Mueller and Becker Hammer Big ‘Bago Walleyes

Mueller and Becker Hammer Big ‘Bago Walleyes

Presented By: Mercury                                                              

Oshkosh, WI – June 08, 2026 – Lake Winnebago had a great showing for the Masters Walleye Circuit’s 3rd qualifier of 2026. Impressive bags of walleyes came to the scale both days with the teams able to crack the code. That is no easy feat on the Winnebago chain, with multiple expansive lakes and stretches of river for fish to be in different stages of early summer patterns. Only one team could come out on top and had to put together two incredible days of fishing to do so.

Day 1 lead off with some light rain at take-off, but stabilized quickly into a warm day with a light breeze which made for great “walleye chop” out on the lakes. Brett Walser and Matthew Metke fully committed to bringing in the best fish they could, taking a day 1 lead with 22 pounds and 15 ounces. On their tail with 19 pounds and 8 ounces, was Tyler Mueller and Jake Becker, but with severe warned thunderstorms rolling through the night before day 2, anything could happen.

Day 2 came in with even more summer heat and much less wind for near-perfect weather, although that creates tough conditions for walleye anglers. It didn’t slow down Mueller and Becker one bit. They stuck to their game plan and made the 12-mile run on the main lake to continue fishing the top edges of rock humps and reefs. Pitching jigs and crawlers at fish they were seeing one the side imaging and forward facing sonar, they had plenty to sort through – catching over 20 fish each day.

Wisconsin is a “no-cull” state, which often makes tough decisions for tournament anglers when deciding which fish are big enough to weigh. “No-cull” meaning when they put a fish in the livewell, that decision sticks to their daily limit until the day is over. They are not allowed to replace that fish with a bigger fish. That was no problem for Mueller and Becker when their first two fish on the second day were both 5 pounders. They continued to put on a great showing for the camera, adding more great fish until their bag weighed a phenomenal 24 pounds and 11 ounces, enough to win the event by almost a 6 pound margin!

Winning the 3rd qualifier of the 2026 Lake Winnebago Masters Walleye Circuit Qualifier Tyler Mueller and Jake Becker earned a champions trophy and a paid berth into the 2027 National Team Championship. Tyler Mueller and Jake Becker took home $11,700 in Cash, $3,901 in Option Pot 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 $16,601 in cash and prizes!

The remaining top five teams also had a good showing and earned impressive rewards:

2nd: Sam Slabe & Camden Gelhar, 38-15, $6,250 Cash, $2,850 Option Pot Cash

3rd: Brett Walser & Matthew Metke, 34-05, $4,050 Cash, $1,900 Option Pot Cash

4th: Max Wilson & Rob Korth, 31-06, $2,880 Cash, $1,900 Option Pot Cash

5th: Jon Boedeker & Bradley Vetter, 29-14, $2,370 Cash, $1,100 Option Pot Cash

In total, the top 18 teams went home with cash and prizes. Honorable mention with 28-06 goes to the 8th place team of Mike and Tara Schuelke for winning the Lowrance Exclusive Bonus of $750 alongside their $1,750, as well as the 18th place team of David Kolb and Scott Geitgey taking home the $500 Lowrance Trolling Motor Bonus with their bag of 25-02.

Overall, 86 two-man teams consisting of 172 anglers competed in this event representing 9 different states, catching 685 fish for a total of 1575 pounds and 6 ounces of Lake Winnebago Walleye.

Before this MWC event began, Chad Mortenson was selected as the winner of an AirSafe Hitch valued at over $2,000 on registration night, compliments of 4windssales.com. Also at registration, the Premier Team drawing of a duffle bag package was awarded to David Kolb and Scott Geitgey.

The Big Fish Award on Day 1 was won by Jon Boedeker and Bradley Vetter with a very respectable 6lb 10oz walleye putting them in a prime 7th place position that they pushed through for a 5th place finish overall. Day 2 Big Fish Award for day 2 went to Thomas Pocian and Jay Totten with a 5lb 9oz walleye. The cash pot for big fish was $3,720, meaning each day the big fish winners took home $1,860.

Current World Walleye Championship qualifying points are now live on the website here and will be updated after each event for teams to keep track of the goal of reaching Devil’s Lake, North Dakota this coming October. The Premier Team of Scott Geitgey and David Kolb have a hold on the lead, with James Campbell Jr and Randy Vike hot on their tail, trailing by only 3 points. With the season only halfway through and many teams yet to have fished their 3rd qualifying event, there is plenty of time for changes in the standings while teams battle to stay in the top 40.

