Isaac Lakich and Daniel Lakich Crowned World Walleye Champions

Isaac Lakich and Daniel Lakich Crowned World Walleye Champions

Presented By: Nitro

Devil’s Lake, ND – October 6, 2026 – Devil’s Lake in North Dakota has been a famed walleye destination for many decades, and it lived up to that reputation as history was made at the conclusion of the 2026 Masters Walleye Circuit Season. The fish were plentiful and exceptionally healthy when anglers could find them, but getting to those fish was often the challenge. Throughout the three-day World Walleye Championship, anglers battled not only with each other, but also strong fall winds that tested the entire field.

Day 1 take-off came shortly after sun rise, with the wind following close behind. Sustained winds of more than 20 mph, along with even stronger gusts, forced many teams to change their game plans. Long runs across the lake became slower and more difficult, and the rough conditions took their toll on equipment throughout the field. Despite the conditions, the father-and-son team of Corey and Connor Heiser jumped out to and early lead, weighing 28 pounds and 11 ounces and carrying a lead of more than 4 pounds over Isaac and Daniel Lakich heading into day 2.

The wind laid down significantly on day 2, allowing many anglers to return to many of the game plans they had developed during pre-fishing. The difference on the scale was incredible. Multiple 30-plus-pound bags showcased exactly what Devil’s Lake is capable of producing. Jordan and Richard Stokes made an incredible leap into first place with the largest bag of the tournament, weighing 38 pounds and 13 ounces. But Isaac and Daniel Lakich remained consistent and steady, finishing day2 just 10 ounces behind the leaders. They simply needed to put together one more consistent day.

As the final afternoon of competition arrived, so did the wind. Isaac and Daniel stuck with the game plan that had carried them through the first two days, jigging spoons around trees in 8 to 16 feet of water. They only needed 5 bites – the same number they had brought to the scales each of the previous two days. The fish cooperated, and this time the Lakich brothers did more than just remain consistent. They brought 33 pounds and 5 ounces to the scale on day 3, pulling away from the field and locking up the 2026 Masters Walleye Circuit World Walleye Championship!

Isaac and Daniel finished the three-day championship with 82 pounds and 10 ounces, winning by more than 10 pounds. For Isaac Lakich, the World Walleye Championship was the finishing touch on a remarkable 2026 season. With his brother Daniel alongside him at Devil’s Lake, Isaac capped off a season that included victories in three major championship events across the sport of competitive walleye fishing. Winning three championship titles in a single season is an extraordinary accomplishment and one that may never be duplicated. For their World Walleye Championship victory, Isaac Lakich and Daniel Lakich earned the World Walleye Champion Trophies; a Brand New Nitro ZV20 Powered By a Mercury 250 ProXS, valued at over $80,000; Custom-Engraved Championship Rings valued at more than $1,500; and $1,600 in Big Fish Awards on Day 1 and 3. In total, the Lakich brothers earned approximately $83,100 in cash and prizes.

Battling their way to a top 5 finish earned these teams hefty awards as well:

2nd: Jason Stahl & Jeremy Roe, 72-02, $10,000 Cash

               & Lowrance Ghost Trolling Motor Valued at $3,599

3rd: Corey Heiser & Connor Heiser, 70-03, $6,000 Cash

               & Lowrance Trolling Motor Bonus of $500 & Lowrance Exclusive Bonus of $750

4th: Chris Kujawa & Joe Kujawa, 69-09, $3,500 Cash

5th: Max Wilson & Rob Korth, 63-08, $3,250 Cash

               & Day 2 Big Fish Award of $800 Cash

Overall, 100 anglers competed in the 2026 World Walleye Championship after qualifying through the 2025 and 2026 Masters Walleye Circuit seasons. Those top anglers represented 9 different states and combined to bring 520 walleyes weighing 1720 pounds and 2 ounces to the scales over three days of competition.

Every team in the World Walleye Championship received a portion of the event payout. Cash checks were awarded through 25th place, with gift cards awarded to the remainder of the field that competed in all 3 days of competition. As an added benefit, Lowrance added two contingencies for anglers; Lowrance Exclusive Bonus of $750 and the Lowrance Trolling Motor Bonus of $500 for running a Ghost or Recon on your boat, both won by Corey and Connor Heiser. Lowrance also added a brand-new Ghost Trolling Motor, valued at $3,599, to the second place prize package, won by Jason Stahl and Jeremy Roe

Isaac and Daniel Lakich claimed The Big Fish Award on both Day 1 and 3. Their Day 1 fish weighed 9 pounds, 5 ounces, while their Day 3 walleye tipped the scales at 9 pounds, 3 ounces – two impressive examples of both the quality of the Devils Lake Fishery and the Lakich brothers’ ability to find its biggest walleyes. Big Fish Award for day 2 went to Max Wilson and Rob Korth at 10lb 2oz and helped them jump up the leaderboard, ultimately locking up a Top 5 finish. The cash pot for big fish was $2,400, meaning each day the big fish winners took home $800.

