PMTT 2026 TOURNAMENT RESULTS

PMTT VitaWorks West Spring Shootout!

Cave Run Lake, KY

April 25th & 26th, 2026

Hosted By: MOREHEAD KENTUCKY TOURISM

PMTT 2026 Kick Off on Cave Run Lake for the VitaWorks West Spring Shootout!

The PMTT kicked off the 2026 season on Cave Run April 26 to 27. A total of 26 muskies hit the board with 15 on Saturday and 11 on Sunday. With the lake low and super clear (for Cave Run anyway), a lot of fish slid off the obvious shallow stuff and set up differently than your typical spring deal.

1st Place – McDunn & Boland

Josh McDunn and Sean Boland got it done with a 39” and 38.25” to take the win and about $14.7K. Their deal was adjusting on the fly. They started out casting but kept seeing bait out deeper. Once they made the switch to trolling and started grinding smaller shad and crappie style baits around bait and bottom, things clicked. They were workin’ right around 12 feet down, keeping baits tight to where those fish were set up. Their 39” was the difference-maker.

2nd Place – Lederer & Neko

Fred Lederer and Vlad Neko committed to trolling all week. They were working about 10 feet down over 25 feet, bouncin’ baits through structure and bait balls using Ziggy crankbaits in a frog pattern with aggressive turns. They felt confident in it prefishing and were in the lead with a double (37.5” and 34”) after Day 1… but they just could not get the same bites to go on Day 2.

3rd Place – Trail & Handlogten

Ken Trail and his partner Michael Handlogten moved a pile of fish on Day 1 but could not get them to eat. They stayed on ‘em and capitalized on Day 2, putting two fish in the net on Hot Tail dive and rise baits worked aggressively and deeper. Once they got the first one in, it settled things down and they were able to double up on Day 2 with 37.25” and 33.25” fish.

4th Place – Frautschi & Bayer

Paul Frautschi and Tom Bayer stayed consistent all week trolling main lake points and brush in about 12 feet with natural shad and crappie colors at slower speeds. They caught fish all week leading up to the event as well as each day of the tournament with a pair of 34.5” ‘skies. Their pattern held from start to finish.

5th Place – Strasser & Strasser

Keith and Kevin Strasser mixed it up but found their key fish trolling after noticing bait sliding deeper off flats and wood. Their 40.25” was the big fish on Saturday and came after spotting it on electronics and running right over it. 

Here’s how the rest of the top 10 shook out:

What Actually Worked…Zoom out and a few things stand out.

• Trolling was the dominant deal. Around 6 or 7 of the top 10 teams leaned heavily on it. Casting still produced fish, but it was not the primary program.
• Low and clear water pushed fish off the obvious shallow cover. A lot of them were set up deeper or just off structure instead of right on it.
• Baitfish were the key. Teams that found bait found fish. Many of those fish were tight to bottom or relating closely to structure near bait.
• Most fish came right around that 10 to 12 foot zone.
• Speeds varied. Some teams slowed it down closer to 2.8 while others were pushing over 4. It sounded like things shifted toward deeper baits and slower speeds as the event went on, and teams that stayed faster or shallower seemed to fizzle on Day 2.
• Casting still had a role. Dive and rise baits in natural colors produced fish, and some teams triggered bites by burning bucktails or ripping louder, gaudier rubber.

This was not a dialed-in pattern and go kind of event. It was a find the bait, move with it, adjust, and grind it out deal. And the teams that committed to adapting were the ones standing on stage.

Next stop is Three Lakes and Eagle River, WI on June 21 and 22. That one could look a whole lot different.

PMTT Tournament Director, Tim Widlacki, acknowledged the Trail’s deep appreciation to their many outstanding sponsors for both their continuing support and the important part they have played and are playing now in our growth over the past 27 years as America’s 1st and only, truly national, Professional Musky Circuit. Leading the way with new, challenging, and innovative formats on some of the country’s top musky fishing destinations; Highlighting freshwater’s most elusive and challenging fish and the fast-growing community of extreme adventure anglers who give her chase. 

