Karrick and Cappelli Live Up to the Title of “Toughest Anglers on Planet Earth” in Spring Valley! Presented by Ranger Boats

Karrick and Cappelli Live Up to the Title of “Toughest Anglers on Planet Earth” in Spring Valley!

Presented by Ranger Boats

Spring Valley, Ill – March 19, 2023 – The first tournament of the 2023 schedule that kicked off the 40th consecutive season for the Masters Walleye Circuit is in the books. Like in years past, the Illinois River did not disappoint. Despite the winter-like weather, anglers were able to catch some impressive saugers and even a few walleyes to bring across the stage to start the off the race for who will become the Team of the Year for 2023. Tony Karrick from Elgin, IL, and Sam Cappelli from Poland, OH were able to edge ahead of the rest of field and bring home the 1st place trophy at this, Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s Masters Walleye Circuit (MWC) event, in Spring Valley, Illinois, presented by Ranger Boats.

Karrick and Cappelli deciphered just what those bigger saugers and walleyes wanted to eat during game time. They, along with 102 other teams were dealt with some tough fishing conditions during the tournament. The anglers competing in the first event of 2023 experienced everything from bitter cold to brutal winds and even a little snow with a few rays of sunshine in between. This field of anglers earned their title of “The Toughest Anglers on Planet Earth.” The winning team stated that they knew where the “right” fish were. It was only a matter of getting them to react to their offerings. “We worked through about four different areas. We pulled small shallow running Bandit crank baits with Blood Run lead-core to get these fish to go. Each day, we were able to land between 20 and 30 fish with only running four total lines. There were a lot of smaller fish but, we knew this is what they wanted to eat and we just kept working until the bigger fish ate.” said Tony and Sam. The team ended with a combined weight of 21-05 lbs. that put them into first place early-on during the day-two weigh-ins. They were able to hold that spot until the end to secure a well-earned 1st place trophy.

Along with those well-earned 1st place trophies, Karrick and Cappelli secured a total $24,000 that included a $1,000 NTC prize package, $1,000 Lowrance Bonus, an $8,000 Ranger Cup Bonus, and two (2) Okuma reels worth $100 each.

Here’s a look at how the rest of the top 5 teams did on the Illinois River:

2nd Adam Hume and Mike Karner 21-01 lbs. $6,560 cash

3rd Don Olson and Randy Carroll 20-15 lbs. $4,320 cash

4th Chris and Dawson Ploch 20-12 lbs. $3,380 cash

5th Wayne Butz and Joseph Sommers 19-14 lbs. $2,950 cash, $5,000 option pot

The total payout for this event at this Spring Valley was $86,614 paid between 20 places out of 103 teams. This annual event in middle-America brought walleye anglers and sauger slayers from 15 states and even a team from Windsor, Ontario. Anglers John Oflynn and Eric Maggio from Illinois caught big fish of the weekend weighing in at 4-07 lbs. The largest sack of the weekend was caught by Premier Team, Adam Hume and Mike Karner from Michigan that weighed 12-07 lbs. The competitors caught a total of 670 fish over the course of two days that weighed a total of 1,123-06 lbs.

The staff and anglers of the MWC want to thank the Spring Valley Boat Club for once again hosting this event. Everyone loves coming here to kick-off their tournament season and for some, wetting a line for the first time of the season on open water. We look forward to many more years of this great partnership and allowing the MWC to continue its tradition of opening its tournament season on the Illinois River.

Under the umbrella of The Walleye Federation (TWF), the Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s Masters Walleye Circuit is North America’s longest-running and undisputed leader in team walleye tournaments and as an inductee into the freshwater fishing hall of fame, has set the standard for competitive walleye fishing for the past 39 years and has directly donated hundreds of thousands and helped raise millions of dollars to support walleye & conservation programs nationwide. The MWC is open to walleye anglers from all walks of life. The 2023 schedule includes seven qualifiers in six states, plus a berth into the 2024 Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s MWC World Walleye Championship.

Bass Pro Shops & Cabela’s – The World’s Foremost Outfitters, are in their 22nd season as title sponsor of the Masters Walleye Circuit. Official sponsors include: Lowrance Electronics, Mercury Marine, and Ranger Boats. Associate sponsors include: The Walleye Federation, Church Tackle, FishLab, Okuma, Power-Pole and T-H Marine. For more information, email support@masterswalleyecircuit.com, or call (580) 765-9031.

