ANGLERS EDGE

Clear Water Key to Winnebago System Victory Oshkosh, Wisconsin

Sun, 29 Jun 2008 08:27:57 -0500

This Wisconsin Summer has been unusual to say the least. The cool wet spring brought with it a very
wet start to summer with severe flooding throughout most of the state. In fact, the city of Oshkosh, host location
for the tournament, saw more than 2500 homes flooded within the past two weeks. Although water levels have
receded slightly from the previous weeks, the Winnebago System is still unusually high and dirty for late June.
As the 22 boat field idled away from Rainbow Park under sunny skies and calm conditions, an emergency “no
wake” ruling would be in effect. A majority of the field would have a 20-30 minute “no wake” through the Fox
River in Oshkosh before reaching Lake Winnebago. Teams heading north at take off would also have a “no
wake” trek to the 41 bridge prior to entering Lake Buttes des Mortes. Weather predictions for the day were less
than ideal, with rain in the forecast and winds out of the northwest building as the day progressed. 20-30 mph
gusts were predicted for weigh in at 3:00 PM, and, although the rain never appeared, the wind made for a very
rough day on the water. How would anglers
respond to the prevailing weather conditions?
Responding in a big way were Rich
Stadler and Rob Teske, who brought a five fish
limit to the scale weighing 14.11 pounds to
claim first place for the second straight FTO
event. The two anchored their limit with a
chunky 3.61 pounder which also won the “Big
Eye” award for the tournament. The Oshkosh
natives commented on stage that they had a
fantastic day on the water, catching lots of fish
using multiple patterns, including jigging and
slip bobbers. A slight wrinkle in their location
was the key to their Winnebago System victory.
“Clear water was definitely the key today”,
commented Stadler. “Anytime we found clear
water we were able to catch fish.” Teske agreed,
“We rotated through our clear water spots looking for fish in the 19-20 inch range, and we figured if we could
do that we’d be in good shape.” Although both indicated during the awards ceremony that they lost several
bigger fish which would have significantly upped their final weight for the day, the two were all smiles with the
end result. Finishing first overall, first in the optional side pot and earning the “Big Eye” award, the two took
home $2212.50. Teske also runs a 620 Ranger and is currently Ranger Cup Qualified so the two were able to
add an additional $250.00 in Ranger Cup money to their winnings.
In second place were Scott Rohloff and Mike Wright of Watertown who pulled a five fish limit
weighing 10.75 pounds. Like Stadler & Teske the two anglers caught a lot of fish throughout the day and used a
variety of patterns to earn their second place
finish. Slip bobbers and jigs secured most of the
fish in their limit, but they indicated the rough
weather didn’t make for an easy day on the
water. Second place earned them a top five
position in the season standings and a check
worth $1152.50. Full Throttle teams from the
Wisconsin Series finishing in the top five in
final season point standings will earn an
automatic free entry to the first ever Full
Throttle Championship October 19th on the
Mississippi River in Red Wing.

Rich Stadler and Rob Teske, 1st Place, 14.11 lbs.
Scott Rohloff & Mike Wright, 2nd Place, 10.75 lbs.
In third and making a free entry to Red Wing
looking very realistic were Ron Levin and Thomas Moore
of Beach Park and Winthrop Harbor, Illinois. Capitalizing
on a jig bite pattern they found near the mouth of the Fox
River in Oshkosh, the two weighed in with 10.30 pounds.
Their bait of choice, a custom built hair jig made by Levin.
Their efforts were good for $765.00.
In fourth place were Jessie DuFrane of Kaukauna
and Sue VanGrinsven of Kimberly, a mother/daughter team.
Although DuFrane is no stranger to tournament fishing, her
mother Sue was fishing in her first tournament. The two
caught their fish on Lake Winnebago using gold colored
crawler harnesses. Their five fish limit weighing 9.42
pounds would earn them a check worth $570.00 but equally
as important, bragging rights on their husbands Scott
DuFrane and Jerry VanGrinsven who also fished the tournament together. “It was great to see them do well
today, especially under such tough conditions”, Series Director Chris Jones replied. “Their participation in our
tournament really fits the spirit of what the Full Throttle Walleye Series is all about.” Rounding out the top five
and also fishing in their first tournament were Scott Barkoltz of Neenah and Chris Kern of Hortonville who
weighed in with 7.98 pounds.
Not to be lost in the weekend’s festivities was a fantastic pre-tournament meeting on Saturday night at
Plymouth Congregational Church in Oshkosh. Pastor Rick and the crew made brats and burgers for everyone
and speaker for the evening was Ranger Pro Bob Lauridsen of Oconomowoc. Bob shared how he realized he
needed a relationship with God after a weekend outing with Al & Ron Linder in Minnesota. He then took a few
minutes to share with the group how
God has changed his life for the better.
The 15 year Ranger Pro spoke from the
heart and was a great encouragement to
everyone.
The Full Throttle Walleye Series
would like to thank national sponsors
Ranger Boats and Mercury Marine for
their gracious support during the 2008
season! The Wisconsin Series would
also like to thank The Binding Edge,
Wolf River Outfitters, Artworks
Unlimited, Calvary Bible Church,
Plymouth Congregational Church,
Calvary Bible Church, the Fox Valley
F.O.C.A.S. Chapter and Walleyes for
Tomorrow for the use of the release boat.
Next stop on the Wisconsin Series is a
September 13th date on the Bay of Green
Bay in Marinette/Menominee.

