ROZANSKI & JOHANNES WIN MANITOWISH R.A.M.M. CUP OPEN™
The Professional Muskie Angler Circuit ™ (Pro-MAC™) hosted the fifth qualifying event of the 2013 season on the Manitowish Chain with the R.A.M.M. Cup Open Championship™ that concluded on the weekend of August 17th and 18th. The Manitowish R.A.M.M. Cup™ has always been a tournament that has produced impressive numbers of muskies with several big fish landed at each tournament, but with this year’s unseasonable weather patterns putting the muskie action in the "deep freeze", left the outcome of the tournament in question. However, the greatness of the Manitowish Chain muskie fishery and the long awaited arrival of stable weather conditions, propelled the chain to produce twenty one (21) muskies over thirty four inches (34"), with ten muskies over forty inches (40") and three topping the forty seven inch (47") mark.
Saturday’s action started out quickly with Bob Davis and Tony Schellinger scoring on a big muskie of 44 inches right out of the gates just fifteen minutes in to the contest at 6:15am and the muskie action would continue to be steady throughout the day. Four teams would score two muskies for the day with the first team being the father and son team of Tim and Tom Mathu with the biggest muskie of the day, a dandy 47.75 incher at 6:39am adding a 38.75 incher at 8:00am. The next team to measure two would be Ben & Matt Michlig with muskies of 44.50 inches at 7:53am and a 34 incher at 9:49am. Neil Barnett and Bill Hill would tally the largest double of Saturday with a 41.50 inch muskie at 11:45am and a hefty 47 incher at 1:14pm finishing the day with the lead at 88.50 inches. The final team to score on two muskies would be Phil Markgraf and Randy Kauranen tallying a 43 incher at 6:36am and the last fish of day one measuring 36 inches at 2:15pm.
Sunday started out much the same as the previous day's action with an early muskie registered at 6:25am by the team of Scott Gindt and Bud Rodd that stretched to 43.75 inches, however the action was slow until a nice breeze stirred up things and improved the attitudes of the resident muskies. At 11:45am, Doug and Don Grant would score on their second muskie of the contest with a 39.50 incher that added to their previous day's tally of 41.50 inches at 1:10pm that would give the brothers a fourth place finish. The best would be saved for the last when at the end of the tournament at noon on Sunday, Joey Rozanski and John Johannes scored on their third muskie of the contest with a 44 incher that would go along with their earlier catch of 39 inches at 11:06am and beautiful Saturday 47.50" lunker at 10:05am giving the team a total of 130.50 inches and the victory.
Other teams to score on muskie at the Manitowish Chain R.A.M.M. Cup Open Championship™ on Saturday were; Jeff Wyrwa/Dan Zatarski 35.25" at 8:13am, Ron Golec/Josh Sadlon 37.50" at 7:03am, Marty Moser/Tony Warkoczewski 36.25" at 9:35am, Todd LeFeber/Cory Huck 37.25" at 10:05am, and Sunday's scoring teams were; Rick McClellan/Ryan Wahlgren 39.25" at 7:40am, and Scott Spangle/James Sievwright 35.75" at 11:05am.
The 2013 Pro-MAC™ Manitowish Chain R.A.M.M. Cup Open Championship™ top ten finishers were;
1st - Joey Rozanski/John Johannes
2nd - Neil Barnett/Bill Hill
3rd - Tim & Tom Mathu
4th - Doug & Don Grant
5th - Phil Markgraf/Randy Kauranen
6th - Ben & Matt Michlig
7th - Bob Davis/Tony Schellinger
8th - Scott Gindt/Bud Rodd
9th - Rick McClellan/Ryan Wahlgren
10th - Ron Golec/Josh Sadlon
The sixth and final qualifying tournament for the 2013 Pro-MAC™ season will be at the wildly popular Eagle River Chain Autumn Muskie Classic™ August 24th and 25th. The Pro-MAC™ Eagle River Autumn Muskie Classic™ is scheduled to pay down ten places with a first place prize equaling $20,000.00 with a full field of participants. The cost to compete in a muskie tournament is $330 per two person team or an angler can choose to compete alone. There is still time to send in your entry for the Eagle River qualifier to get an earlier ease out but there will be a chance for teams to enter into the tourney the Friday before the contest at Hiawatha Hide Away (on the shores of Duck Lake) on HWY 45 from 5:30pm to 7:30pm on August 23rd. The fishing hours for the tournament will start at 6:00am on Saturday and Sunday and conclude at 3:00pm Saturday and noon on Sunday. The awards for each event will start at 1:00pm at the Hiawatha Hide Away. All teams who score on muskie(s) during the Eagle River Autumn Muskie Classic™ will have a chance to compete in the highest cash pay-out muskie tournament of the 2013 season at the WMT Series™ Invitational Championship™ on September 28th & 29th.
All WMT Series™ events are open to the public and we hope you will join in on the fun and excitement. For additional information, log on to our web sites at www.WMTSeries.com or www.ProfessionalMuskieAnglerCircuit.com for more details or email us at HunterMD@newnorth.net or call 715-277-4411.
Sponsor Partners of the 2013 WMT Series™ are; Tooth Tamer Rods, Fittante Taxidermy, Tackle Industries Super D, T’s Tackle, Dream Catcher Bucktails, Yakima Baits, www.MudPuppyLures.com , Optimum Baits, River Run Tackle, Trophy Hunter Accessories-Glittertail, Musky Mayhem Tackle, Figure 8 Lures, Lil’ Hustler Tackle, Tyrant, Man Cave Bait Co., and Nauti Lures, LLC.