PWT Lake Oahe 

PWT Mobridge, SD May 28-30th

Day 1AM:

Conditions: Winds were calm this morning, with temperatures in the mid to high 30's. A high of 68 degrees is expected by this afternoon, with winds from the Southeast at 11-16mph.

Skies were partly cloudy at take off. No chance of rain is predicted for today.


110 Anglers were met with peaceful conditions this morning as they staged up for the 1st of 4 Professional Walleye Trail Regional events, here in Mobridge, SD.

Several anglers expressed concern for the winds today though. While 11-16 mph seems like nothing in most areas of the Country, out here in the Dakotas, If they say it's going to be 11-16 mph, add the two numbers together, and that's what it's  going to do.

Scott FairbairnIf it blows today, it's going to make it really rough, said Evinrude Pro, Scott Fairbairn. A Southeast wind comes right up the pipe against the current and causes some pretty big waves.   That would make it tough from some people.

I caught up with all the Pros last night at their rules meeting. While they all stood in a long line in the lobby of the Casino holding up their boat numbers, so their day 1 Co Anglers could locate them, I posed the following question to a select few:

What will it take a day, to cash a check in this event?

Most competitors were hesitant to reveal what they thought, and snickered with a raised eyebrow and widening grin...

I know it's a bad question for the beginning of the event, but I just got in town, and want to know what kind of bite is going on out there, I said.

Gary ParsonsI can't tell you that, said Gary Parsons, causing Mike Gofron to giggle. Gary points to Mike and says, This guy across from me will know what kind of fish I'm on, if I tell you that. You can't give these guys anything, or they will figure out what you are doing too. They're good!

Even though it was like pulling teeth, more than enough fishermen told me that from what they saw during prefishing, they thought 14 pounds a day to cash a check was the magic number.

Anything more than that, and that guy is going to be having a great day, said the 07 AOY, Gary Parsons.

Anglers will be allowed to have 7 fish in the box, and will weigh in their best 5. However, only 2 of those 5 fish will be allowed to be over 20 inches.

There is a slot limit on this part of the Lake Oahe/Missouri River system, and anglers will NOT be allowed to cull fish from their livewells, to upgrade to a larger slot fish or over fish.

Once the 7th fish is in the livewell, anglers must stop fishing for the day and return to the take off site.

The Pros are restricted to waters below the North Dakota boarder and above the 212 bridge only.

Many different presentations will be utilized by fishermen this week. Some of the most popular techniques will be vertical jigging, pitching jigs, trolling crank baits, and live bait rigging.

As the week progresses, the winning techniques will be disclosed for everyone who is interested in traveling out this way to fish.

While there isn't much to do in the small town of Mobridge, SD it is a little piece of heaven on earth. The views of the river system are breath taking at times, and the people who live out here couldn't be any nicer!

Please join us this afternoon, here on Walleye Central's Live Leaderboard for continued coverage of the PWT Regional Tournament on Lake Oahe in Mobridge, South Dokata!