2023 Illinois River – Keeping Tradition Alive to Start – MWC 40th Season Presented by Ranger Boats

  • Filed under MWC News

  • February 28, 2023

2023 Illinois River – Keeping Tradition Alive to Start – MWC 40th Season

Presented by Ranger Boats

Ponca City, Okla, — Feb. 27, 2023 – In keeping with a long-standing tradition, the Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s Masters Walleye Circuit (MWC) will once again visit the Illinois River in Spring Valley, Illinois to kick-off the circuit’s 40th season!

This event is a welcomed change of pace for walleye anglers coming from all over the country where the vast majority of them, just a few weeks prior to this tournament, were freezing on a frozen lake looking down an eight-inch hole dreaming about the walleyes and saugers they were going to be bringing across the stage in Spring Valley at the first major walleye tournament of 2023 in the country. “I look forward to the MWC Illinois River event every spring. Familiar faces, a familiar venue, and a plethora of both local anglers and seasoned pros all coming together to partake in the first major event in professional team walleye fishing of the year. This is the perfect starting place for anglers to knock the dust off of those long rods and put some fish in the boat!” Said Jeff Kelm, Tournament Director for the MWC.

Savvy anglers know that the Illinois River is one of the best sauger fisheries in the country, with a possibility of catching the new state record on any cast or drop. This wouldn’t be possible without the hard work put in by the state. The Illinois Department of Natural Resources will once again be teaming up with the MWC and the anglers to collect DNA samples and eggs in order to bolster the state’s successful sauger stocking program. Over the years, the MWC and its anglers have provided well over 5,000 fish to help continue the program and keep the Illinois River on the map as one of the nation’s top sauger fishing destinations.

Take-off will take place at 7:30am (CDT) each day. Daily live weigh-ins will be held at the Spring Valley Boat Club beginning at 3:30pm (CDT) both days on March 17th and 18th. Everyone is welcome to watch and join in on the fun and excitement either in person, live online at masterswalleyecircuit.com or on our Facebook page, facebook.com/MastersWalleyeCircuit.

Anglers competing during the 2023 MWC season will be competing for a spot in the 2024 Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s World Walleye Championship in Alpena, Michigan on Lake Huron.

MWC Teams may fish as many events as they wish during a season. Teams must earn points in at least three qualifiers to have a chance at earning an invitation to the World Walleye Championship in the final “best of 3” final standing each year.

Those earning points in at least four qualifiers compete for “Team of the Year” honors, including a $10,000 sponsorship package and thousands more in cash and prizes to the top 10 teams in the final “best of 4” final standing each year.

Each MWC event has a lucrative payout which is based on the number of teams entered into that event, and is awarded to 20% of the field, providing more inspiration to sign up and join the fun. In addition to a hefty check, the first-place team also earns a $1,000 Bass Pro Shops/Cabela’s National Team Championship (NTC) prize package including: paid entry, a travel stipend, team jerseys, and plaques. Additionally, the big-fish pot, option-pot and sponsor bonuses from Ranger Cup, Lowrance, Okuma, and T-H Marine Atlas Awards will add thousands more for distribution among the field.

Under the umbrella of The Walleye Federation (TWF), the Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s Masters Walleye Circuit is North America’s longest-running and undisputed leader in team walleye tournaments and as an inductee into the freshwater fishing hall of fame, has set the standard for competitive walleye fishing for the past 39 years. The MWC is open to walleye anglers from all walks of life. The 2023 schedule includes seven qualifiers in six states, plus berths into the 2024 Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s MWC World Walleye Championship. Registration is now open for all events. Visit masterswalleyecircuit.com for full details.

Bass Pro Shops & Cabela’s –Are in their 22th season as title sponsor of the Masters Walleye Circuit. Official sponsors include: Lowrance Electronics, Mercury Marine, and Ranger Boats. Associate sponsors include: The Walleye Federation, Church Tackle, FishLab, Okuma, Power-Pole and T-H Marine. For more information, email support@masterswalleyecircuit.com, or call (580) 765-9031.

