Ponca City, Okla.—April 21, 2020 — The 2020 Bass Pro Shop’s and Cabela’s Masters Walleye Circuit (MWC) Schedule has once again been augmented due the Covid-19 pandemic plaguing the United States. The May 15-16 MWC event in Marinette WI, presented by Mercury, has been moved to the dates of August 7-8 to comply with rules currently in place. We look forward to getting back to fishing soon and businesses opening back up to get our economy going.

“It’s not ideal for anyone, but we need to make lemonade out of lemons.” Tournament Director Jack Baker said of the change. “Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers extend the stay-at-home- orders beyond the tournament dates and that isn’t going to allow for anglers traveling to find accommodations, food or other necessities to enjoy competing.” Baker also acknowledged the that ban on fishing Michigan waters in a motorized boat would have impeded many of the angler’s plans.

We want to thank the city of Marinette for their partnership through all of these changes and look forward to August when the circuit can at least operate within the parameters that Federal, State and Local health officials have in place at that time.

All registrations for the original May 15-16 event will automatically transfer to the new dates of August 7-8. If in the event a team cannot attend the new event dates, they may transfer the original entry to any other 2020 MWC qualifier event of their choice or request a refund.

Each MWC event has a lucrative payout which is based on the number of teams entered into that event, and 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, travel stipend, team jerseys and plaques. Additionally, the big-fish pot, option pot and sponsor bonuses from Ranger Cup, Lowrance, Okuma, AirWave and T-H Marine Atlas Awards add thousands more for distribution among the field.

Qualified teams from the 2020 season earning points in at least three qualifiers compete for coveted berths in the 2021 World Walleye Championship, set for October 2021 on the Mississippi River in Lake City, MN. Those earning points in at least four qualifiers compete for Team of the Year honors, including a $10,000 sponsorship package and thousands more in cash and prizes to the top 10 teams in the final “best of 4” final standing each year.

Daily live weigh-ins at the Menekaunee Harbor are free and open to the public beginning at 3:00pm both days August 7, 8.  If you can’t make it in person you can watch the weigh-ins live, online, at masterswalleyecircuit.com or on our Facebook page.

For the area youth, immediately after the day-one weigh-in on Friday, we offer a Youth & Family Fishing Clinic in conjunction with the National Professional Anglers Association (NPAA). The first 50 youth will receive a free rod-and-reel combo!

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 and as an inductee into the freshwater fishing hall of fame, has set the standard for competitive walleye fishing for 36 years. MWC is open to walleye anglers from all walks of life. The 2020 schedule includes seven qualifiers in seven states, plus the 2021 Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s MWC World Walleye Championship. Registration is now open for all events, and the registration deadline for the Marinette tournament is close of business Monday, August 3rd. Visit masterswalleyecircuit.com for full details.

Bass Pro Shops & Cabela’s – The World’s Foremost Outfitters, are in their 19th season as title sponsor of the Masters Walleye Circuit. Official sponsors include: Lowe Equipment Attachments, Lowrance Electronics, Mercury Marine, Ranger Boats and The Walleye Federation. Associate sponsors include: AirWave Pedestals, Church Tackle, Berkley Fishing, Okuma, Power-Pole, Soft Steel and T-H Marine. For more information, email info@masterswalleyecircuit.com, or call (580) 765-9031.

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For Immediate Release (Ponca City, Ok. April 1, 2020)

The Bass Pro Shops/Cabela’s Masters Walleye Circuit has stayed in regular contact with officials from Michigan and specifically the Trenton area and in the interest of public safety and out of extreme caution for the safety of our anglers, the event planned for the Detroit River, April 17-18 and presented by Lowe Equipment Attachments has been replaced.

The new event dates and location for our Michigan event presented by Lowe Equipment Attachments will be Lake Huron\Saginaw Bay area, Oscoda, MI – July 17-18.  All other MWC or TWF events are scheduled to go forward on dates and locations as planned at this time.

MWC will continue to working diligently to keep our anglers and staff safe and continue to do all we can to provide quality events.  A mid-summer tournament will be a great event for our anglers and the fishing should be good just outside of Saginaw Bay on the shores of Lake Huron that time of year.

Anglers who previously registered for the Detroit River event will automatically be moved to the Lake Huron\Saginaw Bay event. Those that cannot make these new dates\location may email us at support@masterswalleyecirucit.com  or call the national office to request a refund or transfer to that entry to another MWC event. Registration is open for this new venue at Oscoda, MI. for those who are ready to sign-up.

“We do not take moving events lightly.” Stated MWC President Robert Cartlidge. “But the safety of our anglers, their family and our staff will always be our first priority.  We know that our anglers and communities put these dates on their calendars long in advance and a moving them disrupts vacation time, lodging, tourism and workflow for not just our anglers, site hosts, sponsors and staff but for us as a company, it costs us all. For all other upcoming events, it is optimistically our intent that all the rest of our MWC and TWF events scheduled starting from May on will be held as scheduled unless and until direction from Federal, State or Local officials tell us otherwise. Like all of you we are taking this unprecedented situation day by day right now until it passes.”

