Masters Walleye Circuit Heads to Red Wing, MN to Fish the Mighty Mississippi
Presented by: Lowrance
Ponca City, Oklahoma – April 3rd, 2026 – The 2026 Masters Walleye Circuit Season prepares for its second stop of the season in Red Wing, MN. The Mighty Mississippi is a daunting river system to fish in the spring, with its constant water level changes, having to battle dirty water conditions and attempting to lock down a strategy for tournament days. Hidden in the vast system of lakes and numerous river channels is a heavy bag of walleye, sauger, and saugeye waiting for a team to capitalize on the opportunity to take home a trophy in exchange for their knowledge, effort, and time devoted to learning when, where, and why these fish eat.
Having been a fair amount of time since the MWC competed on the Mississippi River, anglers are excited to be able to fish both days as it was scheduled this time to better avoid the flooding often seen in the Spring. Not to be understated, the Mississippi River is a great equalizer for many tactics no matter the Lowrance graphs you have, giving all a great chance at winning or cashing a check. On top of Lowrance’s Exclusive Bonus of $750 and the Trolling Motor Bonus for running a Ghost or Recon trolling motor of $500, there has also been a Lowrance Recon trolling motor added to the prize pool of this upcoming event in Red Wing, MN.
Tournament days will start each day with a 7:00 am (CST) take-off, given safe light conditions, and live weigh-ins at 3:00 pm (CST) on May 8-9, 2026, both of which will be held at Treasure Island Marina in Welch, MN. Spectators are encouraged to join in person as the weigh-in is free and open to the public, or follow the action live online at masterswalleyecircuit.com or on the official Facebook page, facebook.com/MastersWalleyeCircuit.
Registration for this tournament on the Mississippi River out of Red Wing, Minnesota closes on Monday, May 4, 2026. Teams that are interested in signing up should visit:
www.masterswalleyecircuit.com/registration
or call
Federation National Office at (580) 765-9031.
As part of the 2026 MWC season, anglers can compete for a coveted spot in the 2026 World Walleye Championship held in Devil’s Lake North Dakota. The 2026 WWC will be a one-time Dual Event with qualifying teams from 2025 and 2026, with a combined pot and, new to 2026 – a Brand-New Nitro ZV20 Powered By Mercury as the top prize. 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 $10,000 which includes a spot to compete in the National Team Championship and up to four, paid-in-full, MWC events.
Each MWC event has a lucrative payout which is based on the number of teams entered into that event. Overall payout is 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 will add thousands more for distribution among the field.
Under the umbrella of The Walleye Federation (TWF), the Masters Walleye Circuit (MWC) 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. MWC has set the standard for competitive walleye fishing for 42 years. The 2026 schedule includes six qualifiers in five states, plus berths into the 2026 MWC World Walleye Championship presented by Nitro boats in Devils Lake, North Dakota. Stay tuned for more 2026 announcements at:
www.MastersWalleyeCircuit.com.
Masters Walleye Circuit Official Level Sponsors: Mercury Marine, Lowrance Electronics, and Nitro Boats. Associate Sponsors: TH Marine, Airsafe Hitch Products, National Professional Anglers Association, and The Walleye Federation.
For more information, contact support@masterswalleyecircuit.com or call (580) 765-9031.
