2026 Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s Masters Walleye Circuit Schedule Release The Legacy Continues: “Best Waters at The Best Times – Toughest Anglers on Planet Earth”

2026 Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s Masters Walleye Circuit Schedule Release

The Legacy Continues: “Best Waters at The Best Times – Toughest Anglers on Planet Earth”

Ponca City, Okla. – August 11, 2025 – The Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s Masters Walleye Circuit (MWC) continues its tradition of fishing the “Best Waters at The Best Times” across the walleye world. As the nation’s longest-running team-format walleye circuit, the MWC features the “Toughest Anglers on Planet Earth” while offering over 100% payback in cash and prizes annually. Competitors will have the chance to fish diverse locations, as well as return to some of the favorite locations from the past.

“2026 looks to be a really promising schedule, with a ton of fish to be caught…” Jeff Kelm, Tournament Director for the MWC says, “A lot of angler feedback goes into putting these schedules together, in an effort to put them on some great fishing with great competition.”

The 2026 Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s Masters Walleye Circuit schedule, pending permit approvals from the various state and federal agencies, will proceed as follows:

March 20-21 – Illinois River, Spring Valley, Il

May 8-9 – Mississippi River, Red Wing, MN

June 5-6 – Lake Winnebago, Oshkosh, WI

July 23-24 – St. Mary’s River, Sault Ste Marie, MI

August 21-22 – Bitter Lake, Webster, SD

September 18-19 – Cass Lake, Cass Lake, MN

Oct. 1-3 World Walleye Championship (2025 Qualifying) – Devils Lake, Devils Lake, ND

World Walleye Championship (2026 Qualifying) – TBA

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 since 1984 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 2026 schedule includes six qualifiers in five states.

Bass Pro Shops & Cabela’s are looking forward to kicking off their 25th 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, T-H Marine, Seakeeper and Salmo Java Coffee.

For more information, contact support@masterswalleyecircuit.com or call (580) 765-9031.

Masters Walleye Circuit Rounds Out The Qualifying Season with Annual Return to Cass Lake, MN

Masters Walleye Circuit Rounds Out the Qualifying Season with Annual Return to Cass Lake, MN

Presented by: Mercury

Ponca City, Oklahoma – August 7, 2025 – The Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s Masters Walleye Circuit (MWC) final qualifying event in Cass Lake, MN is fast approaching on September 12-13. With Max Wilson and Marc Wilson still holding a healthy lead in the Team of the Year points race, teams are going to have to capitalize on the fantastic walleye fishing that can be found on Cass Lake. Having over 15,000 fishable acres of water in early September, teams will be able to locate walleyes in many different areas in their transition from late summer to early fall stages.

The slot limit on Cass Lake restricts anglers to one fish over 20” per angler, per day. Teams will need to have the perfect size “unders” – over 15” and as close to 20” as they can be – while also making sure to find the largest “overs” that the lake has to offer, in order to stay competitive.

Tournament Director Jeffery Kelm is looking forward to the return of Cass Lake and said “I always find it interesting the mix of energy at Cass Lake, between competition and entertainment everyone seems to find their reason – or purpose – to attend this traditional final regular qualifying season event. Stony Point is an excellent location – both as a host, and a fishing destination.”

With the rounding out of the regular season approaching, all anglers – past, present, and future – should keep watch for the announcement of the 2026 regular season for the Bass Pro Shop’s and Cabela’s Masters Walleye Circuit.

On tournament days take-offs will begin at 7:30 a.m. (CST) each morning with live weigh-ins to follow each afternoon beginning at 3:30 p.m. at Stony Point Resort, in Cass Lake, MN. Spectators are encouraged to attend the free, family-friendly event to watch the action unfold in person. For those unable to attend, live coverage will be available online at www.masterswalleyecircuit.com and through the official MWC Facebook page at facebook.com/MastersWalleyeCircuit.

