Awards : PMTT 2003 Lake Shelbyville

LAKE SHELBYVILLE, ILLINOIS
April 5th & 6th, 2003

Original Article by - BOB “the FIN-ADDICT” OSBORNE
Director PMTT Public Relations / Press Release

"Shelbyville Lake, IL. Explodes as PMTT sets new all-time record!!"
"Duane Landmeier & Steven James Rusteberg win the Shelbyville qualifier!"
"Landmeier/Rusteberg edge Polman/Augustine in thrilling 2003 Season Opener!"

"Illinois’ own Duane Landmeier of Hinckley and partner Steven James Rusteberg from Naperville, put on quite a show, boating 3 fish totaling 120 inches (yes….. 10 feet!), 35.50” - 38.25” & 46.50“, taking the Saturday All-Star Rods “Big Fish” award, a rod and $500, the prestigious Ranger Cup check for another $500, the early lead in the “2003 Top Gun” points race, 1st Place trophy … and over $16,000 in cash, gamely holding an early lead on their way to besting a field comprised by more than 200 of the nations top-ranked professional and avid amateur Musky anglers, gathered at Lake Shelbyville April 5th & 6th to compete in the 2003 Professional Musky Tournament Trail’s season opening qualifier. This “knock-down-drag-out”, record setting event saw an almost unbelievable total of 49 Musky… in excess of 34 inches… caught, registered and released, breaking the previous tie of 48.

Day one saw an incredible total of 26 Musky caught & released with Lithia Springs, a cove in the southeastern corner of the lake near the dam accounting for the majority of fish contacted during this two day event as trollers dominated the field of 109 Teams. Many teams who were fishless on day one… caught fish, some doubling up, the second morning… others with fish the day before scored again! Soon it was obvious to even casual observers that this was going to be something special … and so it was! The facts were soon in coming as Tournament Director & PMTT Co-founder Tim Widlacki made the announcement that all awaited … 23 more fish were registered on Sunday! Incredibly, 1st through 8th places were ALL multiple fish efforts.

Many successful anglers were trolling crank baits at speeds commonly considered fairly “hot”, often surpassing the 4 m.p.h. range, tied to relatively short lines, only 40 to 50 ft. behind the boat in most cases, enabling them to work their lures at depths that were averaging from 8 to 12 feet, in/over/around the dense schools of baitfish that could be found in, or very close to, the central portions of Lithia Springs’ main creek channel. Fire-tiger color patterns seemed to prevail with chartreuse, white and yellows also being mention by many of the top finishers as producing good fish in the off-color water.

“This is a go to pattern on this lake… in this location… in one form or another … at almost any time of the year … and so no big secret. You take your chances”, said Matt Polman of Mt. Horeb, WI. who along with partner John Augustine of Appleton, WI. (one of the most successful Teams in the PMTT’s history), took home 2nd place honors. “Paying close attention to the lay-out of structure and contours is part of the key”, he went on to say, adding that he and partner John utilize their pre-fishing time studying structure… not fishing.

Duane Landmeier & Steven James Rusteberg, keyed on main lake points and hard breaking banks in the southernmost third of the system as they hunted for larger, unpressured fish that might be a bit more susceptible to a casting approach. A 6” Grandma lure in a crappie-like pattern was the “Big Fish” bait the first day, with the 46.50 incher it enticed being the largest single entry of this event, while adding a 38.25 inch back-up to their day one tally. Casting twitch baits… up onto the shore… of main lake points, stealthily pulling them into the water then working them back to the boat, Landmeier/Rusteberg again struck pay-dirt on day two, a 35.50 incher that “barred the door” and sealed their victory. “The strikes all came within the first couple of cranks of the reel.” said Steven James Rusteberg while sharing some of their winning strategies and tactics at the awards ceremony, “Really slamming the bait!”

The 3rd place Team of Steve Imhoff & Clark Bailey used blue Believers on an estimated 100 feet of line, citing an article they had read in Musky Hunter Magazine a few years ago covering the tactics used to win the first PMTT tournament that had been held here (Polman &Augustine), for helping them to land 39 & 39.75 inch fish.

Ranger Rep, Jason Parsons was on hand to voice continued support by Ranger Boats for this Trail, acknowledging the growth of professional Musky fishing and the PMTT. Illinois Chief of Fisheries, Mike Conlin, also spoke explaining some of the ideas behind the Green Gene Project, a forward-looking effort that is going to help insure the future of Musky fishing. As Tim Widlacki said during the closing ceremonies of this all-time record-setting event, “It just doesn’t get any better than this!”

A special thanks goes out to all of the major, associate and contributing sponsors, without whose continued support the PMTT’s success would be impossible. Ranger Boats, Mercury Outboards, Musky Hunter Magazine, All Star Graphite Rods, The Fishing Guide Show, Heckel's Marina, Crash's Landing, Inc., Morehead Kentucky Tourism Commission, Greater Madison Convention and Visitor's Bureau, Eagle River Area Chamber of Commerce and Visitor's Center, Break on the Lake Resort and Birch Villa Resort. We ask that you would consider returning that support by patronizing their fine products and services.

Anyone interested in more information regarding the Professional Musky Tournament Trail’s other qualifiers should contact Tournament Director: Tim Widlacki at the www.promusky.com Website or call (815) 264-3228"