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.
