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In the competitive world of professional fishing, the performance of your battery can make the difference in bringing home the prize or going home empty-handed. Here are two pros who put their faith in OPTIMA Batteries and are proud to wear the name

Mike Gofron
He's been doing this professional angling thing for nine years, but Mike Gofron was born a fisherman. Since a very young age, Gofron has been baiting hooks and reeling in catches. His fish of choice is the elusive walleye, but he's well adept at catching anything that bites.

For the past seven years, Mike has guided trips in Illinois and Wisconsin. During tournament season, Mike keeps reeling in the wins. Of the 39 Professional Walleye

Trail (PWT) events fished, Mike has placed in the top ten 18 times. He is the highest placing money finisher without a tournament victory and averages $3,481in winnings per PWT tournament.

He has earned the coveted In-Fisherman Angler of the Year award, as well as receiving the Coleman Cool Under Pressure award, the Storm Heavyweight award, the Remington/Stren Top Gun and numerous Bass Pro Shops Big Fish awards.

September 17, 2001
GOFRON CONQUERS MISSOURI
RIVER FOR PWT CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE

Ken Cook
As a freshwater fisheries biologist for the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation for more than a decade, Ken Cook learned the fine art of figuring out where to locate bass and other species. Perhaps that's the secret that makes him a three-time world champion, winning the Grand American World Tournament, the U.S. Bass World Tournament, and the BASS Classic World Tournament among many other regional tournaments.

Cook's been competing in bass tournies since 1971 and as a professional since 1983. He's earned a reputation as a fast fisherman...he likes to fish with fast moving baits putting big demands on his battery.

"Through the pursuit of professional fishing, I want to increase environmental awareness, which is ultimately necessary to maintain our quality of life. And I want to help others enjoy the greatest participation sport of all time, fishing. To be able to make a good living at something one really enjoys is the epitome of success. From that perspective, I am the most successful being on earth," Cook says.

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