Special thanks to VitaWorks and to the Host Site Sponsors, Morehead – Rowan County Tourism. And to all the trails sponsors, without whose help this memorable year will not have been possible: RECON BOATS, MERCURY MARINE, THRONE BROS, THREE LAKES AREA VISITORS BUREAU, VACATION OKOBOJI, LAKE OF THE WOODS MINNESOTA, JERRY’S RESTAUTART & BAR, LAKE OKOBOJI RESORT and our entire family of Contributing & Associate Sponsors. Please let them all know how much you appreciate what they do whenever you get the chance by returning their support when you can… they are a vital part of our growing PMTT Family.

UP NEXT – Three Lakes/Eagle River Chain, WI – June 27th & 28th, 2026

Let’s go Musky Hunting…Wahoooooooooo!

Daily Live Streamed Updates during the Event can be viewed using your Facebook APP or watch the posted Live Stream videos from our Facebook Page. 

To obtain more information on becoming a member of the PMTT, or to sign up for any PMTT Event, please visit us on the web at www.promusky.com or call the PMTT office at 815-478-4092. 

THREE LAKES/EAGLE RIVER CHAIN, WI

JUNE 27th & 28th, 2026

HOSTED BY Three Lakes Area Visitors Bureau & BioBuilt Technologies

PMTT 2026 Three Lakes Mercury Marine Summer Challenge!

Fresh off their Cave Run victory, Josh McDunn and Sean Boland backed it up with another win at the PMTT Mercury Marine Summer Challenge on Wisconsin’s Three Lakes/Eagle River Chain this past weekend, collecting another $20,000+ after bonuses and pushing their two-event haul to well over $34,000.

The tournament turned into a tale of two completely different days. A whopping 49 muskies hit the board on Saturday. Then the muskies got lockjaw despite seemingly better conditions on Day 2.

Only 13 fish were registered on Sunday, bringing the tournament total to 62 muskies and forcing many of the top teams to make major adjustments.

1st Place – McDunn & Boland

Josh McDunn and Sean Boland put together four fish measuring 38.5”, 37.5”, 36.25” and 33.5” to earn the victory. The impressive part? Neither angler had ever fished the Eagle River Chain before.

After spending nearly a week learning the system, they found a casting pattern they believed in and never abandoned it. Natural-colored rubber was their deal, and when Sunday’s bite slowed to a crawl, they simply slowed their presentations until Sean connected with the tournament-clinching fish.

2nd Place – McLean & Seis

Alex McLean and Trevor Seis finished second with a 40” and 39.25”. After a slow start casting, they noticed fish suspended over open-water mud and switched to trolling breaklines with natural-colored crankbaits around 3 to 3.7 mph. That adjustment vaulted them into contention on Day 1 before the open-water bite largely disappeared Sunday.

3rd Place – Ornberg & Chitty

Rob Ornberg and Bob Chitty relied on noisy twitch baits worked around perch, windblown weed edges and inside turns. Their cadence was simple. Rip the bait aggressively....Kill it...Repeat! One of their fish finally committed after several laps around the figure eight.

4th Place – Thomas & Casto

Coltin Thomas and Tony Casto mixed trolling and casting throughout the event.

Small natural-colored crankbaits produced while trolling around 4 to 4.5 mph, but after fish quit cooperating Sunday they switched gears and salvaged another key fish casting a Bulldawg.

5th Place – Donar & Blicharz

Local sticks Jarod Donar and Pete Blicharz trusted their knowledge of the chain more than a long prefish. Natural-colored rubber and blades were their confidence baits, and rather than keying on one type of structure, they focused heavily on major and minor feeding windows.

They raised several quality fish but could only convince two to bite.

Big Fish of the Tournament

One fish definitely stole the show. Stuart & Sheri Sorenson boated a 47.25-inch tank on Day 1 to earn Big Fish honors. Sherry caught it casting a bucktail and according to Stuart, the fish was barely hooked. Knowing it was probably a one-shot opportunity, he slid the net under it much earlier than he normally would. Thankfully… it worked. Considering the Three Lakes/Eagle River Chains aren’t exactly known for producing fish of that caliber, this was an incredible fish for the system.