Thomas Moore and Ron Levin, 3rd Place, 10.30 lbs.
Jessie DuFrane and Sue VanGrinsven,
4th Place, 9.42 lbs.
Wisconsin Full Throttle Walleye Series Staff

Mille Lacs -

Sat, 28 Jun 2008 08:25:21 -0500

Lake Winnebago - May 31st, 2008

Tue, 3 Jun 2008 18:39:54 -0500

Stadler and Teske Troll to Victory on the Winnebago System

In tournament fishing the wind can be an angler’s best friend, creating favorable fishing conditions, concentrating baitfish in a specific area or creating that perfect “Walleye Chop” that makes the fish turn on and aggressively bite. Conversely, the wind can quickly turn from friend to foe by muddying up the water and reducing visibility, eliminating fishing techniques, wreaking havoc on boat control and making driving difficult and dangerous. On May 31st the wind turned foe for the teams competing in the first Wisconsin Full Throttle Walleye Series event on the Winnebago system. Although the weather at take off was sunny, and the clouds and rain showers of the early morning hours had lifted, it was the wind which was on everyone’s mind. Offshore westerly winds at more than 20 mph would make running the shoreline of Lake Winnebago comfortable, but the 40 minute run through the Fox River in Oshkosh, across Lake Buttes des Mortes, through Winneconne and then into Lake Poygan would be rough, very rough. Multiple teams had planned to make the long run to the West end of Poygan during the tournament where the bite had been going strong all week. It was decision time, an on-the-water call that for many would influence the course of the days fishing and ultimately the weigh in.
One of the teams making the long run to Poygan was Rich Stadler and Rob Teske, both of Oshkosh. Teske’s 620 Ranger powered with a Mercury motor made the trip in short order, and before long the two were pulling boards on the west end of Lake Poygan. “Once we were able to find some flatter water and a depth of 5-8 feet we started catching fish,” replied Stadler, owner of Innovative Marine Solutions. In a post tournament interview, he stated that one of the keys to their success was running their crankbaits 10-25 feet behind the boards and keeping the boat at 1.5-2 mph. Although the two failed to find that kicker fish they were looking for, they did find a pod of quality fish, five of which tipped the Full Throttle scales at 13.64 pounds, good enough to capture first place and best the remainder of the field. The two anglers took home $1507.50 for their solid 2.7 pound average limit of Walleyes. Series Director Chris Jones light heartedly joked with Teske that had he been Ranger cup qualified, he would have received an additional $250.00 bonus for wining the event. Teske replied with a smile that he’ll be Ranger cup qualified for the next event in June. Congratulations on a solid limit of Walleyes on such a windy day!
In second place were Derek Navis and Korey Sprengel of Waupun who, like Stadler and Teske, pulled a limit of Walleye trolling crankbaits. The two commented on stage that, although they had planned to pitch jigs in cane beds, they quickly modified their plan due to the heavy winds and ground out a limit trolling the remainder of the day. Their limit of five Walleyes hit the scales at 9.13 pounds good enough for second place and a check worth $762.50.
Finishing in third was Jeff Schweitzer of Menasha and Joe Muthig of Greenville, who caught their limit weighing 8.84 pounds trolling crankbaits in the mouth of the river in Oshkosh. Schweitzer commented in a post tournament interview that, although they were trolling in 13-14 feet of water, one of the keys to their success was keeping their baits in about 10 feet of water. The two took home $549.00 for their day on the water.
In fourth were Tommy and Megan Ostertag, a father/daughter team fishing in their first tournament together. The two caught their fish pitching jigs tipped with leeches to rocky shorelines. They weighed in with 4 fish that locked in on the FTO scales at 8.67 pounds. Although the crowd noticed a proud father on stage with his daughter, what they likely didn’t see was the tear in his eye as he watched his daughter tell everyone how much fun she had fishing with her dad. It was clearly one of those moments that remind us what fishing and Full Throttle is really about.
Rounding out the top five were brothers Trevor and Michael Schoerner of Plymouth who weighed in with a 7.85 pound limit. Older brother Trevor is no stranger to tournament fishing, and younger brother Michael, while still in elementary school, is no stranger to tournament fishing either, now adding a Full Throttle Walleye Series top five finish to his resume.
Big fish honors for the tournament went to Scott DuFrane and Jerry VanGrinsven who pulled a 3.93 pounder trolling south on Lake Winnebago near Fond du Lac. DuFrane commented on stage during the awards ceremony that like many of the teams fishing the event they too had to adjust their plan due to the rough water. A late day move to head south helped them cross paths with the Walleye that netted them $150.00. Great Job!
One of the highlights of the weigh in particular for Series Co-Director and “weighmaster” Mark Derricks was when Ranger Pro Bob Lauridsen of Oconomowoc took the stage to weigh his fish. Bob has fished all over the country and at every level of tournament fishing, and, although he weighed only one fish, his kind remarks regarding the “faith based” focus of the Full Throttle Walleye Series were very encouraging. He stated he is very excited to see where God is planning to take the Full Throttle Walleye Series.
By all standards the tournament was a great success with 20 teams participating in the event and many spectators watching the weigh in at Menominee Park in Oshkosh. The field was comprised of multiple family member teams, including four adult junior teams and two male female teams, all of which caught fish during the tournament.
One of the components of the Full Throttle weekend which makes it so unique is the Friday night pre-tournament meeting where anglers win door prizes, go over the tournament rules, find out information on sponsors and enjoy a free dinner. This event was highlighted with a Friday night fish fry presented by the Fox Valley F.O.C.A.S. Chapter. Series Co-Director and event MC Chris Jones talked about how Full Throttle Outdoors came to be and encouraged everyone to take some time and think about what’s in your “spiritual livewell.”
The Full Throttle Walleye Series would like to thank national sponsors Ranger Boats and Mercury marine for their gracious support! The Wisconsin Series would also like to thank The Binding Edge, Wolf River Outfitters, Artworks Unlimited, Calvary Bible Church and the Fox Valley F.O.C.A.S. chapter for their support. Full Throttle Walleye Series would also like to especially thank Walleyes for Tomorrow for the use of their release boat and Ron Levin for printing and donating brochures for our 2008 season. Next stop for the Wisconsin Series is another date with the Winnebago system on Sunday, June 29th.

