Gillich and Cleland Win Boom/Sand-Dam Pro-MAC™
The Professional Muskie Angler Circuit™ (Pro-MAC™) resumed its two day qualifiers and the second half of the 2011 season on the Sand/Dam Lake Chain and Boom Lake tournament Saturday and Sunday, August 6th and 7th. The weekend would prove to be a tough bite as competing anglers challenged the reluctant muskies with just about every bait in their arsenal and "go to patterns" that have worked so well for them in the past, but ultimately trying some unconventional locations when all else failed. In total, there would be a total of thirteen muskies registered for the event, with four coming on Saturday and nine on the second.
During the 6:00am start on Saturday morning, the cooler 60 degree temps along with the overcast morning that lingered until the noon time, it was expected by more than just the tournament anglers to be a good morning of muskie activity but it wouldn't be until 7:40am until the first muskie would be measured. Fishing on the Boom Lake, Rhinelander Flowage Denny Spencer and Curt Mohney landed a 35.50" muskie taking the early lead that would last only until the next muskie to be registered. At 10:43, Eric Dombeck and Nelson Eisele, also fishing Boom Lake, landed a dandy 41.25 incher. The first muskie to come from the Sand/Dam Lake Chain would be scored by Todd Luedtke and Dan Buss at 10:56am that measured 37.25 inches. The final fish of the day, and the largest of the tournament, came from the Sand/Dam Lake Chain after the sky had cleared in the bright sun at 1:02pm by Scott Lewandowski and Dan Dassow with a hefty 48" monster muskie.
On Sunday, after the nightly thunder storms had safely passed through the area, the muskies attitudes had greatly improved with an increase in muskies seen and caught. Mark Gillich and Hope Cleland started the action on Boom Lake early with a 37 incher at 6:28am but they weren't done for the day as they would be the last team to tally a fish for the day at 10:56am eventually giving the couple the victory. Competing on Sand and Dam, Scott Gindt and Dan Sheehan scored the second muskie of the day at 6:40am with a 34.25" muskie and the team would be the first team to double up for the event at 9:52am with a 36.25" fish to eventually grab second place. Landing a fifth place finish would be Matt McCumber and Rod Moe with a beautiful 41" tiger muskie at 10:07am.
Other teams who scored on muskies Sunday were: Gene Erickson 38.50" at 8:27am, Ed Piasecki/Rob Rodiczak 35.50" at 9:28am, Steve & Mike Schneider 35.75" at 9:46am, and Kevin & Scott Abendroth 36.25" at 9:52am.
The Pro-MAC™ Boom Lake/Sand & Dam Chain qualifying tournament top ten finishers were:
1st - Mark Gillich/Hope Cleland
2nd - Dan Sheehan/Scott Gindt
3rd - Scott Lewandowski/Dan Dassow
4th - Eric Dombeck/Nelson Eisele
5th - Matt McCumber/Rod Moe
6th - Gene Erickson
7th - Don Groskopf/Dan Winkler
8th - Dan Buss/Todd Luedtke
9th - Kevin and Scott Abendroth
10th - Steve and Mike Schneider
Sponsor partners for the 2011 Pro-MAC™ are: Pitlick's Sand Beach Resort, Cross Country Bar and Grill, Pine Harbor Bar, Rollie & Helen's Musky Shop, Fittante Taxidermy, Tooth Tamer Rods, Tackle Industries (Super D), Dreamcatcher Bucktails & Tackle, Ts' Tackle, Suick, Hellraiser Tackle, Skimmer Fishing Tackle, Yakima Baits, www.mudpuppylures.com ,R.J. Lures, Musky Mayhem Tackle, Cat's Tails, River Run Tackle, Bait Rigs, Hawg Seekers Tackle, Figure 8, Musky Armor, Mason (muskie fishing lines), Trophy Hunter Glittertail Muskie Lures, Super Slayer Tackle Company, Optimum Baits, Red October Baits, and Leaders & Lures.