Heavyweight Walleyes Expected When The Cabela’s Masters Walleye Circuit Samples Lake Erie’s Phenomenal Fishery May 4-5
Presented by Ranger Boats
Ponca City, Okla.—April 25, 2018—Mighty Lake Erie and its unrivaled trophy walleye fishery will set the stage for a high-stakes, big-water battle when the Cabela’s Masters Walleye Circuit visits the incredible Great Lakes fishery for a two-day, team-format tournament out of Lorain, Ohio, May 4-5, 2018.
Launching from Black River Wharf and presented by Ranger Boats, the two-day, team-format event offers anglers a chance to sample Erie’s walleye bounty while enjoying the thrill of competing for thousands in cash and prizes in a professionally run setting.
“This event is going to be a lot of fun for MWC anglers and fans,” said Cabela’s MWC Tournament Director Jack Baker. “Strong year-classes going back to 2003 have Lake Erie loaded with walleyes of all sizes, including an amazing number of trophies weighing well over 10 pounds. In fact, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources believes the lake could produce a new state record walleye this season, eclipsing the existing benchmark of 16.19 ounces. We’d love to weigh a monster like that on the MWC scale.”
Weather permitting, teams will enjoy two full days of competition on the Ohio waters of Lake Erie. Teams will be allowed to bring their best five fish to the scale each day, and the team with the highest two-day total weight will be crowned the Lake Erie champions.
The Cabela’s MWC’s lucrative payouts, which are based on the number of teams entered in each event, provide even more inspiration to join the fun. In addition, the MWC big-fish pot, option pot payouts and sponsor bonuses including Ranger Cup, Lowrance Electronics, Okuma, AirWave and T-H Marine Atlas Awards add thousands more to the total. Plus, the first-place team wins a $1,000 Cabela’s National Team Championship Prize Package including paid NTC entry, travel stipend, team jerseys and plaques.
Such winnings quickly add up. At the recent Detroit River MWC tournament, for example, winners Steve and Dan Bodinger were rewarded with a $14,700 payday, while the top 20 percent of the field shared more than $47,565 in cash and prizes.
Teams fishing three or more tournaments also compete for coveted berths in the championship, which is comprised of the top point-accumulating teams from the previous year’s season and offers payouts based on the previous year’s participation. Teams that qualify in 2018 will fish the 2019 championship, set for October 3-5, 2019 on Wisconsin’s incomparable Lake Winnebago System.
Teams fishing at least four MWC qualifiers also compete for Team of the Year awards, including a $10,000 sponsorship package and thousands more in cash and Cabela’s Cash cards, as well as fully paid entries into a full season of great walleye action.
As an added bonus, Official Sponsor Lowe Equipment Attachments offers all Cabela’s MWC anglers a 25 percent discount off the MSRP on all its auger, trenching and grapple products available through Midwest Attachments, LLC. For information on that program, visit masterswalleyecircuit.com/tournaments/contingencies.
Walleye fans of all ages are invited to catch the excitement and watch the trophy walleyes come in at the daily weigh-ins, which begin at 3 p.m. at Black River Landing. If you can’t make it in person, watch the weigh-ins live, online, at masterswalleyecircuit.com.
Adding to the excitement, the Cabela’s MWC and National Professional Anglers Association will present a Youth & Family Fishing Clinic immediately after the day-one weigh-in. The first 50 youths will receive rod-and-reel combos courtesy of the NPAA.
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North America’s longest-running and undisputed leader in team walleye tournaments, the Cabela’s MWC has set the standard for competitive walleye fishing since 1984. Operated under the umbrella of The Walleye Federation (TWF), the Cabela’s MWC is open to avid walleye anglers from all walks of life. The 2018 tournament schedule includes eight qualifiers in seven states, plus the 2019 Cabela’s MWC World Walleye Championship. Registration for 2018 events is now open, and the deadline for registering for the Lake Erie tournament is Monday, April 30 at 4 p.m. Visit masterswalleyecircuit.com for updates, official rules and registration information.
Cabela’s, the World’s Foremost Outfitter for hunting, fishing and outdoor gear, is entering its 17th season as title sponsor of the MWC. Official sponsors include: Bass Pro Shops, Lowe Equipment Attachments, Lowrance Electronics, Mercury Marine, Ranger Boats and The Walleye Federation. Associate sponsors include: AirWave Pedestals, Church Tackle, MotorGuide, Okuma, Power-Pole and T-H Marine. For more information, email info@masterswalleyecircuit.com, or call (580) 765-9031.
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