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.

Masters Walleye Circuit Sets Sights on Lake Winnebago for 3rd Qualifier

Masters Walleye Circuit Sets Sights on Lake Winnebago for 3rd Qualifier

Presented by: Mercury

Ponca City, Oklahoma – May 15, 2026 – The 2026 Masters Walleye Circuit Season moves on as June gets closer and brings the competition Oshkosh, WI to fish Lake Winnebago which holds the title as Wisconsin’s largest inland lake. The lake is home to a large multitude of walleyes with no shortage of water to roam, being over 137,000 acres.  Anglers will have a multitude of strategies to choose from on June 5-6 as the summer bite begins to align, whether it be trolling small cranks or crawler harnesses, jigging rocks, or fishing the weeds with slip bobbers.

Working seamlessly with the Oshkosh Convention & Visitors Bureau is what makes this event happen:

“We’re so excited to welcome the Masters Walleye Circuit to Oshkosh. Anglers fishing our waters, spending time in our restaurants, discovering our downtown – that’s everything we love about what we do. The Winnebago system has been good to a lot of people. We’re proud to share it.” – Amy Albright, Executive Director, Discover Oshkosh

Tournament days will start each day with a 7:00 am (CST) take-off, given safe light conditions, and live weigh-ins at 3:00 pm (CST) on June 5-6, 2026, both of which will be held Menominee Park/Miller’s Bay, in Oshkosh, WI. Spectators are encouraged 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 Winnebago out of Oshkosh, WI closes on Monday, June 1, 2026. Teams that are interested in signing up should visit:

www.masterswalleyecircuit.com/registration

or call

Federation National Office at (580) 765-9031.

As the season progresses, many teams are competing to earn points for their opportunity to fish the World Walleye Championship at Devil’s Lake, ND this coming October. The 3rd event of the season begins to outline how well teams are doing, and where they need to set their sights for the second half of the season in order to achieve their goals, whether only fishing for a chance to compete for a brand-new Nitro ZV20 Powered By Mercury in the WWC, or also looking to claim the title of Team of the Year and earn the “Living the Dream” sponsorship package for the 2027 season.

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.

Mississippi River Gold Struck by Kolb and Geitgey

Mississippi River Gold Struck by Kolb and Geitgey

Presented By: Lowrance

Red Wing, MN – May 11, 2026 – The Masters Walleye Circuit finally made a return this 2026 season to the Mighty Mississippi River. With volatile water levels, and a spawn that happens at the same time, timing a spring event in Red Wing, MN can be challenging as seen in the 2024 season when the event had to be moved. The weather this time around was much more cooperative, although anglers said it was far from ideal. Water levels were dropping very fast during pre-fishing and throughout the event, with temperatures touching freezing in the beginning of the week, to 75 and sunny by day 1. Anglers put in a ton of work chasing fish, attempting to adapt to the changing conditions as quickly as the fish were moving with them. Multiple teams had figured out how to stay consistent and find fish, but only one team came to the stage on day 1 with 24lbs and 6oz. David Kolb and Scott Geitgey had over a 2-pound lead going into day 2.

Even with multiple game plans in place, strategized by Kolb/Geitgey alongside the teams of Randy/RJ Harwood and Tyler Maney/Thor Wick, on both pools 3 and 4 that had been producing fish throughout pre-fishing, on day 2 Kolb and Geitgey had to cycle through their bag of tricks. Whether it was crankbaits, blade baits, willow cats, or nightcrawlers, they were determined to find winning walleye. Targeting 9’-14’ of water and looking for areas that held current even with the receding water, they cycled between their “over” spots and their “under” spots and reported they were happy to see some decent unexpected big fish from their “under” spot.

Sitting on the hotseat during the weigh-in on day 2 was Jason and Hunter Lorenson, weighing a competitive 19lbs and 6oz the previous day, and proving consistency pays off with 17lbs and 7oz on day 2 for a total of 36-13. Nerves were high as Kolb and Geitgey brought their 5 fish to the stage with both teams watching the scale, as the weight of 12lbs and 7oz was all that was needed to win, and they had caught the perfect weight of walleyes to do so. Kolb and Geitgey had put up the same exact weight of 36lbs and 13oz but won on the third tie breaker of “biggest single days catch” with their unmatched day 1 bag of 24lbs and 6oz.With the second event of the year completed, teams will be starting to do the math on points and setting their goals accordingly to qualify for the World Walleye Championship on Devil’s Lake, ND. Kolb and Geitgey will have a solid base, with a 5th place finish at the first qualifier in March on the Illinois River, and now a 1st place win on the Mississippi River.

