Bodingers Start the 2026 Season on Fire at Illinois River

Bodingers Start the 2026 Season on Fire at Illinois River

Presented By: Mercury

Ponca City, Oklahoma – March 23, 2025 – The Masters Walleye Circuit launched its 2026 season with a return to Spring Valley, Illinois to fish the bountiful Illinois River. The weather was some of the best seen in recent years, with lows in the 40s and highs in the 70s. Anglers still had to work hard for their bites, with a recent swell in water levels that was slow to taper off causing very muddy, low visibility conditions. The saugers were numerous from the Illinois River, but as often seen it took a few elusive walleye to secure the win. Steve and Dan Bodinger found them on Day 1, kicking it off with 17lbs and 1oz to secure an early lead over the entire 95 boat field.

Having a terrible pre-fish without a single bite, they sure turned it around. They only caught 5 fish on Day 1, but they were all the right bites. The anchor of their bag was a very healthy 7-12 oz walleye that secured them the big fish prize on Day 1, as well as bolstering a 4lb 8oz lead over the second-place team of Roy Vivian and Brad Munda who had a 5 fish limit of 12lbs 9oz.

Sticking to their Day 1 success, they continued Day 2 pulling Dubuque Rigs in 9-12’ of water running their Nitro Boat over the same half mile stretch of river hoping to find more of the same fish. J.J. Debernardi and Tyler Debernardi weighed on Day 2 and held first place for the majority of the weigh-in with 20-03, just a mere 3lbs and 2oz over Steve and Dan Bodinger’s Day 1 weight. Being last to weigh in with their mark to beat and just two fish in the bag, tensions were high for everybody watching. They crushed the mark bringing in yet another healthy walleye weighing 6lbs and 9oz for a Day 2 weight of 9-09, and a tournament total of 26lbs and 10oz.

When interviewed after the award ceremony while emotions were high, Steve said  “A special thanks to our partners Steve and Hunter, to the Spring Valley Boat Club every year, and to all of our sponsors that make fishing these events each year possible.”

Earning a champions trophy in this 2026 Illinois River Masters Walleye Circuit Qualifier also comes with a paid berth into the 2027 National Team Championship. Steve and Dan Bodinger took home $12,700 in Cash, $5,600 in Option Pot Cash, $4,680 in Big Fish Cash, the NTC prize package valued at $1000 consisting of custom NTC jerseys, custom NTC plaques, and a cash travel stipend, for a total of $23,980 in cash and prizes! Additionally, the Bodingers used their Mercury Powered, Nitro Boat in the MWC Illinois River Event both competition days to secure their win and therefore will earn an $8,000 Nitro Bonus if eligible through the Nitro Rewards program.

The Top Five Teams worked hard for their fish and earned their own respective prizes:

2nd: J.J. Debernardi & Tyler Debernardi, 20-03, $6,300 Cash, $3,050 Option Pot Cash

3rd: Slawomir Wiater & Tomasz Gorgon, 18-13, $4,050 Cash, $2,230 Option Pot Cash

4th: Ed Martin & Dave Gorisek, 16-13, $3,150 Cash

5th: David Kolb & Scott Geitgey, 24-05, $2,550 Cash, $1,820 Option Pot Cash

               And the Lowrance Exclusive Bonus of $750

Overall, 95 two-man teams consisting of 190 anglers competed in this event representing 9 different states, catching 432 fish for a total of 734 pounds of healthy Illinois river sauger, saugeye, and walleye.

Before this MWC event began, Danny and Barb Plautz won an AirSafe Hitch at registration, compliments of 4windssales.com. Also at registration, the Premier Team drawing of a duffle bag package was awarded to Harold Daniels and Neal Jordan.

The Big Fish Award on Day 1 and 2 of the Illinois River was won by Steve and Dan Bodinger with two walleye that weighed 7lbs 12oz for the first day and 6lbs 9oz for the second day. Big fish prize each day was $2,340, and they swept both of those prizes for a total of $4,680. Honorable mention goes to Frank John Weeda and Corbin Hime with their weight of 10lbs 12oz in 29th place for being the highest placing finisher with a Lowrance Trolling Motor, to earn Lowrance’s Ghost or Recon Trolling Motor Bonus of $500.