Registration for this tournament on Cass Lake out Stony Point Resort in Cass Lake, MN closes on Monday, September 8, 2025. Teams that are interested in signing up should visit:

www.masterswalleyecircuit.com/registration

or call

Federation National Office at (580) 765-9031.

As part of the 2025 MWC season, anglers will vie for a coveted spot in the 2026 Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s World Walleye Championship in Devil’s Lake North Dakota. 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. MWC’s “Living the Dream” team, using points from four qualifiers throughout the regular season, will earn a sponsorship package valued up to $15,000 which includes a spot to compete in the National Team Championship and up to four paid MWC events.

Each MWC event has a lucrative payout which is based on the number of teams entered into that event. Overall payout 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, Ranger Cup, Lowrance Recon Trolling Motor valued at $3599, the big-fish pot, option-pot and other sponsor bonuses 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 since 1984 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 2025 schedule includes six qualifiers in six states, plus berths into the 2026 Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s MWC World Walleye Championship on Devils Lake, North Dakota.

Bass Pro Shops & Cabela’s are looking forward to rounding out their 24th 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, T-H Marine, Seakeeper and Salmo Java Coffee.

For more information, contact support@masterswalleyecircuit.com or call (580) 765-9031.

Rohloff and Henrickson Display Aptitude for Catching Bay De Noc Giants

Rohloff and Henrickson Display Aptitude for Catching Bay De Noc Giants

Presented By: Lowrance

Gladstone, Michigan – July 21, 2025 – The Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s Masters Walleye Circuit ran its fifth qualifier of the season on Bay De Noc, launching out of Escanaba with weigh-in location in Gladstone, MI. Bay De Noc’s access to the entirety of Lake Michigan makes it a prime location for both resident populations and migrating populations of walleyes. With a large range of depths and many different reefs, anglers were able to search for these walleyes with a wide range of techniques, but only one would solidify a first place finish.

With the crystal clear waters in Bay De Noc, anglers were finding fish easily spooked in the calm and sunny conditions on day 1. That didn’t stop Austin Tomasek and Brad Arbes Jr from finding all the right fish. With a giant 11lb 9oz walleye to anchor a bag with near perfect “unders,” they weighed 30lb and 1oz for the heaviest bag of day 1 and a near 2-pound lead on 2nd place.

Day 2 started with some rain shortly after take-off, that didn’t disappear until after fishing hours. For many, the cloud cover was needed to put fish in a feeding mood. Rohloff and Henrickson had already been on the right fish, weighing 26lbs and 2oz on day 1 and going out in the morning in 4th place. Finding fish that were unpressured by other anglers seems to be a pattern this year, and they found nearly half a dozen spots that were producing. Fishing as far away as 30 miles to Big Bay and as close as 2 minutes from the weigh-in, they had options ranging from spots with a fish every other cast, to spots with overs they sorted through to find the right unders. The fish were fired up while sharpshooting, but the array of the baits needed to get fish to eat was “mentally draining,” said Scott. Throwing Berkley Rawlers and Finisher jigs, hair jigs, shiver minnows, and blade baits, the pattern was never clear.

Through perseverance and commitment, they caught 14 overs on day 2 and were happy with their choice to weigh a 29” and a 30” walleye. With the biggest bag of the event at 32lbs and 8oz, they stole that number one spot with a total of 58lbs and 10oz, and ran away with it by over 4 pounds. Rohloff has held up trophies with the MWC, NTC, and even local events to the area and said “…looking forward to coming back, the people and the area showed amazing hospitality and interest in having us here.”

Earning a champions trophy in this Bay De Noc Masters Walleye Circuit Qualifier comes with a paid berth into the 2026 National Team Championship. Scott Rohloff and Kurt Henrickson took home $11,00 in Cash, $3,900 in Option Pot Cash, $8000 Ranger Cup Bonus, and the NTC prize package valued at $1000 consisting of custom NTC jerseys, custom NTC plaques, and a cash travel stipend for a total of $23,900 in cash and prizes!

