Midwest Shootout
Fox Chain 'O' Lakes - Illinois
April 28th & 29th, 2007

CLICK HERE for the 2007 Fox Chain Tournament Photo Album

Click Here for a complete list of Teams & Fish caught.

                      
                           Ranger Cup Winner                        Event Big Fish - 46"                     Sunday Big Fish - 45"
                           Phil Gutmann & Ron Haynes    John Fisler & Dennis Sweeney     Chris Syslo & Steve Tescky

Ehrhardt & Nitchoff Win Fox Chain PMTT "Midwest Shootout"
 From Last to First - It's Never Over 'Til It's Over

Final Results - PMTT Q-1 @ Fox Chain 'O' Lakes in Antioch, IL April 28^th & 29^th, 2007

Click Here for details on the Fox Chain Event

120 Team Field - safely released 18 fish - 10 Sat & 8 Sun - Event BIG FISH 46 inches

Ehrhardt & Nitchoff Win PMTT on the Fox Chain!
Tournament Director,
Tim Widlacki

The 2007 season couldn’t have started off any more exciting with the first qualifier of the year for the Professional Musky Tournament Trail (PMTT). Hosted by the Village of Antioch & the Antioch Chamber of Commerce on April 28th & 29th, 2007 with the Fox Chain of Lakes in Northeastern, Illinois being the destination. 120 teams from 15 different states competed for almost $45,000 in cash and prizes during the two day event.

The weather conditions were a little less then favorable with fronts rolling through all week leading up to the event, followed by high skies during the two days of competition. With SW winds from 10-20 mph and air temps in the high 70’s, the anglers proceeded to register a total of 18 muskies during the two day event. Small baits worked through shallow water that was carrying temps into the mid fifties seemed to be the key.

The team of Tim Ehrhardt of Hinsdale, IL. & Constantine Nitchoff of Lemont, IL. fished shallow, 2 to 4 feet of water in search of active fish. After being skunked on day one, Ehrhardt & Nitchoff changed their presentation over to small walleye sized minnow baits and jerkbaits and caught two fish of 35 ½” & 38”. “We down sized, went shallow and worked the baits fast and very erratic”, stated Ehrhardt. Constantine continued, “We twitched and jerked the baits as erratic as we could to try and get the neutral fish into hitting”. Their two fish were more then enough to capture the win and a check for over $18,000.00

In second place were locals Phil Gutmann & Ron Haynes who also worked the skinny water with small crankbaits to boated two fish both at exactly 35 ¼” each, which gave them the lead after day one. Though they didn’t register a fish on the second day of the event, their two fish were good enough for them to take second place, an extra $1,000 for winning the Ranger Cup and a total of $5,560.00 for the event.

Third place went to John Fisler from MN & Dennis Sweeney of Coal City, IL. who boated the biggest fish of the event. Their 46 inch fish that ate a spinnerbait was very fat and probably approaching the 30 lbs. mark. For their efforts they took home the third place trophies and a check totaling $3,784.00.

Fourth place was taken by the team of Chris Syslo & Steve Tescky who caught the day two big fish of 45 inches and a check for $2,780. Following next in fifth place were a local team, brothers Chris & Eric Burseth. They boated a very heavy 43 ½ inch musky on a jig and took hook nearly $2,000 for their effort.

Jason Parsons of Ranger Boats was present to speak on behalf of the sponsor. “New model innovations, new facilities, Ranger Cup Program and long time relationship in support of and helping to grow the PMTT are proof positive that Ranger Boats is way more than just the best built fiberglass boat available today… they are our partners in ensuring a brighter angling future for all of us”, stated Parsons.

Tournament Director Tim Widlacki thanked all of the PMTT’s incredibly fantastic sponsors, especially the Village of Antioch & the Antioch Chamber of Commerce for hosting the event. In addition Ranger Boats, Mercury Marine, Farm & City Insurance Services, Musky Hunter Magazine, Eagle River Area Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Center, Heckel's Marine, Keyes Outdoors Television, Rollie & Helens Musky Shop, Wildlife Energy Drink, Extreme Muskie Expo's, Crash's Landing, Morehead Tourism Commission. Please let these fine folks know that you appreciate their promotional efforts in support of freshwaters most challenging fish … and those extreme anglers who chase her on the first, best and only truly National Professional Musky Circuit … the PMTT!

To obtain more information on becoming a member of the 2007 PMTT, or to view event photo album, please visit them on the Web @ www.promusky.com or call PMTT Director, Tim Widlacki @: 815-478-4092