Otter Tail Lake Gives up Walleye Gold to Super Pro Christensen at Lund Pro-Am

Veteran pro Daryl Christensen, Montello, Wis., jumped into the day one lead at the Lund Pro-Am in Ottertail, Minn.  He was one of 60 Super Pro anglers fishing the In-Fisherman Professional Walleye Trail tournament on Otter Tail Lake.  He weighed a 4-fish limit for 13.81 pounds, a two-pound advantage over second place pro Bruce “Doc” Samson, Minnetrista, Minn.

            Christensen has two previous victories on Lake Erie and Lake Stockton.  Samson has three wins, with two on Devils Lake and another at Mille Lacs.  A third of a pound back at 11.65 pounds is pro Danny Plautz, Muskego, Wis.  Pro Rick Franklin, Park Rapids, Minn., holds fourth with 10.97 pounds.

            Fishing Otter Tail Lake was fun for the Super Pros during practice and on day one of the Lund Pro-Am.  They found walleyes tucked into every imaginable spot on the lake.  Some anglers trolled crankbaits, many dragged live bait (leeches and minnows mainly – perch would eat any night crawler dropped into the water), others jigged weed edges and in the cabbage, while slip bobbers were favored by a few.  Bottom bouncers and spinners were an effective tool.

            The Minnesota state law allows one walleye over 20 inches per person, which meant that each Pro-Am partnership could weigh two “big” fish and two from 14 to 20 inches.  Or, they could weigh four in the 14 to 20-inch range.  Two-thirds of the Pro-Am partners caught limits on day one. 

            The Coleman Big Fish leader is Danny Plautz and his amateur partner Dennis Cornelius, Plymouth, Minn.  Their walleye tipped the scales to 6.29 pounds.  Christensen’s largest fish went 5.68 pounds. 

            Christensen fished with policeman Jack Harris, Boyertown, PA.  He leads the amateur division.  Fred Sanchez, Fergus Falls, Minn, is in second, and Cornelius is in third.  Amateurs and co-anglers traveled from Louisiana, Pennsylvania, Missouri, Ontario, Montana, Wyoming and many mid-western states to fish with the Super Pro anglers. 

            In addition to the weigh-in ceremonies, which start about 5 p.m. each day at Ottertail Fairgrounds (under the blue water tower), the PWT Outdoor Festival with many activities for youngsters starts at 1 p.m.  The final two days are Wednesday and Thursday, June 14 and 15.  The winner will be crowned and receive a $55,000 first prize, and the Super Pros will explain their tactics to the walleye fans on Thursday.

            The Lund Pro-Am is the second event in the Super Pro series, presented by MinnKota.  The next Super Pro is set for Michigan’s Upper Peninsula in Houghton.  Fishing takes place on Portage and Torch lakes and two canals that lead to Lake Superior.  The final Super Pro takes place on Mille Lacs in north-central Minnesota. 

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