And it wasn’t alone. Ten more muskies over 40 inches also hit the board during the event.

Here’s how the rest of the Top 10 shook out:

What Actually Worked! Looking across the leaderboard, a few trends really stood out. There wasn’t one magic pattern. Of the Top 10 teams, five primarily relied on casting, three leaned mostly on trolling, and two mixed both techniques throughout the event.

Natural colors were a consistent theme among the top finishers. Perch and walleye patterns came up repeatedly, with several teams also mentioning baitfish as the key to finding active muskies.

Saturday rewarded teams covering water. Sunday rewarded teams willing to adjust. Several teams talked about seeing plenty of fish on Day 2… they just couldn’t get them to eat. The anglers who stayed flexible, slowed down when needed, and adapted to the changing conditions were the ones who stayed near the top of the leaderboard.

PMTT Tournament Director, Tim Widlacki, acknowledged the Trail’s deep appreciation to their many outstanding sponsors for both their continuing support and the important part they have played and are playing now in our growth over the past 27 years as America’s 1st and only, truly national, Professional Musky Circuit. Leading the way with new, challenging, and innovative formats on some of the country’s top musky fishing destinations; Highlighting freshwater’s most elusive and challenging fish and the fast-growing community of extreme adventure anglers who give her chase. 

Special thanks to Mercury Marine and to the Host Site Sponsors, Three Lakes Area Visitors Bureau and BioBuilt Technologies and to all the trails sponsors, without whose help this memorable year will not have been possible: Recon Boats, Vitaworks, Throne Bros,  Morehead – Rowan County Tourism, Vacation Okoboji, Lake of the Woods Minnesota, Jerry’s Restaurant & Bar, Lake Okoboji Resort and our entire family of Contributing & Associate Sponsors. Please let them all know how much you appreciate what they do whenever you get the chance by returning their support when you can… they are a vital part of our growing PMTT Family.

UP NEXT – Thorne Bros Late Summer Showdown - Okoboji/Spirit Lakes, IA August 21st & 22nd, 2026

Let’s go Musky Hunting…Wahoooooooooo! 

Daily Live Streamed Updates during the Event can be viewed using your Facebook APP or watch the posted Live Stream videos from our Facebook Page.

To obtain more information on becoming a member of the PMTT, or to sign up for any PMTT Event, please visit us on the web at www.promusky.com or call the PMTT office at 815-478-4092. 

PMTT THORNE BROS LATE SUMMER SHOWDOWN!

OKOBOJI/SPIRIT LAKES, IA

AUGUST 21ST & 22ND, 2026

HOSTED BY: Vacation Okoboji and Okoboji Resort & Conference Center

PMTT Record Falls in Iowa

The PMTT Late Summer Showdown on Iowa’s Okoboji/Spirit Lake chain turned into an absolute musky shootout, with 101 muskies hitting the board over two days! And the action didn’t slow down at all from Day 1 to Day 2. A total of 57 muskies were registered on Day 1 followed by another 44 on Day 2, which is likely the highest catch rate in PMTT history. But even with more than 100 fish hitting the board, one team separated themselves from everybody else in record-setting fashion.

1st Place: Jason Summers & Dan Wojtusik

Jason Summers & Dan Wojtusik put a PMTT-record 16 muskies on the board during the two-day event, setting a new PMTT record and piling up 885 points on their way to the championship! For perspective, second place finished with five fish and 322 points. Summers and Wojtusik found their winning program on West and East Okoboji. Wojtusik spent much of his pre-fishing exploring those waters, knowing much of the field would likely be focused on Spirit Lake after the way it produced during the PMTT’s previous stop on the Iowa Great Lakes. Summers and Wojtusik eventually developed and exploited two very different patterns.