After passing a routine polygraph examination, the winners of the 2026 Mississippi River Masters Walleye Circuit Qualifier earned a champions trophy and a paid berth into the 2027 National Team Championship. David Kolb and Scott Geitgey took home $11,060 in Cash, $5,100 in Option Pot Cash, a Lowrance Recon Trolling Motor, the Lowrance Exclusive Bonus of $750, the NTC prize package valued at $1000 consisting of custom NTC jerseys, custom NTC plaques, and a cash travel stipend, for a total of $21,209.99 in cash and prizes!

The lot of the top five teams put up impressive weights to earn their respective rewards:

2nd: Jason Lorenson & Hunter Lorenson, 36-13, $5,800 Cash, $3,024 Option Pot Cash

3rd: Tony Flatten & Kendall Flatten, 35-12, $3,900 Cash, $2,100 Option Pot Cash

4th: Jason Kicherer & Chris Akey, 34-11, $2,750 Cash, $1650 Option Pot Cash

5th: Jarrad Fluekiger & Joe Newcomb, 32-01, $2,220 Cash, $1,400 Option Pot Cash

Overall, 81 two-man teams consisting of 162 anglers competed in this event representing 11 different states, catching 487 fish for a total of 1419 pounds of Mighty Mississippi River Walleye and Sauger.

Before this MWC event began, Steve Persinger and Chad Busho won an AirSafe Hitch valued at over $2,000 on registration night, compliments of 4windssales.com. Also at registration, the Premier Team drawing of a duffle bag package was awarded to Tim Juba and Tom Sieburg

The Big Fish Award on Day 1 was won by Jarrad Fluekiger and Joe Newcomb with Mississippi River giant weighing 10lbs 6oz putting them in a prime 4th place position they battled to hold onto day 2 with a 5th place finish. Day 2 Big Fish Award for day 2 went to Jordan Fluekiger and Maddy Berg with a very healthy 9lb 4oz walleye, showcasing that the Fluekigers can certainly find the big fish. The cash pot for big fish was $3,480, meaning each day the big fish winners took home $1,740. Additionally, the team of *Corey and Connor Heiser won the Lowrance Trolling Motor Bonus of $500 for using a Ghost or Recon trolling motor.

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.

 

* Correction made 5/11/2026 – Due to a clerical error it was incorrectly reported that Justin Sivek and Jason Betzler won the Lowrance trolling motor award. Corey and Connor Heiser were also registered with a Lowrance Recon trolling motor and finished 22nd.

Masters Walleye Circuit Heads to Red Wing, MN to Fish the Mighty Mississippi

Masters Walleye Circuit Heads to Red Wing, MN to Fish the Mighty Mississippi

Presented by: Lowrance

Ponca City, Oklahoma – April 3rd, 2026 – The 2026 Masters Walleye Circuit Season prepares for its second stop of the season in Red Wing, MN. The Mighty Mississippi is a daunting river system to fish in the spring, with its constant water level changes, having to battle dirty water conditions and attempting to lock down a strategy for tournament days. Hidden in the vast system of lakes and numerous river channels is a heavy bag of walleye, sauger, and saugeye waiting for a team to capitalize on the opportunity to take home a trophy in exchange for their knowledge, effort, and time devoted to learning when, where, and why these fish eat.

Having been a fair amount of time since the MWC competed on the Mississippi River, anglers are excited to be able to fish both days as it was scheduled this time to better avoid the flooding often seen in the Spring. Not to be understated, the Mississippi River is a great equalizer for many tactics no matter the Lowrance graphs you have, giving all a great chance at winning or cashing a check. On top of Lowrance’s Exclusive Bonus of $750 and the Trolling Motor Bonus for running a Ghost or Recon trolling motor of $500, there has also been a Lowrance Recon trolling motor added to the prize pool of this upcoming event in Red Wing, MN.

Tournament days will start each day with a 7:00 am (CST) take-off, given safe light conditions, and live weigh-ins at 3:00 pm (CST) on May 8-9, 2026, both of which will be held at Treasure Island Marina in Welch, MN. Spectators are encouraged 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 Mississippi River out of Red Wing, Minnesota closes on Monday, May 4, 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.