Pavlichek and Pionk Win Over $15,000 at Lake Huron Presented by Lowrance

Pavlichek and Pionk Win Over $15,000 at Lake Huron Presented by Lowrance

Au Gres, Mich. — July 1, 2024 — The savvy anglers of the Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s Masters Walleye Circuit Presented by Lowrance on Lake Huron had an eye on the forecast all week. Chris Pavlichek (Owendale, MI) and Andrew Pionk (Bay Port, MI) knew they may have to get while the getting was good, in what may become a one-day leader take all event. With a plan in place to catch 5 walleyes for around 20 lbs., they felt they could stay in the hunt if the event did run its full 2-day course. With a stroke of luck, they bagged 22 lbs. 12 oz. on the first day and with hazardous conditions on day two Chris and Andrew are left holding the lead and now the win.

No strangers to Saginaw Bay, Chris and Andrew spent most of their time pre fishing the northwest side of Charity Island near 25 of water.  Both fished in events the two prior weeks on Lake Huron with Chris winning earlier in the month.

The winning fish were caught using gold and purple perch colored crank baits, though a few fish were also caught using crawler on harnesses.

This is the first big tournament win for the team and not only are they now champions at Lake Huron, but they also punch their ticket to Lake Francis Case in Pickstown, SD for the 2025 Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s National Team Championship (NTC). Chris and Andrew rode home with the $10,000 powered by Dakota Lithium, $2,857 in Option Pot cash, $1,000 Lowrance HDS Pro/Active Target bonus, the NTC prize package, valued at $1,000, including paid entry, custom NTC jerseys, custom NTC qualifier plaques and cash travel stipend, pairing all that with the Okuma Reels bonus for a grand total over $15,000 in cash and prizes.

Let’s have a look at the top-five teams and what they’ve won:

2nd: Wayne Butz & Joe Sommers 22-00, $3,600 cash and $2,130 option pot cash, and $3,749 Lowrance 60” Ghost Trolling Motor (Big Fish Award)

3rd: Peter Schaefer & Ray Shankel 21-10, $2,300 cash and $1,428 option pot cash

4th: Steven Schooley & Dillion Pavlichek 21-01, $1,600 cash 

5th: Kody Gordon & Randy Dittenbir 20-11, $1,200 cash

Anglers grom 8 states caught 162 fish weighing a total of 584 lbs. 10 oz. during the weather-shortened event. Landing a walleye weighing 6lbs. 8oz., Wayne Butz and Joe Sommers won the Lowrance Big Fish bonus, a 60” Ghost trolling motor, courtesy of Lowrance. The Dakota Lithium Comeback Award winners were Jacob and John Clark, receiving (3) Dakota Lithium batteries and chargers valued at over $4,200.

Each MWC event has a lucrative payout which is based on the number of teams entered in that event. New for 2024 is a GUARANTEED minimum $10,000 first place prize powered by Dakota Lithium at every event. Overall payout is still 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, Dakota Lithium, and Okuma 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 40 years. The MWC is open to walleye anglers from all walks of life. The 2024 schedule includes seven qualifiers in six states, plus berths into the 2025 Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s MWC World Walleye Championship in Alexandria, MN. Registration is now open for all events. Visit masterswalleyecircuit.com for full details.

Bass Pro Shops & Cabela’s are in their 23rd season as title sponsor of the Masters Walleye Circuit. Official sponsors include: Lowrance Electronics, Mercury Marine, Lew’s Fishing, Dakota Lithium, and Ranger Boats. Associate sponsors include: The Walleye Federation, Church Tackle, FishLab, Okuma, T-H Marine and Salmo Java Coffee. For more information, email support@masterswalleyecircuit.com or call (580) 765-9031.

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Day 2 at Lake Huron Canceled Due to Hazardous Weather Conditions

Day 2 at Lake Huron Canceled Due to Hazardous Weather Conditions

 

Due to current wind and wave conditions on Lake Huron, the second day of the 2024 Bass pro Shops and Cabela’s Masters Walleye Circuit at Au Gres, MI is canceled. Awards will be presented based upon the Day One results. Anglers must be present to be eligible for Dakota Lithium Comeback award.  Full story, photos and results will be posted later today.

 

Saginaw Bay for the 4th Stop of the 2024 Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s Masters Walleye Circuit Season

Saginaw Bay for the 4th Stop of the 2024 Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s Masters Walleye Circuit Season

Presented by: Lowrance

 

Ponca City, Oklahoma – June 7th, 2024 – The landing spot for the 4th stop of the 2024 Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s Masters Walleye Circuit (MWC) is Au Gres, MI on the north shores of Lake Huron and the clear waters of Saginaw Bay. Lake Huron is the second largest of the great lakes and offers up a target rich environment for anglers hunting for trophy walleyes at this event presented by Lowrance.

Lake Huron and the waters of Saginaw Bay are teaming with massive amounts of walleyes just waiting to be caught by savvy tournament fishermen coming from across the country. The walleye population is so large in Saginaw Bay that the Michigan DNR raised the daily bag limits for walleyes from six fish to a generous bag of eight walleyes per person. These fish aren’t just your run of the mill 2-3 lb. walleyes found on most inland lakes around the country. Anglers competing in this event have a shot at landing fish over 10 lbs. every time they reach for the net. Although trolling is the most popular way to catch these fish, over the years, forward-facing sonar units like the Lowrance Active-Target have become a staple in the fishing industry with fishermen using them to target both suspended and structure hugging walleyes. It’s anyone’s game at this stop in Au Gres.

 

MWC Tournament Pro and former World Walleye Champion, Adam Hume, had this to say about the fishery on Saginaw Bay, “The sheer number of walleyes that are available to anglers is astounding on Saginaw Bay and just keeps increasing every year. There will be no shortage of fish no matter what direction teams go. Casting, jigging, or trolling. In June, everything comes into play out here.”