Bay De Noc showcased its incredible fishery for many teams in top spots:

2nd: Lincoln Martin & Karl Martin, 54-08, $5,750 Cash, $2,648 2nd Place Option Pot Cash,

            And a Lowrance Recon Trolling Motor Valued at $3,599

3rd: Austin Tomasek & Brad Arbes JR, 54-06, $3,850 Cash, $1,900 3rd Place Option Pot Cash

4th: Tristan Beckwith & Isaac Lakich, 49-10, $2,700 Cash

5th: Jordan Stokes & Jacob Bell, 47-10, $2,200 Cash, $1,700 4th Place Option Pot Cash

Honorably, the 9th place team of David Landsteiner and Chance Landsteiner weighed 43lbs and 10oz and took home the Lowrance Exclusive bonus of $750 alongside their 9th Place check for $1,500. The 11th Place team of Dawson Bastion and Bo Conner earned the Lowrance Trolling Motor Bonus of $500, for running either a Recon or Ghost Trolling Motor, in addition to their 11th Place check of $1,250 and 7th Place Option Pot check of $1,000.

Overall, 164 anglers competed in this event representing 14 different states and the country of Ireland, catching 403 fish for a total of 1,762 pounds of Bay De Noc’s golden walleye.

Michigan restricts each angler on Bay De Noc to one fish over 23” per day, making a difficult decision for anglers of “how big is big enough?”. On day 1 Austin Tomasek and Brad Arbes Jr didn’t have to struggle with that question, weighing the biggest fish of the event at 11lbs and 9oz, earning them the Salmo Java sponsored prize package consisting of an Aero-Press, hat, and a bag of their signature brand of coffee alongside their share of the big fish pot at $1,890. Day 2 Big Fish Prize of $1,890 was earned by Wayne Butz and Joe Sommers with a 10lb 5oz Bay De Noc Walleye.

As part of the 2025 MWC season, anglers will vie for a coveted spot in the 2026 Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s World Walleye Championship in Devil’s Lake North Dakota. 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. MWC’s “Living the Dream” team, using points from four qualifiers throughout the regular season, will earn a sponsorship package valued up to $15,000 which includes a spot to compete in the National Team Championship and up to four paid MWC events.

Each MWC event has a lucrative payout which is based on the number of teams entered into that event. Overall payout 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. Ranger Cup adds $8,000, alongside the big-fish pot, option-pot and sponsor bonuses which 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 since 1984 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 2025 schedule includes six qualifiers in six states, plus berths into the 2026 Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s MWC World Walleye Championship on Devils Lake, North Dakota.

Bass Pro Shops & Cabela’s are looking forward to their 24th 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, T-H Marine, SeaKeeper and Salmo Java Coffee.

For more information, contact support@masterswalleyecircuit.com or call (580) 765-9031.

Hjelm and Keller Assert Dominance on Oahe to Earn Champions Trophies

Hjelm and Keller Assert Dominance on Oahe to Earn Champions Trophies

Presented By: Ranger

Mobridge, South Dakota – June 2, 2025 – The Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s Masters Walleye Circuit ran its fourth qualifier of the season on Lake Oahe out of Mobridge, SD. Lake Oahe is the fourth largest reservoir in the country, capable of sustaining expansive populations of walleyes. It lends itself to being fished with many different techniques in many different depths. This being the 4th event of the year, the points race has become more defined with teams constantly evaluating their goals and striving for those top spots on the leaderboard. Max Wilson and Marc Wilson currently hold a healthy lead in the Team of the Year race after Lake Oahe being their 4th event fished.

The weather in South Dakota was shaping up great for 2 days of competitive fishing, with the sun staying out and the wind laying down. Teams were confident, and many had a great showing on day 1. Mitch and Robin Huber have begun to create a pattern with their day 1 leads this season, weighing a whopping 25-13 of 5 walleyes. With many close weights to follow, pressure was high going into day 2.

