Jim Kalkofen, the executive director of In-Fisherman Professional Walleye Trail, promises plenty of "pleasant surprises with our additions" when the championship returns to Bismarck in October.

Kalkofen was in town Wednesday afternoon for more planning ahead of the Oct. 13-15 championship that will be staged out of Fort StevensonState Park in Garrison, with weigh-ins again at the Bismarck Civic Center.

Although Bismarck was the host city for the championship six times between 1996 and 2002, "this will supercede all of those," he said Wednesday afternoon before heading to meetings with local organizations and groups.

He will join Terry Harzinski, of the Bismarck-Mandan Convention and Visitors Bureau, this morning for a press conference on the tournament.

"A lot of people in Bismarck came to past PWTs, and they will be pleasantly surprised with the additions," he said.

New this year will be the Family Fun Festival, which will include a rock-climbing wall, a kid's trout-fishing pond, a "Host Your Own TV Show" simulator, an air-rifle range and paintball range inside an enclosed trailer.

This year's sport show again will feature gear, boats, ATVs and tackle from various manufacturers.

"And the weigh-ins will have a whole lot of surprises," he added.

Anglers may keep and weigh only four walleyes per day. Walleyes will be harvested and the fillets will be donated, Kalkofen said.

Because of the 85-mile commute anglers will make from Fort Stevenson to the Civic Center during the championship, weigh-ins will be held later in the day, about 6 p.m. Kalkofen estimated.

Gas prices may be up, but the daily commute between Bismarck and Garrison isn't a contentious issue, Kalkofen said.

Although anglers in past championships in Bismarck fished the Missouri River, PWT anglers and the advisory group wanted to fish Sakakawea.

"They asked to catch good walleyes. They would prefer an opportunity to excel at what they do best," Kalkofen explained.

The 50 anglers who make the championship will spend a morning - probably Monday, Kalkofen said - ahead of the championship, visiting with kids at local schools.

"It will give the kids a chance to see examples of successful people. If they get a good education, they can be a fish head or an engineer," he said.

PWT Championship anglers met with 3,500 kids two years ago, he added.

Kalkofen also is anticipating this championship field could include one of the largest contingents of North Dakota pro anglers ever.

"Shannon (Kehl, of Menoken) and Sheldon (Meidinger, of Bismarck) are doing well," he said. He also pointed to Johnnie Candle, of Devils Lake; Jim Carroll, of Minot; Tom Backer, of Fargo, and Greg Ehli, of Bismarck, as potential entries in the 50-angler championship field.

The PWT soon will begin seeking observers to accompany the pro anglers during their fishing excursions.

Although they won't fish, observers will ride to and from the lake with the pro as well as ride in the boat, Kalkofen said.

The observer will be on hand to help the angler, if necessary, and as a safety precaution. The observers also will get an insider's look at how pros think as well as the tactics they use to fish tournaments, Kalkofen said.

Before heading to Devils Lake, then down to Mobridge, S.D., for next week's PWT event, Kalkofen's to-do list includes meetings with the Bismarck Mandan Chamber of Commerce, the Bismarck-Mandan CVB, the state division of tourism and Montana-Dakota Utilities, which is sponsoring the "Pros in School" day.

"July's here," he said. "It's time to fine-tune."

(Reach outdoor writer Richard Hinton at 250-8256 or richard.hinton@;bismarcktribune.com.)