–Presented by Ranger Boats
March 26, 2011—Spring Valley, IL—Limits were the rule as Cabela’s Masters Walleye Circuit teams tapped a phenomenal sauger bite on the Illinois River for 120 limits in an early season shootout during the Spring Valley Central Division season opener.
Rightly called the Sauger Capital of the World, the Illinois was generous with its bounty. A total of 604 fish weighing a total of 1,156.02 pound came to the scale as longtime MWC director Bob “Kaz” Kaczkowski returned to the MWC stage in honor of the Circuit’s 25th anniversary in Spring Valley. When the dust settled, the Ladd, Illinois, team of Tom and Tom Giachetto led with five fish for 14.32 pounds, followed by Steve and Dan Bodinger, of Chilton, Wisconsin, with 12.70 pounds and Ronald Levin and Nick Ingoglia, of Beach Park, Illinois.
As it has for the past quarter-century, the Spring Valley Walleye Club provided an army of volunteers to host the tournament operations. Site coordinator Mike Hurless was pleased with the day, and the great fishing. “This is as good as I’ve ever seen it,” he said.
Following the weigh-in, the MWC and National Professional Anglers Association presented a Youth & Family Fishing Clinic, giving away free rods and reels, along with tackle packages courtesy of Northland Fishing Tackle and a mountain bike donated by Spring Valley City Bank.
The action resumes Sunday as 123 teams battle for the $17,300 first-place check and more than $75,000 in cash and prizes. The weigh-in begins at 3 p.m. at Barto Landing in Spring Valley.
This is the first stop on the MWC Central Division’s 2011 season. The remaining Central schedule includes the St. Croix River and Pools 3 & 4 of the Mississippi River at Red Wing, Minnesota, June 3-5, and Bays de Noc, Michigan, August 5-7. Next up for the MWC, however, is the Detroit River in mid-April—which promises to be a high-stakes, big-fish shootout in the shadows of the Motor City. A late fee for Detroit applications kicks in Monday, March 28. To beat the deadline, visit www.masterswalleyecircuit.com.
Cabela’s, the World’s Foremost Outfitter for hunting, fishing and outdoor gear, is entering its tenth season as title sponsor of the MWC. Official sponsors include: Berkley Gulp!, Ranger Boats, Mercury, MotorGuide, Lowrance, Fishouflage, Versus (Vs.) Television Network and North American Fishing Club. Associate Sponsors include: Berkley Trilene, Energizer, O2 Marine Technologies, Northland Fishing Tackle, Ryjus, Reflections, Worldwide Marine Insurance, The Walleye Federation, Sea Grant and Wildlife Forever. Now heading into its 27th season, the Cabela’s MWC is the oldest team circuit in walleye fishing.
