First Event of the Year is Right Around the Corner!

Illinois River’s Return as the First Stop of the 2025 Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s Masters Walleye Circuit Season

Presented by: Lowrance

Ponca City, Oklahoma – February 3rd, 2025 – The Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s Masters Walleye Circuit is prepped for take-off of its 42nd season with its annual return to the Illinois River in Spring Valley, presented by Lowrance. Anglers from across the country look to this event as a mark of spring finally arriving, although it comes with its own set of challenges when mother nature decides winter isn’t over.

The Masters Walleye Circuit and its anglers will once again be assisting the Illinois DNR with their phenomenal stocking program that keeps this river system loaded with the quality saugers that will be coming across the stage for weigh-in. Although the saugers in the Illinois River are very healthy, this event has a history of needing to find the golden ticket of a 6+ pound pre-spawn walleye in order to secure a top spot.

When asked about looking forward to the first event of the season, Masters Walleye Circuit Tournament Director and On Stage Announcer, Jeff Kelm gave his outlook, “Each year I look forward to seeing old and new faces, this is year is no different. I often hear that it must be fun to visit so many great places, and it is, but its all the anglers and the people involved in making these events happen that make it so exciting to attend.”

Event specifics include a 7:30 am (CDT) take-off each day, given safe light conditions, and live weigh-ins both at the Spring Valley Boat Club at 3:30 pm (CDT) on March 21-22, 2025. 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 17, 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, 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 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, Lew’s Fishing, Dakota Lithium, 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.

Registration is NOW for the 2025 Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s Masters Walleye Circuit!

2025 Masters Walleye Circuit Registration NOW OPEN!  
Presented By: Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s

Ponca City, Oklahoma – January 27, 2025 – As with winter is hitting hard across the country, many are beginning to look forward to spring and the next open water season. The Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s Masters Walleye Circuit is proud to announce that registration for it’s 42nd season in 2025, is now open at www.masterswalleyecircuit.com/registration, or call the national office at (580)765-9031.

Teams of 2 anglers will be looking to place well in single events, but also to compete for all new Team of the Year status and a chance to gain entry into the 2026 World Walleye Championship at the destination location of Devils Lake in North Dakota. Teams looking to sign up early may do so NOW!

Anticipation for the new year is high as everyone gets ready.

“There is always something to look at and study, always something to tweak,” says Masters Walleye Circuit Tournament Director Jeff Kelm. “New increased Team of the Year payout, new equipment, new techniques, and new waters; it’s all part of the fun of getting ready for the next season.”

The Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s Masters Walleye Circuit always strives to fish “the best waters at the best times,” and that holds true to this year as much as ever. The 2025 schedule for the MWC was released earlier this year in August of 2024, and no changes have been made. To recap for those who are eagerly awaiting early sign up, here are the locations anglers will be given the opportunity to prove themselves as Champions:

March 21-22 – Illinois River, Spring Valley, Illinois
April 11-12 – Lake Erie, Port Clinton, Ohio
May 2-3 – Lake Petenwell, Rome, Wisconsin
May 30-31 – Lake Oahe, Mobridge, South Dakota
July 18-19 – Bay De Noc, Gladstone, Michigan
September 12-13 – Cass Lake, Cass Lake, Minnesota

2025 World Walleye Championship (WWC) – October 9-11, Alexandria, MN (Le Homme Dieu Chain) (2024 Season Qualifiers)

2026 World Walleye Championship (WWC) – Devils Lake, North Dakota (2025 Season Qualifiers)

Each MWC qualifying event has a lucrative payout which is based on the number of teams entered and is awarded to 20% of the field. In all, the MWC totaled over 150% for the 2023 season after wrapping up the World Walleye Championship where payback numbers were a staggering 480%. 2024’s regular season qualifiers payback was 146%, with the World Walleye Championship in October 2025 expecting to push that number even higher. Additionally, the big-fish pot, option-pot and sponsor bonuses will add thousands more to the field at each event.

MWC will once again offer “Premier Team” status for those teams that sign up for at least (3) events at once, prior to fishing their first event of the year. Premier Team status is our way of saying “Thank You” for the commitment to fishing the Masters Walleye Circuit and comes with multiple benefits such as the use of a pre-designated substitute, delayed billing, and more. Teams earning points in at least four qualifiers compete for the ALL NEW FOR 2025 “Team of The Year” (TOY) honors, including a INCREASED Team Of The Year Sponsorship package by 50% to $15,000.00 in cash and prizes, NTC spots, and thousands more in cash and prizes are awarded to the top team in the TOY race. All teams may fish as many events as they wish during a season and their three (3) best scores are counted toward earning a coveted invitation to the 2026 Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s World Walleye Championship.