As part of the 2026 MWC season, anglers competed for a coveted spot in the 2026 World Walleye Championship held in Devil’s Lake, North Dakota. The 2026 WWC was 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 could participate in as many events as they wished, 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, earned 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 included 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 2027 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.

42nd Annual World Walleye Championship Devil’s Lake, ND

  • Filed under MWC News

  • September 28, 2026

42nd Annual World Walleye Championship Devil’s Lake, ND

Presented by: Nitro

Ponca City, Oklahoma – September 28, 2026 – With the 2026 Masters Walleye Circuit regular season completed, it is time to crown the World Walleye Champions. The 42nd annual World Walleye Championship October 1-3, 2026 will be one of a kind. Teamsqualified in both the 2025 and 2026 season after fishing those season’s qualifying events and earning points to be ranked in the top 40 for each respective year. This combined field is the result of angler feedback and desire to bring the World Walleye Championship into the same fiscal year as the qualifying process as opposed to historically where each years qualified anglers had to wait a full year until the following seasons events had concluded.

Devil’s Lake, North Dakota has been a legendary location among the fishing community, and it is very fitting to round out a year with a championship event. With thousand of acres of fishable water and multiple days of fishing, only the best will earn the trophy for World Walleye Championship. Top prize for this “invitation only” crowd of top anglers from the Masters Walleye Circuit is a new Nitro ZV20, with an engine power upgrade to a Mercury 250 Pro XS and more valued at over $80,000!

Anglers will be taking off from Grahams Island State Park on Devil’s Lake, ND on October 1st through October 3rd each morning at 7:30 a.m., while weigh-ins will begin at 3:30 p.m. The weigh-in is free and open to the public, and spectators are encouraged to join in person or follow the action live online at masterswalleyecircuit.com or on the official Facebook page, facebook.com/MastersWalleyeCircuit.

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 included 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 2027 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.

Michael and Trenten Juelson Conquer Cass Lake

  • Filed under MWC News

  • September 21, 2026

Michael and Trenten Juelson Conquer Cass Lake

Presented By: Mercury

Cass Lake, MN – September 21, 2026 – Stony Point Resort on Cass Lake has become an angler-favorite location to send off a season, though fishing is not always easy. Being on the tail end of summer, some years it’s hot and the fishing is on fire. Some years, like here in the 2026 season, the fall transition is just starting. Water temps begin to drop, and fish start to move and become very picky about their diets due to the multitude of forage bases in the lake. What works one day, may not work the next morning. Being consistent through two days, culling until you get the right two “overs” – fish over 20”- and continuing to cull to get the perfect “unders” – fish as close to 20” without going over- are the keys to winning a Cass Lake Event.

Day 1 take-off came with a perfect lack of fog, which often plagues fall weather take-offs, and temps in the 50’s, giving teams the option to make a run to wherever they chose. In the first flight due in, taking an early lead with a bag of 20 pounds and 3 ounces was Michael and Trenten Juelson. Within that bag they brought a giant 7lb 10oz walleye that certainly helped them jump into the lead.

Day 2 for the Juelsons was a rinse and repeat scenario, knowing they had to be as consistent as possible to keep their lead. Searching for walleyes in 25’-40’ of water on the main lake, casting jigs and crawlers at over 100 of them, and hoping that just 5 would bite. Catching only 6-8 fish per day made it tough to cull and upgrade, but Saturday afternoon they landed one good upgrade and it sealed their victory with a day 2 bag of 18 pounds and 12 ounces, the win secured by over a full pound.

Winning the final qualifier of the 2026 Masters Walleye Circuit on Cass Lake with a total of 38lbs and 15oz, Michael and Trenten Juelson earned a champions trophy and a paid berth into the 2027 National Team Championship. The Juelsons took home $10,300 in Cash, the NTC prize package valued at $1000 consisting of custom NTC jerseys, custom NTC plaques, and a cash travel stipend, as well as the Big Fish Award on day 1 consisting of $1,350 in Cash, for a total of $12,650.

Consistency was the key to making the top 5 and earning their respective rewards:

2nd: Zac Christenson & Toby Kvalevog, 37-08, $5,250 Cash, $2,656 Option Pot Cash

3rd: Jason Slipy & Jack Slipy, 36-04, $3,500 Cash

4th: Colt Anderson & Benjamin Olson, 34-10, $2,600 Cash

5th: Nick Cekella & Mitch Hackenmueller, 34-05, $2,100 Cash

Overall, 69 two-man teams consisting of 138 anglers competed in this event representing 8 different states caught 520 fish for a total of 1547 pounds and 7 ounces of Cass Lake Walleye.