The first involved big rubber and deep water. They found one particular area in West Okoboji with a muddy bottom surrounded by sand and unique vegetation that was loaded with muskies. Those fish were tougher to trigger, but Pounders worked with a relatively smooth cadence produced some bites. Their second pattern was a completely different animal. They found a handful of shallow areas with good weeds and started burning small, heavy bucktails at what Wojtusik described as “supersonic speed.” The fish couldn’t seem to leave ‘em alone. The combination of the right weeds, speed and cadence produced an incredible numbers bite. Summers and Wojtusik went 16 for 17 during the tournament, with the only fish they lost being what they believed was their biggest of the event. And perhaps the craziest part, they did it with very little fishing pressure around them and actually quit fishing early on Sunday so Summers could make it to his niece’s wedding reception. Not a bad day at the office!

2nd Place: Alex McLean & Trevor Seis

Alex McLean and Trevor Seis put together an impressive tournament of their own, registering five muskies up to 43” for 322 points. Their program centered around ripping perch-pattern Medusas through and around the weeds. The retrieve was anything but subtle. They were snapping the baits aggressively along weed edges and also working farther inside the weeds. In fact, all four fish they lost during the tournament came from the shallower inside weedline. McLean and Seis found a concentration of fish during pre-fishing and leaned heavily on that area throughout the event rather than running around looking for something better. Five fish and a runner-up finish says that was a pretty good decision.

3rd Place: Gregg Thomas & Rick Hoover

Gregg Thomas and Rick Hoover were right behind them with five muskies and 310 points. Like many of the top teams, they concentrated on weeds and rubber, but there wasn’t one magic bait or color. Three of their fish came on Dyin’ Dawgs, another ate a tube, and their final fish came on a white Medusa. They also noticed something interesting as the tournament progressed. While many anglers were concentrating on outside weed edges, Thomas and Hoover began seeing fish farther inside the weeds. Looking back, Thomas felt spending more time picking apart those thicker inside weeds might have produced even more opportunities.

4th Place: Ethan Smith & Ty Sennett

Ethan Smith and Ty Sennett put five muskies on the board for 301 points while sticking almost exclusively with casting rubber around weeds and weed edges. A dark, natural perch-pattern Bulldawg that had produced for them during a previous PMTT event on Clear Lake became their confidence bait again in Iowa. And once again, aggressive was the name of the game. They were ripping rubber hard through the weeds, with several fish eating immediately after the bait was ripped free.

5th Place: Kyle Sorensen & David Leslie 

Kyle Sorensen and David Leslie rounded out the Top 5 with six muskies and 277 points. They were one of the more versatile teams near the top of the leaderboard, catching fish both casting and trolling during pre-fishing and carrying both programs into the tournament. Rubber around weeds produced casting fish, while trolling crankbaits along weed edges and around baitfish gave them another way to put fish on the board. They even left their productive area late Sunday and headed to West Okoboji to swing for the fences on bigger fish they had previously located. It didn’t work out, but six fish and fifth place isn’t a bad consolation prize.

Big Fish of the Tournament

Amanda Wilson and Megan Steinmetz kicked things off with the biggest fish of the tournament, a 50.25” Iowa giant on Saturday. While Keith & Kevin Strasser stuck this 49.5” beauty to take Sunday’s Big Fish honors.

Here’s How the Top 10 Shook Out

What Worked

With 101 muskies caught, there obviously wasn’t just one way to put fish in the net. But listen to the Top 10 teams and a few themes come through loud and clear. 

Weeds were king. A large percentage of the top teams were working weeds in some fashion, particularly weed edges and transitions. Some teams also found fish pushed farther inside the thicker stuff. 

Rubber was everywhere. Medusas, Bulldawgs, Dyin’ Dawgs, tubes and other rubber accounted for a pile of tournament fish. Dark and natural colors showed up repeatedly. Black was particularly hot for several Top 10 teams, while perch patterns and whites also produced heavily for some of the highest finishers. 

Most bites happened away from the boat. Interestingly, very few of the Top 10 teams reported significant figure 8 action. Most of the damage came out on the cast. And finally, finding groups of fish mattered. Several teams described muskies being concentrated in relatively small areas. When the windows opened, things got downright silly. One Top 10 team described watching fish being caught around them like “fireworks going off,” while others reported multiple bites in only a handful of casts.

