PMTT 2013 Eagle River Qualifier

The musky-filled waters of the Eagle River Chain of Lakes in Eagle River, Wis., was the location of the PMTT Mercury Mercury Summer Challenge. This marks the 12th-consecutive year as the PMTT and Mercury Marine have made this an annual event hosted by the Eagle River Area Chamber of Commerce. Ideal water temperatures of seventy degrees with air temps in the low 80”s and cloudy weather conditions brought forty-one muskies to the net on Saturday. On Sunday high pressure with wind and sun made the bite a little tougher with only eighteen muskies caught. There were ninety-four teams registered to compete in the event.

The winning team of Jarod Adamovich and Jeremy Barber were both locals from Eagle River. The duo has had quite a bit of success in tournaments the last few years. Their goal this spring was to win the PMTT on their home water as Jeremy stated. They are no strangers to competition and know how to put the fish of their home water in the boat. These two up and coming fishermen caught four muskies measuring 31 ¾, 32, 32 ½, and 34 inches. They were using Medussa baits for three of the fish and a Suick for one fish. They were fishing around bait fish schools near the edge of weed beds. Their technique was to keep the rod tip high and snap the lure hard while working their baits. Adamovich and Barber won more than $13,000 and the 1st place trophies.

In second place with a 38 ½ and 43 ¼ inch were Spencer Berman and Matt Quintano of St. Clair Shores, Michigan. They were using small bucktails. In third place were David Mariacher of Buffalo, New York and Dave Anderson of Cambridge, Ontario. The two anglers caught a 39 ½ and a 41 ½ inch while using buck tails on the weed edge. In fourth place Brent Kiedrowski and Chad Popp of St. Germain, Wisconsin who caught their two fish in a one hour span. They caught their fish on natural colored baits on Catfish Lake. Rounding out the top five is the father and son team of Tim and Bo Czekala of Sugar Grove, Illinois caught a 34 ¼ and a 44 ½ inch using small bucktails while reeling the lure at a fast pace.

On Saturday the big fish of the day worth $500 went to Dave Brown of Superior, Wisconsin and Mike Keyes of Nekoosa, Wisconsin. The two anglers caught a 47 ¼ inch, with Sunday big fish honors going to Cody Hahner and Jordan Kozbley with a 44 ½”. All in all most of the teams at least saw fish or had one on even though the goal in muskie fishing is to catch fish sometimes having action from muskies is a good day.

For more information, please visit www.promusky.com