Cabela’s Masters Walleye Circuit Heads For Sturgeon Bay, WI May 8-9, Presented by Abu Garcia

Ponca City, Okla.—April 20, 2015—Competitive walleye anglers have a chance to enjoy great fishing while battling for hefty payouts when the Cabela’s Masters Walleye Circuit visits Little Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, for a qualifying tournament presented by Abu Garcia May 8-9.

Launching from Carmody Park in the city of Sturgeon Bay, the event offers two-person teams a shot at the giant walleyes of Little Sturgeon Bay and Green Bay. Part of an expanded lineup of top destinations for the MWC’s 2015 season, the event also is timed to offer competitors great fishing. “Giant walleyes will be within easy reach of tournament anglers, so I expect to see plenty of big baskets at this event,” says Cabela’s MWC Senior Tournament Director Dan Palmer.

Besides a shot at trophy walleyes, the Cabela’s MWC offers lucrative payouts. In 2014 the Circuit rewarded anglers with a total payback of more than 127 percent. Payouts are based on the number of teams entered in each event. Plus, the MWC Big Fish Pot and sponsor bonuses from Ranger, Lowrance, Abu Garcia, Zippo Outdoor Brands and Okuma add thousands more to the total. As an added incentive, the first-place team will win a $1,000 Cabela’s National Team Championship Prize Package including paid NTC entry, travel stipend, team jerseys and plaques. And new for 2014, the creation of an option pot adds even more chances to cash in. At the recent Detroit River qualifier, for example, tournament champions Steve and Dan Bodinger added $3,900 in option pot cash to their total winnings.

Adding to the excitement, all Cabela’s MWC tournaments are designated as “State Championship Qualifying Events.” Teams from the state where the event is held are eligible, along with teams from a state not hosting an MWC event in 2015 (provided at least 10 teams from their state are competing in the event). Besides bragging rights, state champions will earn a $1,000 prize package including custom trophies, decals, a berth in the Cabela’s NTC, and a spot on the MWC website’s Wall of Fame. In states hosting two events, teams must fish both tournaments to be in the running, which means Wisconsin teams must fish the Sturgeon Bay and Petenwell qualifiers for a shot at the state title.
Inspections and weigh-ins will be held at Stevenson Pier in Carmody Park. Take-off is 7 a.m. and weigh-ins begin at 3 p.m. Two-person teams will be allowed to weigh five walleyes measuring 15 inches and over each day, and the team with the heaviest two-day total weight will be crowned the winners.

Weigh-ins are free and open to the public. As a bonus to budding tournament fans, the Cabela’s MWC, National Professional Anglers Association, Pure Fishing and Zippo Outdoor Brands will present a Youth & Family Fishing Clinic immediately after the day-one weigh-in. The first 50 youths will receive rods and reel combos courtesy of the NPAA.

Under the umbrella of The Walleye Federation (TWF), the Cabela’s MWC is open to avid walleye anglers from all walks of life. Deadline to register for the Sturgeon Bay tournament is Monday, May 4th.

Cabela’s, the World’s Foremost Outfitter for hunting, fishing and outdoor gear, is in its 14th season as title sponsor of the MWC. Official sponsors include: Berkley Gulp!, Abu Garcia, Lowe Equipment Attachments, Lowrance Electronics, Mercury Marine, Ranger Boats, The Walleye Federation and Zippo Outdoor Brands. Associate sponsors include: Yellow Bird Fishing Products, Okuma, T-H Marine and Tight Lines Jewelry. For more information, visit masterswalleyecircuit.com, email info@masterswalleyecircuit.com, or call (580) 765-9031.
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