“I do have to say that I am very proud of our team, Cartlidge continued. They have been working hard on getting a backup plans together for all our circuits, 150+ events and programs conducted from national office under the Federation Angler umbrella of companies each year. Even in May once areas start to open back up hopefully, we do not know what the new “Normal” might be so rest assured we do have a back-up measures built and systems in place we can use if needed for managing events, meetings/ weigh ins and social distancing on sight once officials tell us it is safe to proceed.

Tournament Director, Jack Baker thought that an event on Lake Huron with quick access to the northern end of Saginaw Bay would be a welcomed option. “It’s been a decade since the MWC fished Saginaw Bay area, we already have a Lake Erie MWC event June 5-6 out of Lorain so while this isn’t what we originally planned for rather than move to another event to Lake Erie, I think it’s going to be a great event for the anglers to compete on Lake Huron.”

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 and as an inductee into the freshwater fishing hall of fame, has set the standard for competitive walleye fishing for 36 years. MWC is open to walleye anglers from all walks of life. The 2020 schedule includes seven qualifiers in seven states, plus the 2021 Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s MWC World Walleye Championship. Registration is now open for all events, Visit masterswalleyecircuit.com for full details.

Bass Pro Shops & Cabela’s – The World’s Foremost Outfitters, are in their 19th season as title sponsor of the Masters Walleye Circuit. Official sponsors include: Lowe Equipment Attachments, Lowrance Electronics, Mercury Marine, Ranger Boats and The Walleye Federation. Associate sponsors include: AirWave Pedestals, Church Tackle, Berkley Fishing, Okuma, Power-Pole, Soft Steel and T-H Marine. For more information, email info@masterswalleyecircuit.com, or call (580) 765-9031.

Again, we are sorry for the inconvenience, we greatly appreciate your continued support of MWC. We wish each of you and your families to stay safe and we hope to see you on the circuit in 2020 as it would be our honor to have you there!

MWC Staff.

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Ponca City, Okla.—March 20, 2020 — Elon Musk was once quoted as saying “I say something, and then it usually happens. Maybe not on schedule, but usually happens”. Such is that of the Master Walleye Circuit’s event on the Illinois River. What was originally planned to start the 36^th season of the famed tournament circuit, will wrap up this year’s events.

“Teams waiting to reschedule hotel rooms or to move their registration can now do so, as we have a date set to keep this event going.” Said Jack Baker, tournament director of the MWC. “It’s uncharted territory that we find ourselves in. Covid-19 has caused change across the country and the safety of our anglers and communities is paramount.” Jack goes on to say that he is grateful to the City of Spring Valley and the Spring Valley Boat Club for their understanding and continued support of this change.

Emcee Jeff Kelm says this event should turn out some great weights. “The fall bites on the river usually produce a great number of big fish. After speaking with anglers while trying to find rescheduled dates, they sounded eager to fish the Illinois River in October.”

This late-season date was set, due in large part to the ever-changing nature of the Covid-19 pandemic. With uncertainty still looming about when major restrictions will be lifted, it was thought to be too risky for an April date.  Anglers that had signed up for the March Illinois River that was cancelled have a few choices. First off, if you signed up for Premier Team status using the cancelled march event your Premier Team status will be honored regardless, it is just one of the many benefits of being a premier team. All registrations for the canceled march event will automatically transfer to these new dates, but anglers do have other options. Teams may request a full refund or transfer the original registration to any other 2020 qualifier event of their choice.

Each MWC event has a lucrative payout which is based on the number of teams entered into that event, and 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, travel stipend, team jerseys and plaques. Additionally, the big-fish pot, option pot and sponsor bonuses from Ranger Cup, Lowrance, Okuma, AirWave, and T-H Marine Atlas Awards add thousands more for distribution among the field.

Qualified teams from the 2020 season earning points in at least three qualifiers compete for coveted berths in the 2021 World Walleye Championship, set for October 2021 on the Mississippi River in Lake City, MN. Those earning points in at least four qualifiers compete for Team of the Year honors, including a $10,000 sponsorship package and thousands more in cash and prizes to the top 10 teams in the final “best of 4” final standing each year.

Daily live weigh-ins at the Spring Valley Boats Club are free and open to the public beginning at 4:00pm both days October 2, 3.  If you can’t make it in person you can watch the weigh-ins live, online, at masterswalleyecircuit.com or on our Facebook page.

For the area youth, immediately after the day-one weigh-in on Friday, we offer a Youth & Family Fishing Clinic in conjunction with the National Professional Anglers Association (NPAA). The first 50 youth will receive a free rod-and-reel combo!

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 and as an inductee into the freshwater fishing hall of fame, has set the standard for competitive walleye fishing for 36 years. MWC is open to walleye anglers from all walks of life. The 2020 schedule includes seven qualifiers in seven states, plus the 2021 Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s MWC World Walleye Championship. Registration is now open for all events, and the registration deadline for the Illinois River tournament is close of business Monday, September 28. Visit masterswalleyecircuit.com for full details.

Bass Pro Shops & Cabela’s – The World’s Foremost Outfitters, are in their 19th season as title sponsor of the Masters Walleye Circuit. Official sponsors include: Lowe Equipment Attachments, Lowrance Electronics, Mercury Marine, Ranger Boats and The Walleye Federation. Associate sponsors include: AirWave Pedestals, Church Tackle, Berkley Fishing, Okuma, Power-Pole, Soft Steel and T-H Marine. For more information, email info@masterswalleyecircuit.com, or call (580) 765-9031.

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