In total, the top 14 teams went home with cash and prizes. Before this MWC event in Cass Lake, MN began, Wayne Butz and Joseph Sommers won the Premier Team Bonus Drawing duffle bag prize. As an added benefit, Lowrance adds two contingencies for anglers that come in the form of the Lowrance Exclusive Bonus of $750, won by Dusty and Kyle Minke, and the Lowrance Trolling Motor Bonus of $500 for running a Ghost or Recon on your boat, won by Corey Heiser and Nick Dornfield.

The Big Fish Award on Day 1 was won by Michael and Trenten Juelson with their healthy 7lb 10oz Cass Lake walleye that anchored their 20lb 3oz day 1 bag and set them up with over a 1lb lead going into day 2. Big Fish Award for day 2 went to Zac Christenson and Toby Kvalevog at 7lb 14oz and was their ticket to run up the leaderboard from 10th place on day 1, to a 2nd place finish on day 2. The cash pot for big fish was $2,700, meaning each day the big fish winners took home $1,350.

Team of the Year was crowned at Cass Lake, and with the final regular season event concluded, qualifying points for the 2026 World Walleye Championship are being verified. Keep your eyes open for the follow-up press release!

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.

2027 Masters Walleye Circuit Schedule Released

  • Filed under MWC News

  • September 3, 2026

2027 Masters Walleye Circuit Schedule Released

Ponca City, Okla. Sept 3, 2026 – The Masters Walleye Circuit (MWC), the premier team walleye circuit since 1984, is excited to announce its 44th season in 2027 with six qualifying events leading to the World Walleye Championship on Wisconsin’s Lake Winnebago.

For more than four decades, MWC has built its reputation around top level team competition and great walleye fisheries.  Through its history MWC has evolved while remaining true to that format.

As the 2026 qualifying season winds to close in a couple weeks at Cass Lake, MN Sept 18-19 (registration for that event closes Monday Sept 14, still time to get in!). MWC has had a strong showing in 2026 with average anglers per event numbers up, angler satisfaction high and reenforcing that team events are the “go to” in competitive fishing across the nation.

For 2027 MWC will continue to lead with a diverse schedule across multiple states so that more anglers will have an event in their back yard and teams that travel can split expenses to lower costs. That combination of competition, friendships and fun, a team tradition with great paybacks each season will remain at the heart of the MWC.

“I really like the way the 2027 schedule came together,” said MWC Tournament Director Jeff Kelm. “We have a good mix of fisheries, and anglers are going to have to be able to adapt throughout the season. You’re going from the Illinois River in March to Lake Erie, Big Stone, Bay de Noc, Oahe and Cass Lake before finishing the year on Winnebago. They’re all very different fisheries, and that’s part of what makes the MWC special.”

The 2027 Masters Walleye Circuit schedule, pending permit approvals from the various agencies, is:

March 19–20 – Illinois River, Spring Valley, IL

April 16–17 – Lake Erie, Sandusky, OH

May 21–22 – Big Stone Lake, Ortonville, MN

June 18–19 – Bay de Noc, Escanaba, MI

August 5–6 – Lake Oahe, Mobridge, SD

September 17–18 – Cass Lake, Cass Lake, MN

October 14–16 – The 44th World Walleye Championship, Lake Winnebago, Oshkosh, WI

There is plenty to look forward to throughout the 2027 season. The April stop on Lake Erie has all the makings of a slugfest, with the potential for some very big fish to cross the MWC stage. In May, it will be great to return to Big Stone Lake after a few years away, working once again with the Big Stone Lake Area Chamber of Commerce in Ortonville.

The MWC will return to Escanaba and Bay de Noc, MI in June, where the Delta Area Chamber of Commerce and Visit Escanaba are excited to once again welcome MWC anglers. August brings the circuit back to Lake Oahe and Mobridge, SD where the Mobridge Area Chamber of Commerce has been a fantastic partner and is excited to have the MWC back in town.

The final qualifier of the season once again will be Cass Lake and Stony Point Resort, a favorite stop enjoyed by MWC anglers and staff alike. From there, the top teams in the walleye world heads to Lake Winnebago for the World Walleye Championship. Discover Oshkosh has proven to be a top partner of anglers and the MWC anywhere in the country and its centrally located community in the heart of walleye world, makes Oshkosh a fitting place to bring the 2027 season to a close and crown the next World Walleye Champions.

For more than four decades, the Masters Walleye Circuit has brought teams together on some of the best walleye fisheries in the country. We’ve seen just about every kind of team along the way — family members across generations, longtime friends and fishing partners. The competition is serious, but one thing we hear again and again from anglers is pretty simple: the MWC is fun. 

Masters Walleye Circuit – The Premier Team Walleye Circuit Since 1984.

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

 

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