2011 PMTT Cave Run Re-Cap

The Professional Musky Tournament Trail kicked off its 2011 season at scenic Cave Run Lake in Morehead, Kentucky April 16 and 17 with the Chaos Tackle Spring Shootout. Cold front conditions with highs in the 50’s, high winds and record high water levels hampered fishing conditions. The water was between 18-23 feet above normal pool and rising. With the water rising three feet overnight each night the areas found pre-fishing were now 3-6 feet deeper. This in turn would make fish move to different areas making success difficult, as in any tournament this would make some anglers just try harder and succeed. Also with 90 teams of this caliber of fishing prowess there were bound to be fish caught.

Steve Genson of Springbrook, WI, who is co-host of Keyes Outdoors Television Show fished this event alone as his partner, Mike Keyes could not attend. Fishing alone for muskies can be difficult when you get a fish on, because of the weight of the musky, the nets are large and hard to handle with one hand. You also have the element of wind and running the electric trolling motor at the same time to control the boat location. If Genson connected on fish he would have his hands full. It turned out he had his hands full in a big way.

Genson ended up winning the tournament by catching a 30”, 31” and a huge 49” pre-spawn female musky. The 49” 30 pound plus fish was also the Big Fish for Sunday. This in turn awarded him the first place hardware and a check for over $13,000. After trolling most of the day on Saturday, Genson moved to shallow water to cast JB Rattler crank baits using a high retrieve speed to trigger his fish.

The long time PMTT father and son team of Matt and Dave Kircher of Cleveland, Ohio won second place. They trolled short lined crank baits in water that was 18-22 feet deep to entice their fish that were 35.50” and 41.00”. Jason Summers of Lino Lakes, MN and Troy Bilbrey of Wyoming, MN. took third place with muskies that were 35.50” and 38.50”. This annual top placing duo used a jig and baby squirko jerk bait in shallow water for their success.

In fourth place were Garth Darton and Jared Adamovich of Eagle River, WI. The two fishermen landed muskies that were 30.75” and 40” in size. These two anglers caught their fish on crank baits and hardhead jerk baits that were white in color in shallow water. Rounding out the top five places in 5th place was James Reiter and Ric Cummings. These two anglers caught a 41” muskie that was also the Big Fish for Saturday. The total number of fish caught in the event was 21 muskies up to 49”.