Dobias and Hime Earn Their Crown as World Walleye Champions
Presented By: Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s
Alexandria, Minnesota – October 13, 2025 – The Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s Masters Walleye Circuit have crowned its new World Walleye Champion team at the World Walleye Championship in Alexandria, MN. Chaz Dobias (Nevis, MN), with his partner Corbin Hime (Bemidji, MN), battled for first place with very consistent weights over three days of fishing. All teams battled changing winds that came with the final settling in of the fall cold front. With the top 5 finishing teams all weighing over 50lbs, it was clear that the Le Homme Dieu Chain of Lakes is a fantastic fishery for those able to crack the code.
Day 1 was led by the reigning World Walleye Championship team of 2024, Wayne Butz and Joseph Sommers with the biggest bag of day 1 at 21-06, with a giant walleye weighing 7-15 to anchor it. Dobias and Hime were right on their tail from the beginning, trailing by only just over a pound at 20-05 at the end of the first day’s weigh-in.
Day 2 saw some slight reshuffling of the standings, with the gap increasing to jump to the top of the leaderboard. Dobias and Hime weighed 17-08 for a 2-day total of 37-13 putting them in the first-place spot going into day 3. They were followed by Steven and Sean Kincaid who also weighed 37-13, with the tie breaker going to Dobias and Hime for the big bag on day 1.
Rounding out day 3, Frank John Weeda and Dean Kaminski weighed the heaviest bag of the event at 21-08 to secure them a second-place finish, only behind their good friends and teammates, Dobias and Hime who weighed a total of 56 pound and 6 ounces to secure their first championship win.
Chaz Dobias and Corbin Hime fishing in their first World Walleye Championship, found it hard to explain the overwhelming nature of securing the most revered title in the team walleye fishing world. They worked hard in their prefishing, checking every lake in the chain and catching walleyes in most. Targeting weed edges in 12’-18’ of water with jigs and nightcrawlers was the key for their “unders,” while the bigger fish were suspended in 28’-30’ and cruising by themselves. This time of the year set up great for their strengths of covering ground and isolating fish.
Winning the 2025 World Walleye Championship, Dobias and Hime have etched their name in the walleye fishing world. They received the first place prize of $19,000 in cash and perhaps the most coveted, Custom World Walleye Champion rings and trophies, for a total of $20,229 in cash and prizes.
The top five finishers fought to the end and earned their respective prizes as well:
2nd: Frank John Weeda & Dean A Kaminski, 54-13, $8,000 cash and a
Lowrance Recon Trolling Motor ($3,599)
3rd: Wayne Butz & Joseph Sommers, 54-10, $5,000 cash
4th: Colton Marx & Joe Marx, 51-04, $3,000 cash
5th: Andrew Soderholm & Ben Hittle, 50-06, $2,500 cash
Overall, 32 two-man teams hailing from 11 different states caught 278 fish for a total of 865lbs. Thanks to Salmo Java for their prize package of an AeroPress, Hat, and two bags of their signature coffees, along with big fish money of $810 was awarded to Wayne Butz and Joseph Sommers for their big fish of the event at 7lbs and 15oz on day 1. Day 2 big fish money of $810 went to Chaz Dobias and Corbin Hime for their 7lb and 4oz walleye that helped them secure their Championship Win.
Lowrance being a main sponsor, they provided a Lowrance Recon trolling motor to the 2nd place team of Weeda and Kaminski. Their other bonuses, one at $750 for running exclusively Lowrance Electronics and another at $500 for running a Lowrance Recon or Ghost trolling motor, was awarded to the 11th place team of Harold Daniels and Neal Jordan.
As part of the 2025 MWC season, anglers vied for a coveted spot in the 2026 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.
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 2026 schedule includes six qualifiers in five 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 thankful to round out their 24th season as title sponsor of the Masters Walleye Circuit. Official sponsors include: Lowrance Electronics, Mercury Marine, and Ranger Boats. Associate sponsors include: The Walleye Federation, T-H Marine, SeaKeeper and Salmo Java Coffee.
For more information, contact support@masterswalleyecircuit.com or call (580) 765-9031.
