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

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

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!