2023 Masters Walleye Circuit Registration Opens Jan. 5th! Presented by Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s

2023 Masters Walleye Circuit Registration Opens Jan. 5th!

Presented by Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s

The 2022 season is now behind us and anticipation for 2023, the 40th season of the Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s Masters Walleye Circuit (MWC) is growing! 2023 registration will open at 9:00 am (CST) January 5th, online, at masterswalleyecircuit.com or by calling the MWC at (580)765-9031.

Like in decades past, teams that fish the longest running national walleye series in North America will battle it out for their share of hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash and prizes that will be awarded throughout the year and a total payback that will exceed well over 100% of entry fees from the season. While costs have skyrocketed everywhere around us, MWC has held the line with no increases in entry fees or memberships and still the same great payouts!

Here is what the 2023 season looks like for awaiting anglers:

March 17-18, Spring Valley, IL. (Illinois River)

April 21-22, Monroe, MI (Lake Erie/Detroit River)

May 5-6, Red Wing, MN (Mississippi River)

June 16-17, Lake Erie, OH (Cleveland Area)

July 21-22, Oconto, WI (Bay of Green Bay)

August 25-26, Wagner, SD (Lake Francis Case)

September 15-16, Cass Lake, MN (Cass Lake)

2023 World Walleye Championship October 5-7, Pierre, SD (Lake Sharpe) (2022 Season Qualifiers)

2024 World Walleye Championship -Alpena, MI. September 26-28 (2023 Season Qualifiers)

MWC will once again offer “Premier Team” status for those teams that sign up for at least (3) events at once, prior to fishing their first event of the year. Premier Team status is our way of saying “Thank You” for their commitment to fishing the Masters Walleye Circuit and comes with multiple benefits such as, the use of a pre-designated substitute, delayed billing Premier Team swag and more.

MWC Teams may fish as many events as they wish during a season. Teams must earn points in at least three qualifiers to have a chance at earning an invitation to the World Walleye Championship in the final “best of 3” final standing each year.

Those earning points in at least four qualifiers compete for “Team Of The Year” honors, including a $10,000 sponsorship package and thousands more in cash and prizes to the top 10 teams in the TOY race each year.

Anglers competing in the 2023 MWC season qualifiers will be attempting to earn a coveted spot in the 2024 Bass Pro Shops Cabela’s World Walleye Championship (WWC). In late September of 2024, the best anglers from the 2023 MWC season, “The Toughest Anglers on Planet Earth”, will travel to the famed waters of Lake Huron in Alpena, MI. tucked inside Thunder Bay. There they will battle it out during the 2024 World Walleye Championship (WWC). Lake Huron is known to hold some of the largest walleyes in the world, and although we are over a year and a half away, anticipation for this event is strong.

Teams that competed and qualified through the 2022 MWC season will find themselves on the wild-west shores of the Missouri River on Lake Sharpe in Pierre, SD during the 2024 World Walleye Championship October 5-7, 2023 for a shoot-out that is sure to draw anglers, families and crowds from around the country. There they will compete for a chance to take home the coveted World Walleye Championship trophy and their share of a prize purse that will easily exceed $100,000!

Each MWC event has a lucrative payout which is based on the number of teams entered into that event, and is awarded to 20% of the field, providing more inspiration to sign up and join the fun. In addition to a hefty check, the first-place team also earns a $1,000 Bass Pro Shops/Cabela’s National Team Championship (NTC) prize package including: paid entry, a travel stipend, team jerseys, and plaques. Additionally, the big-fish pot, option-pot and sponsor bonuses from Ranger Cup, Lowrance, Okuma, and T-H Marine Atlas Awards will add thousands more for distribution among the field.

Under the umbrella of The Walleye Federation (TWF), the Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s Masters Walleye Circuit is North America’s longest-running and undisputed leader in team walleye tournaments and as an inductee into the freshwater fishing hall of fame, has set the standard for competitive walleye fishing for the past 39 years. The MWC is open to walleye anglers from all walks of life. The 2023 schedule includes seven qualifiers in six states, plus berths into the 2024 Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s MWC World Walleye Championship.