The stage is now set for the PMTT World Championship on Lake of the Woods, one of the premier musky fisheries on the planet. After watching this group of heavy hitters put more than 100 muskies on the board in Iowa, sending the best of the best to LOTW for the championship has all the makings of another shootout.

PMTT Tournament Director, Tim Widlacki, acknowledged the Trail’s deep appreciation to their many outstanding sponsors for both their continuing support and the important part they have played and are playing now in our growth over the past 27 years as America’s 1st and only, truly national, Professional Musky Circuit. Leading the way with new, challenging, and innovative formats on some of the country’s top musky fishing destinations; Highlighting freshwater’s most elusive and challenging fish and the fast-growing community of extreme adventure anglers who give her chase.

Special thanks the Event Sponsor Throne Bros along with our Host Site Sponsor Vacation Okoboji and our many other sponsors including Recon Boats, VitaWorks West, Mercury Marine, BioBuilt Technologies,  Morehead – Rowan County Tourism, Three Lakes Area Visitors Bureau, Lake of the Woods Minnesota, Jerry’s Restaurant & Bar, Lake Okoboji Resort & Conference Center and our entire family of Contributing & Associate Sponsors.

UP NEXT – Recon Boats World Championship

Lake of the Woods NW Angle, MN – September 17th, 18th & 19th, 2026

Let’s go Musky Hunting…Wahoooooooooo! 

Daily Live Streamed Updates during the Event can be viewed using your Facebook APP or watch the posted Live Stream videos from our Facebook Page.

To obtain more information on becoming a member of the PMTT, or to sign up for any PMTT Event, please visit us on the web at www.promusky.com or call the PMTT office at 815-478-4092.

PMTT RECON BOATS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

LAKE OF THE WOODS, MN

SEPTEMBER 17TH, 18TH & 19TH, 2026

HOSTED BY: Lake of the Woods Tourism and Jerry's Restaurant & Bar

Donar and Blicharz Crowned 2026 PMTT World Champions

The 2026 Recon Boats World Championship delivered exactly what anglers hoped for when the PMTT visited legendary Lake of the Woods for the first time. There were big fish, plenty of movement on the leaderboard and a championship race that came down to the wire. The field caught and released 117 muskies over three days, registering 35 fish on Day One, 50 on Day Two and another 32 on Day Three. Ten muskies measured at least 50 inches, including the tournament’s biggest fish, a 52-incher registered by Jason Summers and Dan Wojtusik. When the final fish were registered, Jarod Donar and Peter Blicharz stood atop the leaderboard with nine muskies totaling 728 points, edging Bob and Jackson Harris by just six points to become the 2026 PMTT Recon Boats World Champions.

Donar and Blicharz put fish on the board all three days, with their nine registered fish measuring up to 48 inches. Fishing Lake of the Woods for the first time, the duo overcame a difficult pre-fishing period and committed to shallow combinations of weeds, rocks and slop. Big rubber produced most of their fish, including some strikes close to the boat. Natural colors were best, with black and gold among their most productive patterns. Rather than abandoning their program when fishing became difficult, Donar and Blicharz trusted what they had learned and continued running fresh water, often covering 20 to 30 miles per day. They adjusted their retrieves based on the mood of the fish, staying aggressive when muskies responded well and slowing things down during quieter windows. Their victory earned them a championship package valued at more than $57,000, including a Recon 2085T boat and trailer.

Bob and Jackson Harris finished a close second with nine fish and 722 points. Their catch included two 50-inch-class muskies measuring 50.5 and 50 inches, the two largest fish landed by any of the Top Five teams. The Harris team primarily targeted shallow rocks and weeds with perch-pattern Dying Dogs. Despite struggling during prefishing, they returned to areas that had produced throughout the summer and finished only six points away from the title.