As part of the 2026 MWC season, anglers can compete for a coveted spot in the 2026 World Walleye Championship held in Devil’s Lake, North Dakota. The 2026 WWC will be a one-time Dual Event with qualifying teams from 2025 and 2026, with a combined pot and, new to 2026 – a Brand-New Nitro ZV20 Powered By Mercury as the top prize. 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 $10,000 which includes a spot to compete in the National Team Championship and up to four, paid-in-full, 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, the big-fish pot, option-pot and sponsor bonuses will add thousands more for distribution among the field.

Under the Umbrella of The Walleye Federation (TWF), the Masters Walleye Circuit (MWC) 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. MWC has set the standard for competitive walleye fishing for 42 years. The 2026 schedule includes six qualifiers in five states, plus berths into the 2026 MWC World Walleye Championship presented by Nitro boats in Devils Lake, North Dakota.  Stay tuned for more 2026 announcements at:

www.MastersWalleyeCircuit.com.

Masters Walleye Circuit Official Level Sponsors: Mercury Marine, Lowrance Electronics, and Nitro Boats. Associate Sponsors: TH Marine, Airsafe Hitch Products, National Professional Anglers Association, and The Walleye Federation.

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

MWC Live Coverage

2026 Masters Walleye Circuit – Illinois River, Spring Valley, IL

LIVE coverage of 2026 Masters Walleye Circuit at Illinois River, Spring Valley, IL March 20-21 at 3:30pm CT.

LIVE Leaderboard will begin updating once the weigh-in begins at each event click the BLUE link below!

LIVE Leaderboard

LIVE video will be done where a suitable internet connection can be secured lakeside and will be shown below. Live streaming video will go live a couple of minutes before the published weigh-in time for that event if we have a connection.
Check out our Live Facebook feed coverage. CLICK HERE

More Rewards for MWC Anglers, Sign Up for Premier Team Today!

  • Filed under MWC News

  • February 23, 2026

More Rewards for MWC Anglers, Sign Up for Premier Team Today!

Ponca City, Oklahoma – February 23, 2026 – The Master Walleye Circuit has always aimed to present anglers with as many opportunities for success as possible. Each year there is a unique program to reward teams that commit to 3 or more events throughout the season to earn “Premier Team” status. Benefits that come with this Premier Status include delayed billing, the pre-designation of a substitute, free prize drawings, and priority entry after the initial list of qualifiers, to fill the field in the World Walleye Championship.

As a reminder, Premier Team registration MUST be made BEFORE fishing in your first event of the season, and you MUST declare your pre-designated substitute for the season BEFORE you fish in your first event. Failure to do so will result in the loss of the substitute benefit. You may call the Federation National Office at 580-716-4291 to share that information if you have already signed up for your events and did not declare at that time.

Thanks to the support of the Master Walleye Circuit Official Sponsor Partners, a Premier Team-only prize drawing will be held at each events registration only for those Premier Teams in attendance. Additionally, Lowrance will sponsor a full season Premier Team drawing at the last qualifier for ALL MWC premier teams who fished MWC in 2026 for a New Lowrance Ghost Trolling Motor. All rules for the 2026 season can be found HERE, with Premier Team specifics being covered in section 16.

NEW for 2026! Masters Walleye Circuit has upped the game! The 2026 World Walleye Championship boasts a top prize of a new Nitro ZV20, Powered by Mercury, with a Lowrance Recon trolling motor!

NEW opportunities! The National Walleye Tour will be extending Professional and Co-angler invites to Masters Walleye Circuit anglers for their 2027 season based on their rules as follows:

(5) Persons as Pros, & (5) Persons as Co-anglers, from the top 10 teams from the 2026 Masters Walleye Circuit Team of the Year (TOY) final points standing

As part of the 2026 MWC season, anglers can compete for a coveted spot in the 2026 World Walleye Championship (WWC) at Devil’s Lake, North Dakota this September. As outlined in the 2025 rules in advance, the 2026 WWC will be a one-time dual event to move the World Walleye championship into the same qualifying year. 2026 WWC will host qualifying teams from 2025 and 2026, with a combined pot of WWC funds and include the new Nitro ZV20 Powered by Mercury as the top prize. As always MWC continues to pay back more than 100% in cash and prizes each year. Teams can participate in as many events as they wish, with points earned in at least three qualifiers counting toward a possible invitation to the World Walleye Championship. MWC’s “Living the Dream” award, using points from four qualifiers throughout the regular season, earns a sponsorship package valued at up to $10,000, which includes a spot to compete in the National Team Championship and up to four, paid-in-full, MWC events for 2027.

