Butz and Sommers Crown Themselves with Astounding Win at World Walleye Championship
Presented By: Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s
Ponca City, Oklahoma – September 30, 2024 – The Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s Masters Walleye Circuit have crowned a new Champion team at the World Walleye Championship in Alpena, MI. Wayne Butz (Abrams, WI), with his partner Joe Sommers (Stevens Point, WI), took first place with a very heavy lead of 50lbs and 3oz, nearly 15lbs ahead of the rest of the field. Many teams struggled to catch walleyes on Lake Huron, with a number of anglers unable to sort through the vast amount of salmon and trout in the system. Those that put together a working program in their pre-fishing time were also thrown a curveball, as the Great Lakes wind seemed to disappear on the first two tournament days causing the walleyes to be very selective about eating. This Lake Huron Championship is certainly one for the books, as it tested the anglers to their absolute limit, and proved who was worthy to wear the 2024 World Walleye Champion rings.
With a very manageable boat ride, Wayne and Joe had two programs figured out at the quarry and Chigger’s Island. Spending most of their time casting at walleyes with their Lowrance Active Target, they weighed a whopping 22lbs and 15oz on day 1, an incredible start to their dominating performance holding a 10-pound lead going into day 2. The next day was slightly underwhelming, depending on perspective, as they were only able to get 3 of their very important bites to the boat for 10lbs and 8oz. When prompted on stage on day 3, Sommers said, “Wayne does a great job of making the right decision at the right time.” He went on to elaborate that it was not the first time Wayne has made a season-saving call, and that’s exactly what he did on day 3. With the wind picking up and boat control getting tough, they made the switch to trolling nightcrawlers and landed 3 fish on their first pass, unknowingly sealing the fate of their first ever World Walleye Championship win.
Winning the 2024 World Walleye Championship, Butz and Sommers have forever engraved their name in the history books of the walleye fishing world. They received the first-place prize of $15,000 in cash as well as: a Lowrance Ghost Trolling Motor valued at $3,799, the $1,000 Lowrance Bonus, the Okuma Bonus $200 value, package from local sponsor Salmo Java, and perhaps the most coveted, Custom World Walleye Champion rings and trophies, for a total of nearly $21,000 in cash and prizes.
The remaining of the top five earned their spots in the Championship, proved they were able to compete and won the following:
2nd: Romeo Bourdage & Mark Haugerud, 35-09, $7,500 cash and Lowrance HDS 9 Live
3rd: Don Marx & Caden Laqua-Marx, 30-14, $5,000 cash
4th: Jason Maraskine & Steve Vandemark, 27-13, $3,000 cash
5th: Adam Hume & Mike Karner, 22-00, $2,750 cash
Overall, 32 two-man teams hailing from 11 different states and 1 Canadian province caught 113 fish with an average of nearly 3.5lbs. Thanks to Lew’s sponsorship, big fish winners of day 1 and 2 were awarded with $200 in Lew’s gift cards, to be used online at www.lews.com. Day 1 winners were Wayne Butz and Joe Sommers with a healthy Lake Huron walleye weighing at 6lb and 4oz. Jerry and Liza Plourde took the day 2 Lew’s award with a walleye weighing in at 5lb and 2oz.
Lowrance being a main sponsor, provided a Lowrance Ghost trolling motor to the 1st place team of Butz and Sommers, a Lowrance HDS 9 Live to the 2nd place team of Bourdage and Haugerud, and the $1,000 Lowrance bonus was also awarded to 1st place. With a sweep of sponsor awards, Butz and Sommers also took home the $200 Okuma Bonus. Winner of the Dakota Lithium Comeback Award, consisting of 3 batteries and chargers was Joe Miller, jumping from 15th place into 10th on the final day.
Each MWC event has a lucrative payout which is based on the number of teams entered in that event. New for 2024 is a GUARANTEED minimum $10,000 first place prize powered by Dakota Lithium at every event. Overall payout is still 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 from Ranger Cup, Lowrance, Dakota Lithium, and Okuma 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 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 MWC is open to walleye anglers from all walks of life. The 2024 schedule included seven qualifiers in six states, plus berths into the 2025 Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s MWC World Walleye Championship in Alexandria, MN.
Bass Pro Shops & Cabela’s are in their 23rd 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, Church Tackle, FishLab, Okuma, and T-H Marine. For more information, email support@masterswalleyecircuit.com or call (580) 765-9031.