Mark Lijewski and Ryan Wallis placed third with nine fish and 713 points. All nine of their fish measured at least 40 inches, led by fish of 47.75, 47.5 and 47 inches. Working both rocks and weeds, they found success with several different baits and colors. Location proved more important than any single lure pattern.

Jace Loge and Darian Rubner made one of the tournament’s biggest moves to finish fourth with seven fish and 459 points. After being shut out on Day One, they abandoned their original northern rock-rubble pattern and turned to extremely shallow slop weeds. That adjustment paid off in a huge way on the final day when they boated five fish in approximately two hours. Weightless Suicks and rubber ripped through the weeds produced their best action, with perch patterns accounting for all seven of their tournament fish.

Michael Gorman and Jason Stock rounded out the Top Five with six fish and 450 points. Their best areas featured shallow rock rubble, strong current and only one to two feet of water. After discovering two nearby points loaded with muskies, they generated action on bucktails before adjusting to a small black Medusa, a Super Shad and a Matlock. One fish crushed the Super Shad after it was allowed to rise toward the surface, while another attacked the Matlock late in the tournament.

2026 Recon Boats World Championship Top Five

1. Jarod Donar and Peter Blicharz - 9 fish, 728 points

2. Bob and Jackson Harris - 9 fish, 722 points

3. Mark Lijewski and Ryan Wallis - 9 fish, 713 points

4. Jace Loge and Darian Rubner - 7 fish, 459 points

5. Michael Gorman and Jason Stock - 6 fish, 450 points

Productive patterns ranged from current-swept rock rubble to shallow weeds and slop. Successful teams demonstrated the value of adapting, covering fresh water and trusting their decisions under pressure.

The championship also brought an outstanding season-long Top Gun race to a close, with Josh McDunn and Sean Boland earning 2026 PMTT Top Gun Team of the Year honors with 619 points.

McDunn and Boland put together an extremely impressive and remarkably consistent season. They won two of the four events and registered multiple fish at every stop on the trail. Combining that kind of consistency with two tournament victories made them deserving winners of the PMTT’s season-long title.

2026 PMTT Top Gun Top Three

1. Josh McDunn and Sean Boland - 619 points

2. Jarod Donar and Peter Blicharz - 583 points

3. Rob Ornberg and Bob Chitty - 581 points

Congratulations to Jarod Donar and Peter Blicharz, the 2026 PMTT Recon Boats World Champions, Josh McDunn and Sean Boland, the 2026 PMTT Top Gun Team of the Year, and all the teams that qualified for this historic championship on Lake of the Woods.

PMTT Tournament Director, Tim Widlacki, acknowledged the Trail’s deep appreciation to their many outstanding sponsors for both their continuing support and the important part they have played and are playing now in our growth over the past 27 years as America’s 1st and only, truly national, Professional Musky Circuit. Leading the way with new, challenging, and innovative formats on some of the country’s top musky fishing destinations; Highlighting freshwater’s most elusive and challenging fish and the fast-growing community of extreme adventure anglers who give her chase.

Special thanks the Event Sponsor Recon Boats along with our Host Site Sponsor Lake of the Woods Minnesota and Jerry’s Restaurant & Bar and our many other sponsors including Throne Bros, VitaWorks West, Mercury Marine, BioBuilt Technologies,  Morehead – Rowan County Tourism, Three Lakes Area Visitors Bureau, Vacation Okoboji, Lake Okoboji Resort & Conference Center and our entire family of Contributing & Associate Sponsors.

UP NEXT - Come see us during the Winter Show season and see what musky waters next year's schedule entails!

Let’s go Musky Hunting…Wahoooooooooo! 

Daily Live Streamed Updates during the Event can be viewed using your Facebook APP or watch the posted Live Stream videos from our Facebook Page.

Sign up for next year's PMTT Trail and come check us out this winter at your local Musky Sport Show and follow us on our Social Media. For information or to view event photo album, please visit us on the web at www.promusky.com or call the PMTT office at 815-478-4092. Again, thank you everyone for following us through this rough year with the pandemic and all else in the world this year. We all here at the PMTT wish you all good health and look forward to hitting the water again with you next year!