The 2017 Minnesota Tournament Trail (MTT) Championship was held September 14-15, 2017 at Lake of the Woods out of Border View Lodge. Seventy-two teams competed for two days to see who would take home a 2017 Skeeter WX1850, F-150 Yamaha outboard and trailer.

Two-person teams were allowed to bring in six fish per day in this slot-limit lake. Five or six could be 14-inches to under 19 ½ inches. One per day could be 28 inches or over. The event was filmed by “MidWest Outdoors Television” and will air in late December.

At the end of Day One the Skeeter Boat Team of Craig and Cathy Feierabend were in the lead with 19.30 pounds. In second place was the Skeeter Boat Team of Luke and Neil Petrowske with 18.54 pounds. Third place were Gordon Schreifels and David Kloeppner with 17.36 and in fourth was Scott Hansen and Brian Nelson with 17.30 pounds.

After Day Two, the Skeeter Boat Team of Todd and Diane Warmbold came out on top with a day one weight of 8.54 pounds and an incredible second-day weight of 25.27 for a total of 33.81 to win the Skeeter WX1850, F150 Yamaha Outboard and trailer. Team Warmbold also won $100 from the WavePro Incentive Money for having two WavePro Hi-Performance boat pedestals in their Skeeter.

Second place went to the Skeeter Boat Team of Craig and Cathy Feierabend with a total weight of 31.45, earning them $8,400. Third place was the team of Aaron Jackson and Michael Staples with 30.86 pounds, worth $5,400. Fourth place was the team of Nate Gilkey and Shawn Flemming with 28.54 pounds worth $4,400. Fifth place went to Tony and Hunter Nitti with 28.30 pounds earning them $3,900 and in sixth place was the Skeeter Boat Team of Luke and Neil Petrowske with 27.96 pounds, earning them $3,400.

Big Fish for the tournament went to Jon and Ken Hunt with 12.19-pound walleye worth $720.

At all MTT events, MTT/Skeeter Boat Center Incentive Money is paid out to the highest finishing Skeeter Boat with Yamaha Outboard. At this event, Craig and Cathy Feierabend received $100.

The Denny’s Resort Come from Behind Award for $500 goes to the team that moves the most spots on Day Two. For this tournament, Aaron Jackson and Michael Staples moved 50 spots.

The 2017 WavePro Team of the Year went to Bob Nitti and Bryan Dunaiski. They received $2,500, two WavePro Hi-Performance boat pedestals and jackets.

The MTT/Skeeter Boat Center Husband/Wife Team of the Year went to the Skeeter Boat Team of Todd and Diane Warmbold and the MTT/Skeeter Boat Center Father/Son Team of the Year went to Skeeter Boat Team members Dayton and Corey Jahn. The winners of these two divisions were awarded a pair of JT Outdoors Custom rods, MTT clothing and jackets.

The MTT would like to thank Border View Lodge (800-Pro-Fish) for tournament headquarters. Adrian’s Resort (218-634-1985) for parking and River’s Bend Resort (218-634-3084) for the great food and banquet Friday night.

A special “Thanks” to all our great sponsors in 2017 and we look forward to working with you in 2018. Last but not least, thanks to all you great anglers who keep coming year after year. Without you, none of this would be possible. Thank you!

See you on the Trail in 2018.

The Minnesota Tournament Trail is sponsored by Skeeter Boats, Yamaha Outboards, WavePro Hi Performance Pedestals, Skeeter Boat Center (Chippewa Falls, WI & Ramsey, Minn), Tinker Larson Dodge (Mora, Min), Budweiser, Nitti’s Hunters Point Resort (Mille Lacs), Denny’s Resort (Lake Winnie), Coyote Wild, Lake of the Woods Tourism, TAHO Sportswear, The Friendly Buffalo and Border View Lodge (Lake of the Woods).

Results

Place                    Team                              # Of fish    Total Weight   Prize

1   Todd Warmbold/Diane Warmbold          12         33.81                      SkeeterWX1850/150Yamaha/Trailer

2   Craig Feierabend/Cathy Feierabend       12         31.45    $8,400.00

3   Aaron Jackson/Michael Staples               11         30.86    $5,400.00

4   Nate Gilkey/Shawn Flemming                 12         28.54    $4,400.00

5   Tony Nitti/Hunter Nitti                             12          28.3      $3,900.00

6   Luke Petrowske/Neil Petrowske              12         27.96    $3,400.00

7   Nate Niehoff/Jesse Brunette                     10         27.68    $2,900.00

8   Scott Hansen/Brian Nelson                       12         27.54    $2,400.00

9   Gordon Schreifels/David Kloeppner       12         27.02    $1,900.00

10 Lonny Witkofsky/Teresa Witkofsky        12         26.33    $1,400.00

11 Thomas Fischer/John Obremski                11         25.29    $1,200.00