 

Event specifics include a 7:00 am (CDT) take-off each day and live weigh-ins both at the Au Gres Boat access on Harbor Road in Au Gres, MI at 3:15 pm (CDT) on June 28th and 29th, 2024. Spectators are welcomed to join in person as the weigh-in is free and open to the public, or follow the action live online at masterswalleyecircuit.com or on the official Facebook page, facebook.com/MastersWalleyeCircuit

 

Registration for this tournament on Lake Huron out of Au Gres, Michigan closes on June 24th, 2024. Teams that are interested in signing up should visit www.masterswalleyecircuit.com/registration or call the Federation National Office at (580) 765-9031.

 

As part of the 2024 MWC season, anglers will vie for a coveted spot in the 2025 Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s World Walleye Championship in Alexandria, MN. Teams can participate in as many events as they wish, with points earned in at least three qualifiers necessary for an invitation to the World Walleye Championship. 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.

 

While everyone is welcome and encouraged to come and fish all MWC events or just one that gets close to you, for a shot at a great payback and prizes, the NEW points structure for 2024 better protects those teams fishing 3 or more events. It is based in part on angler feedback received during previous seasons.  MWC Rule #14 now explains that MWC teams that register for the last two (2) events each year and have not fished any previous MWC events that season, can still fish and win BIG, but with only two possible scores from the last two events they cannot advance so points don’t matter to those anglers and so they will receive none. They do matter to MWC teams who have fished all year and are working on qualifying for the World Walleye Championship (WWC) or a Team of the Year (TOY) titles, their points at the last two events of the season will now be awarded based on their fishing abilities only against others on in same position. I.E. those fishing 3 or more events.

 

Each MWC event has a lucrative payout which is based on the number of teams entered into that event. New for 2024 is a GUARANTEED minimum $10,000 first place prize powered by Dakota Lithium at every event. Overall payout is still 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, Dakota Lithium, and Okuma 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 40 years. The MWC is open to walleye anglers from all walks of life. The 2024 schedule includes seven qualifiers in six states, plus berths into the 2025 Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s MWC World Walleye Championship in Alexandria, MN. Registration is now open for all events. Visit masterswalleyecircuit.com for full details.

 

Bass Pro Shops & Cabela’s are in their 23rd season as title sponsor of the Masters Walleye Circuit. Official sponsors include: Lowrance Electronics, Mercury Marine, Lew’s Fishing, Dakota Lithium, and Ranger Boats. Associate sponsors include: The Walleye Federation, Church Tackle, FishLab, Okuma, Salmo Java, and T-H Marine. For more information, email support@masterswalleyecircuit.com, or call (580) 765-9031.

Winnebago Locals Gordon and Carl Rose, Win MWC in Oshkosh

Oshkosh, Wisc. — June 1st, 2024 — The 2024 Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s Masters Walleye Circuit just finished up its third event of the season.  Many of the 146 anglers at Lake Winnebago are starting their run in points for Team of the Year and spot in the 2025 World Walleye Championship (WWC). Fond du Lac, Wisconsin residents Gordon and Carl Rose made a stand for a potential run to WWC in 2025 at the event on Lake Winnebago, Presented by Mercury Marine.

This tournament saw many teams from the state of Wisconsin with a lot of combined knowledge about the Winnebago system. Gordon and Carl spent a week preparing for what turned out to be an awesome finale. When weigh-in came around, the duo from Fond du Lac had risen above the field and secured a big win on their home waters.

Gordon and Carl had put together a solid program that consisted of trolling small crank baits on the southern half of the lake. On day one, they had almost the entire spot to themselves. On the morning of day two, there were two other walleye tournaments that had also taken off on Saturday morning and a lot of those boats had also found the same fish. With heavy pressure, the fish in their spot had shut down and the team had to make a move. After a little searching they found a spot with absolutely no boats around them with hungry fish. Short trolling passes through the schools of walleyes proved to be the ticket to winning. Gordon and Carl put together a combined two day total weight of 34-03 lbs.With that weight, the duo locked up the win with $11,450 in cash and prizes that included a $1000 Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s NTC prize package, two Okuma fishing reels and of course, the trophies, for a grand total of almost $12,000.

Rounding out the top-five remaining teams:

2nd: Ryan Mereness and Justin Heider 32-14, $5,400 cash and $1,000 Lowrance Bonus

3rd:  Tom and Scott Albrecht 30-04, $3,650 cash and $3,500 option pot

4th:  Joe Schnieder and Mike Maas 29-11, $2,600 cash

5th: Brett and Alex Wilkens 29-09, $2,150 cash

The teams caught 591 fish weighing a total of 1403-13 lbs. during the event. The Big Fish of the event was 5-14 lbs caught by Joe Schnieder and Mike Maas.

The Dakota Lithium come back award went to Craig Hable and Mathew Stobbe. They had a place change of 63rd to 25th. A jump of 38 places. For that comeback they were awarded a set of three (3) Dakota Lithium Batteries and chargers worth almost $5,000.

KODAK Digital Still Camera

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 40 years. The MWC is open to walleye anglers from all walks of life. The 2024 schedule includes seven qualifiers in six states, plus berths into the 2025 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 23rd season as title sponsor of the Masters Walleye Circuit. Official sponsors include: Lowrance Electronics, Mercury Marine, Lew’s Fishing, Dakota Lithium, and Ranger Boats. Associate sponsors include: The Walleye Federation, Church Tackle, FishLab, Okuma, and T-H Marine. For more information, email support@masterswalleyecircuit.com, or call (580) 765-9031.