Bass Pro Shops & Cabela’s – Are in their 22nd season as title sponsor of the Masters Walleye Circuit. Official sponsors include: Lowrance Electronics, Mercury Marine, Ranger Boats and The Walleye Federation. Associate sponsors include: Church Tackle, FishLab, Okuma, Power-Pole, and T-H Marine. For more information, email support@masterswalleyecircuit.com , or call (580) 765-9031.

2023 Schedule Released to Industry at ICAST

Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s Masters Walleye Circuit 2023 Schedule Released to Industry at ICAST

Targeted Line Up Promises More Fish, More Winnings And More Fun

Ponca City, Okla.—Aug 3, 2022—The Bass Pro Shops / Cabela’s Masters Walleye Circuit (MWC) recently unveiled its 2023 schedule to industry companies at ICAST in Orlando, FL. The MWC is the longest running National Walleye Circuit of any kind and targets high-stakes, team-format qualifying events on seven of the nation’s top walleye destinations, while following our mission statement of focusing on the “Best Walleye Waters At The Best Times, For The Toughest Anglers On Planet Earth.” Entry fees for the 2023 season will remain unchanged as they have been for more than 12 years.

As the 2023 Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s Masters Walleye Circuit will enter its 39th year, teams will have seven qualifying events to choose from to vie for a chance to qualify for the longest running circuit championship in all of walleye fishing. Top point-accumulating teams on the 2023 circuit fishing three or more events will qualify for the 2024 Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s MWC World Walleye Championship, September 26-28, 2024 at Alpena, MI.

“We try to gain input from the anglers each year to build out an exciting schedule that anglers would want to fish, and hold them in communities that welcome the anglers.”  Tournament Director Jeff Kelm said, “We also try to move the World Walleye Championship across the county from east to west and back again to better serve anglers and to test their skills to see who can earn the title of World Walleye Champions.”

The 2023 Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s Masters Walleye Circuit tournament schedule will look like this, pending permit approvals from various state agencies:

March 17-18, Spring Valley, IL. (Illinois River)

April 21-22, Monroe, MI (Lake Erie/Detroit River)

May 5-6, Redwing, MN (Mississippi River)

June 16-17, Lake Erie, OH (Cleveland Area)

July 21-22, Oconto, WI (Bay of Green Bay)

August 25-26, Wagner, SD (Lake Francis Case)

September 15-16, Cass Lake, MN (Cass Lake)

2023 WWC October 5-7, Pierre, SD (Lake Sharpe) (2022 Season Qualifiers)

2024 WWC -Alpena, MI. September 26-28 (2023 Season Qualifiers)

The Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s Masters Walleye Circuit’s lucrative payouts, based on the number of teams entered in each event, provide even more inspiration to join the fun. In addition, the MWC big-fish pot, option pot payouts and sponsor bonuses including Ranger Cup, Lowrance Electronics, Okuma, and T-H Marine Atlas Awards add thousands more to the total. As a result, winners have a chance at pocketing $10,000 or more in extra awards based on these bonus programs in cash and prizes. Plus, the first-place team at each event wins a $1,000 Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s National Team Championship Prize Package including paid NTC entry, travel stipend, team jerseys and plaques. The MWC always pays back considerably more than 100% in cash and prizes every year.

Teams fishing at least four qualifying events in 2023 will compete for “Team of the Year” awards including a $10,000 “MWC Living the Dream” sponsorship package and thousands more in cash, Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s gift cards and paid tournament entries.

Under the umbrella of The Walleye Federation (TWF), the Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s Masters Walleye Circuit is North America’s longest-running and undisputed leader in team walleye tournaments and as an inductee into the freshwater fishing hall of fame, has set the standard for competitive walleye fishing for 38 years, since 1984. MWC events are open to avid walleye anglers from all walks of life. Registration for the 2023 events will open in January 3, 2023 online at masterswalleyecircuit.com.

Bass Pro Shops & Cabela’s – The World’s Foremost Outfitters, are in their 21st season as title sponsor of the Masters Walleye Circuit. Official sponsors include: Lowe Equipment Attachments, Lowrance Electronics, Mercury Marine, Ranger Boats and The Walleye Federation. Associate sponsors include: Church Tackle, Okuma, Power-Pole, Fish Labs and T-H Marine. For more information, email support@masterswalleyecircuit.com, or call (580) 765-9031.

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