Each MWC event has a lucrative payout which is based on the number of teams entered. 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, a big-fish pot, option-pot, and sponsor bonuses will add thousands more for distribution among the field.

Under the umbrella of The Walleye Federation (TWF), the Masters Walleye Circuit (MWC) is North America’s longest running and undisputed leader in team walleye tournaments since 1984. As an inductee into the freshwater fishing hall of fame, MWC has set the standard for competitive walleye fishing for 42 years. The 2026 schedule includes six qualifiers in five states, plus berths into the 2026 MWC World Walleye Championship presented by Nitro boats in Devils Lake, North Dakota.  Stay tuned for more 2026 announcements at:

www.MastersWalleyeCircuit.com.

Masters Walleye Circuit Official Level Sponsors: Mercury Marine, Lowrance Electronics, and Nitro Boats. Associate Sponsors: TH Marine, Airsafe Hitch Products, National Professional Anglers Association, and The Walleye Federation.

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

Masters Walleye Circuit 2026 Season kicks off on the Illinois River in Spring Valley, IL

  • Filed under MWC News

  • February 10, 2026

Masters Walleye Circuit 2026 Season kicks off on the Illinois River in Spring Valley, IL

Presented by: Mercury

Ponca City, Oklahoma – February 10th, 2026 – The Masters Walleye Circuit is prepped for its return for the 43rd season as spring is on the horizon. As spring fights to return, anglers are looking forward to the weather forecast in March, when competition begins in Spring Valley, IL on the Illinois River. Spring Valley is the annual “rite of passage” in the walleye tournament world to kick off the season each year and catch up with old friends. It may still be winter, it may be spring’s first appearance, but certainly there will be saugers and walleyes crossing the Masters Walleye Circuit stage on March 20-21.

The Masters Walleye Circuit and its anglers will once again be assisting the LaSalle Fish Hatchery with their sauger stocking program that takes a large part in keeping this incredible fishery sustainable with the quality saugers for all anglers on the river. As always, teams will be searching for walleye in the mix. Historically, this river does grow them big enough to add some serious weight to the scales and change the tides of the event.

Tournament days will start each day with a 7:30 am (CST) take-off each day, given safe light conditions, and live weigh-ins, both of which will be held at the Spring Valley Boat Club at 3:30 pm (CST) on March 20-21, 2026. 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 the Illinois River out of Spring Valley, Illinois closes on Monday, March 16, 2026. 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 2026 MWC season, anglers can compete for a coveted spot in the 2026 World Walleye Championship held in Devil’s Lake North Dakota. The 2026 WWC will be a one-time Dual Event with qualifying teams from 2025 and 2026, with a combined pot and, new to 2026 – a Brand-New Nitro ZV20 Powered By Mercury as the top prize. 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 $10,000 which includes a spot to compete in the National Team Championship and up to four, paid-in-full, 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, the big-fish pot, option-pot and sponsor bonuses will add thousands more for distribution among the field.

Under the umbrella of The Walleye Federation (TWF), the Masters Walleye Circuit (MWC) 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. MWC has set the standard for competitive walleye fishing for 42 years. The 2026 schedule includes six qualifiers in five states, plus berths into the 2026 MWC World Walleye Championship presented by Nitro boats in Devils Lake, North Dakota.  Stay tuned for more 2026 announcements at:

www.MastersWalleyeCircuit.com.

Masters Walleye Circuit Official Level Sponsors: Mercury Marine, Lowrance Electronics, and Nitro Boats. Associate Sponsors: TH Marine, Airsafe Hitch Products, National Professional Anglers Association, and The Walleye Federation.

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