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, Lew’s Fishing, Dakota Lithium, and Ranger Boats. Associate sponsors include: The Walleye Federation, T-H Marine and Salmo Java Coffee. For more information, support@masterswalleyecircuit.com or call (580) 765-9031.

Jeff Kelm earns bronze medal in Team USA Ice Fishing Trials

Jeff Kelm earned the Bronze medal at the US National Ice Fishing Championship and secured  a place on TEAM USA last week and will represent the United States Of America in the upcoming World Ice Fishing Championship.

Jeff Kelm, from Wisconsin Rapids, WI.  qualifying path started more than a year ago, in the winter (23/24) when the qualifying events were cut short due to lack of ice in a mild winter, the process had to be cut short.  The final Championship qualifier was pushed out to January of 2025.

Becoming an Olympic athlete requires dedication, determination and practice, practice and more practice. Fishing on 9” of ice, in five separate three-hour heats, the best of the best ice anglers in the United States converged onto the 323 acre, Tamarack Lake, in Lakeview Michigan to compete in the final qualifier of the 2025 US National Ice Fishing Championship (USNIFC) with one goal, to make the USA Ice Fishing Team.  Kelm’s scores in that event earned him a 3rd place overall finish and the bronze medal. Placing him solidly on Team USA as each country is only allowed to send their top 6 anglers.

Kelm is no stranger to elite level competitive fishing.  This will be the fourth time Kelm has earned a spot on the USA Ice Fishing Team and has competed in three World Championships already, 2012 in Kazakhstan, 2013 in the United States and 2016 in Ukraine.

For the first time in 12 years the World Ice Fishing Championship (WIFC) will be back in the USA in 2025 and held in the Grand Rapids, MI area on Tamarack Lake in Lakeview, MI next month February 12-16. During the week of the event there will be three official practice days (Wednesday-Friday) and two competition days (Saturday and Sunday). This years championship consists of the best ice anglers from Sweden, Finland, Norway, Latvia, Estonia, Poland, Lithuania, Mongolia, Kazakhstan and the United States of America.  Some countries are unable to send teams this year due to ongoing conflict in their regions. Each 6-person team representing their home country will consist of 5 anglers and a reserve with one athlete from each country competing against all countries in one of five competition zones for two days.

Left to right – Nate Winters (Ogdensburg, WI), Zach George (Hastings, MI), Chad Schaub ((Gold Medal) Sand Lake, MI), Kevin Kowalski (Duluth, MN), Keith Kniffen ((Silver Medal) Easton Rapids, MI), Jeff Kelm ((Bonze Medal) Wisconsin Rapids, WI)

“This time means more to me than any of the previous opportunities, Kelm stated. I have taken some much needed time away from the top levels of the ice world and to come back and have the success I had right away builds so much confidence going directly into the World Championship. I feel focused and prepared. Tragedy struck our family during the 2013 World Championship and really took me off my game, 2016 Ukraine practice and competition were both cut short due to failing Ice conditions, So I am really looking forward to good ice, a healthy family, and standing on the podium at the end of the week!”

Kelm also makes his living in elite level competitive angling circles as the Federation Angler Groups Northern Operations Tournament Director. Kelm is the Tournament Director for multiple premier circuits and events such as the Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s Masters Walleye Circuit, (MWC), The National Walleye Tour, (NWT), The National Team Championship, (NTC), the Sturgeon Bay Open Bass Tournament (SBOBT) and more.

 

Sad news on passing of a beloved member of the MWC legacy

We are saddened to learn of the passing of one of MWC’s legacy leadership members.  Beverly Kaczkowski passed away Dec 19.  Beverly was the vice president, secretary and treasurer of MWC back in the day. She was tirelessly dedicated to the circuit, and she was loved and respected by all MWCers. She suffered from inclusion body myositis, a rare muscle wasting disease. Donations on her behalf in her memory can be made to the Myositis Foundation. Beverly is survived by her husband former MWC President and executive director of MWC Bob “Kaz” Kaczkowski. Our thoughts and prayer go out to “Kaz”, her friends and family.