Day 2 started with some rain before sunrise, and sustained winds just enough to change things up for some teams. For Duane Hjelm and Tyson Keller, their program was solid enough to put them in 5th place day 1, and it held true on day 2. They took off south for a short run, roughly 15 miles south to fish near Swan Creek. With ground to make up on day 2, Hjelm said before take-off they needed to pull off a “rally bag.” Fishing a school of walleyes only they were targeting, they made risky decisions in the morning to swing for the fences. They threw back 5 overs before committing to two of them that cleared 9.5lbs. Using their Lowrance electronics, they were chasing down big fish and casting Mooch Minnows at them in 20’-50’ of water. The program for their “unders” – fish between 15” and 20” – was to search for them shallow, forcing them to utilize their time wisely.

When weigh-in time rolled around on day 2, Hjelm and Keller put the heaviest bag of the event on the scales at 27lbs and 5oz, achieving a two-day total of 50lbs and 13oz, and winning the event with a clear lead of over 4lbs. Hjelm and Keller have been fishing Oahe and cashing checks together for years, neither plan on slowing down anytime soon.

Earning a champions trophy in this Lake Oahe Masters Walleye Circuit Qualifier comes with a paid berth into the 2026 National Team Championship. Duane Hjelm and Tyson Keller took home $10,100 in Cash, $3,822 in Option Pot Cash, $8000 Ranger Cup Bonus, $750 Cash for the Lowrance Exclusive Bonus, and the NTC prize package valued at $1000 consisting of custom NTC jerseys, custom NTC plaques, and a cash travel stipend for a total of $23,672 in cash and prizes!

Lake Oahe gave up big weights and kept competition high to reach a Top 5 Finish:

2nd: Justin Cole & Melissa Daughtrey, 46-10, $5,050 Cash, $2,750 Option Pot Cash

3rd: Larry Kammerer & Ali Shakoor, 45-01, $3,400 Cash

4th: Josh Olson & Monte Olson, 44-15, $2,450 Cash

5th: Max Wilson & Marc Wilson, 44-11, $2,000 Cash, $1,750 3rd Place Option Pot Cash

Honorably, the 11th place team of Cody Stoner and Sam Domke weighed 41lbs and 12oz and took home the Lowrance Trolling Motor bonus of $500 for running a Lowrance Ghost or Recon trolling motor, alongside their 11th place check for $1,050, and 7th place option pot cash of $750. Stoner and Domke also won Big Fish on day 2 with an 11lb 12oz walleye.

Overall, 128 anglers competed in this event representing 9 different states and the country of Ireland, catching 488 fish for a total of 1,667 pounds of healthy Lake Oahe walleye.

Lake Oahe restricts each angler to one fish over 20” per day, allowing the walleye there to grow to truly special size classes. On day 1 Larry Kammerer and Ali Shakoor showcased a 13lb 5oz giant Lake Oahe walleye that was the heaviest fish of the event and earned them the Salmo Java sponsored prize package consisting of an Aero-Press, hat, and a bag of their signature brand of coffee.

As part of the 2025 MWC season, anglers will vie for a coveted spot in the 2026 Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s World Walleye Championship in Devil’s Lake North Dakota. 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. MWC’s “Living the Dream” team, using points from four qualifiers throughout the regular season, will earn a sponsorship package valued up to $15,000 which includes a spot to compete in the National Team Championship and up to four paid MWC events.

Each MWC event has a lucrative payout which is based on the number of teams entered into that event. Overall payout 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. Ranger Cup adds $8,000, alongside the big-fish pot, option-pot and sponsor bonuses which 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 since 1984 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 2025 schedule includes six qualifiers in six states, plus berths into the 2026 Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s MWC World Walleye Championship on Devils Lake, North Dakota.

Bass Pro Shops & Cabela’s are looking forward to their 24th 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, T-H Marine and Salmo Java Coffee.

For more information, contact support@masterswalleyecircuit.com or call (580) 765-9031.