Mississippi River Pools 3 &4

Mon, 28 Apr 2008 23:45:56 -0500

Adsem and Olson Rock at Red Wing

Although the wind and waves rocked the boats fishing the first ever Full Throttle Walleye Series tournament on Saturday, April 26th in Red Wing, Jim Adsem and Nate Olson rocked the entire field with three stout post spawn Walleyes which tipped the scales at an impressive 17.07 pounds. The tandem anchored their impressive catch with a dandy 7.43 pounder which took home big fish honors for the tournament. The secret to their success on a blustery, white capped day on Pool 4 of the Mississippi River was a 3/8 oz. Blue-n-Purple Bucktail hair jig tipped with a Fathead minnow. Slowly working their jigs up river and keying on specific current breaks, the two were able to execute a big fish pattern that produced enough weight to double up the remainder of the field.
Many of the Minnesota Series anglers had mixed thoughts going into the tournament day given the constantly changing weather conditions and the prediction of high winds and snow in the forecast. In a post tournament interview Nate Olson of Mound, MN responded by saying, “prior to the weather change Jim and I thought it would have taken more than 20 pounds, but under today’s conditions we thought it could drop to around 10.” This turned out to be a very accurate prediction with the remainder of the field weighing in under the 10 pound range.
Jim Adsem, current Ranger pro and team Oxygenator pro of Shorewood, indicated that this time of the year the fish are constantly moving adjusting to the high water conditions and the recent spawn making patterning them difficult. Putting the day into perspective he put it best when he humbly responded, “the Lord just smiled on us today.” The two took home a check worth $1920.00 and also won $250.00 in Ranger cup money! Congratulations guys!
Local anglers Brian Sanders and Mike Wood of Red Wing finished in second place bringing two fish weighing 8.07 pounds to the scale. Like Adsem and Olson they also used a 3/8 oz. Bucktail hair jig tipped with a fathead. Wood commented during the awards ceremony that they chose an orange colored jig and caught their fish while anchoring their Ranger boat on a rock pile off of the main river. Sanders commented that the two were diligent on keeping their baits clean with the high amount of debris floating down river. A hefty 5.67 pounder helped propel them into the runner up spot and the $822.00 check that went along with it.
Finishing in third and cashing a check worth $588.00 were Ranger’s very own Joe Carlson and his tournament partner Matt Thompson who brought in the only five fish limit of the tournament weighing in at 7.36 pounds. Although the “kicker” fish eluded the two during the tournament, the two estimated that they caught as many as 25 fish during the afternoon on a spot they considered to be their second option. “We got there shortly after 12:00 and started catching fish right away,” commented Thompson, who fished his first Full Throttle event on his 36th birthday. Unlike the previous two teams Carlson and Thompson applied a different technique to pull their limit. Although they both agreed that boat control along the rocky shoreline they were fishing was a key component to their success, Carlson acknowledged that their three way rigging technique turned out to be very effective given the unruly weather. They were rigging a three way with a ½ oz dropper on a 1 foot lead and a Phelps floater attached to a 3 foot lead. The other subtle wrinkle to their system was their choice of bait. Rather than opting for the Fathead minnow they used green Nitro crawlers to tip the floaters.
Rounding out the top four were Jeff Kittelson and Bryon Haro who brought a solid 5.31 pound Walleye to the stage. The fish, which came off of a tree in the main river, and fell victim to a jig tipped with a purple and white plastic trailer was just enough to secure the fourth place spot and the 360.00 check to go with it. The two also took home the rod raffle for the weekend winning a premium rod made by Limit Creek Rods a proud sponsor of the Minnesota Series.
