at the Dog House Bar and Grill on Saturday, August 14th between 6:30pm and 7:30pm 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. The 2010 season registration forms are now available online, or call for an application.

Sponsor partners for the 2009 Wisconsin Muskie Tour season are: Rollie & Helen's Musky Shop, Tooth Tamer Rods, Fittante Taxidermy, Tackle Industries(Super D), Hawg Seeker Tackle, Suick, Bait Rigs, Worden’s Lures, Yakima Bait Co., Bobbie Bait Muskie Lures, Cat’s Tails Lures, RJ Lures, Skimmer Lures, HellRaiser Tackle Co., Musky Armor, Mud Puppy Lures, Trophy Hunter Glittertail Musky Lures, Musky Mayhem Tackle, Dreamcatcher Bucktails and Tackle, River Run Tackle, Ducktail Lures, Inhaler Lures and Tackle Co.