2010 PMTT Ranger Boats Championship Recap

The PMTT Ranger Boats World Championship on Lake Minnetonka outside of Minneapolis, MN was a great event to say the least. Warm mid 80 degree air temperatures and water warming back up into the 60’s with high blue skies made the fish a bit lethargic. Even with a tough bite, you can’t put the top 50 teams from throughout the year on the same body of water for a weekend and not expect some good fish to be caught.

Todd Radke of Wisconsin Rapids and Nathan Leverance of Stoddard, WI won first place in exciting fashion by being the only team to register fish on both days. On Saturday the two anglers caught a 47.25” muskies on a Bulldawg. The team needed just one fish 40” or greater to win the championship and on Sunday their wish came true as they landed a 41.25” on a Cowgirl Bucktail. The two anglers had never been on the lake before the tournament. They cast shallow weed beds and inside weed edges to entice the fish. Congratulations to these two fine young anglers as they succeeded in winning one of the most competitive tournaments, “Ranger Boats World Championship”, that North America has to offer while fishing against 100 of the best musky anglers. For their accomplishment the two won a brand new 2011 Ranger 619 Fisherman Boat, Powered by a Mercury Outboard and Ranger Trail Trailer worth more then $36,000.

Second Place went to Cesar Saucedo and James Reiter of Mundelein, IL. The two anglers successfully caught and released two muskies that were 42.00” and 42.75” in length. Their lure of choice was purple and blue spinner bait. They worker the baits slowly over weeds in the bays in 12’ to 15’ of water just above the weed tops.

Third Place and Big Fish of the day for Sunday were won by Dan Lewein of Waukesha, WI. and Greg Haluska of West Allis, WI. These two anglers caught a 51” beast of a fish. They had seen the fish Saturday and it would not bite. They went back Sunday and she was still there and hit almost right away as the fished small weed points off of the main lake main points.

Fourth Place and the Big Fish of the day for Saturday went out to Steven Rusteberg of Milwaukee, WI. and Ron Bowman of Carol Stream, IL. The two anglers caught their fish, a beautiful 49.25” on a jerk bait. In Fifth Place were Mike Pecosky of Oregon, WI and Tony Puccio of Verona, WI. The two anglers were fishing the first time and it turned out to be the charm. Their fish was a beautiful 48” muskie caught on viper jerk bait.

The end of the year award that all of these anglers strive for is the prestigious Top Gun Team of the Year Award, this award is given to the most consistent team that catches throughout the PMTT season.

The 2010 Top Gun Team of the Year is Troy Zuelzke of Watertown, MN and Josh Borovsky of Bloomington, MN. The anglers commented that to stay on the top throughout the year you have to keep your lure in the water and learn as much as you can about the lakes as you fish. The two anglers are the first team in the 12 year PMTT history to catch a muskie in every event throughout the year, a huge feat. They deserve the Top Gun award for their success. The pair also received a nice large trophy and a check for $2,666 for their accomplishment.

In second place in the top gun standings were Mark Lijewski and Clay Shroeder of Hazlehurst, WI. And rounding out the top three in third place is the team of Troy Bilbrey of Wyoming, MN. And Jason Summers of Lino Lakes, MN.