Despite the windy and cold weather several family members and anglers showed up to watch the weigh in at Everts Resort in Hagar City, WI. “The tournament was a great success,” commented MN Director Mark Schutz. “It was very exciting to see several years of planning come to fruition this weekend!”
One of the unique aspects to the Full Throttle Walleye Series experience is the Friday night rules meeting which includes free dinner, door prizes and an inspirational speaker. Great River Assembly of God Church in Red Wing was the host for the event. The ladies of the church prepared an all you can eat lasagna dinner for everyone that was fantastic! 1998 PWT AOY and current PWT and FLW pro Scott Fairbarin started the evening with an encouraging note, and then Pastor Tom spoke to the group. He encouraged everyone to remember that God is in control and regardless of how big the waves are that are crashing over the bow of your boat, one can always look to God for encouragement. His effective delivery and conversational style of speaking touched everyone there.
Next stop for the Minnesota Series is a June 28th date on Mille Lacs out of Mac’s Twin Bay. Interested teams are encouraged to contact Series Director Mark Schutz to sign up for the event.
Full Throttle Outdoors and The Full Throttle Walleye Series would like to thank National Sponsors Ranger Boats and Mercury Motors for their support. Without them this tournament series would not be possible. The Minnesota Series would also like to thank Frankies Marine, North Star Imaging, 1-2-1 Marketing, Discover Church, Victory Auto and Limit Creek Rods for their support.

Hello Fisherman

Sat, 1 Mar 2008 20:58:51 -0600

Welcome to Full Throttle Walleye Series!! Our first event is coming soon for the WI Division April 12th on Lake Winnebago, and on the Mississippi River pools 4 / 5 for MN Division April 26th, 2008. MN has 3 events in a division. WI has 3 events in a division. One championship.

We are a non-profit faith based team tournament series dedicated to the fisherman and there family’s. Each event has a required pre-tournament meeting which includes free dinner, inspirational speaker, and lots of door prizes. Regardless of your skill level or faith from beginner to advanced we invite you to be part of our events. Anyone and everyone is invited!

TOURNAMENT FEATURES-
Very Reasonable Entry Fee’s- $200
Free Dinner at pre-tournament meeting
Top 5 Teams in points MN -Fish Championship FREE
Top 5 Teams in points WI- Fish Championship FREE
Trophies 1st, 2nd, and 3rd. Big FISH Trophy.
Speaker
Door prizes
Payout – 1-5 boats paid. Example 50 teams = 10 spots paid.
$3,000 first place / 75 boats
Bonus Bucks Side Pot- 100% payback to entered teams
Ranger Cup Bonus – must be registered.
Official Ranger sponsored events
Official Mercury sponsored events
No-off limits
5 fish limit allows you to fish alone if you like. No problem.
Professionally run events – Lots of experience running tournaments
Message Board for discussion on website
New Website www.FTfishing.com
Championship Combined MN / WI
You can fish Championship if you fish at least 2 Full Throttle Events
Higher Ranger Cup Bonus at Championship
Winner’s pictures on website / Complete results

For complete rules, registration, and up to the date news, message board, and pictures go to www.FTfishing.com or Full Throttle website.

Here is a nice incentive to SIGN UP. If you are the next 30 teams to become members of Full Throttle Outdoors before March 30th, 2008 you will receive FREE tickets to the Northwest Sportshow and FREE Full Throttle shirts. Along with this you will get a membership packet which includes the Full Throttle Newsletter with your membership.

Special thanks sponsors! Ranger Boats, Mercury Motors, NSI, Frankie’s Marine, 121 Marketing Group.

Please feel free to contact us at FishSchutz@gmail.com or 763-566-9141.

God Bless and Good Fishing,
Mark and NaCole Schutz
Full Throttle Directors