2022 World Walleye Championship Announced, Registration Set to Open for 2021 Masters Walleye Circuit Season

  • Filed under MWC News

  • December 23, 2020

 2022 World Walleye Championship Announced, Registration Set to Open for 2021 Masters Walleye Circuit Season,  Presented by Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s

Ponca City, Okla. – December 23, 2020 – Anticipation is running high as anglers, sponsors and staff alike look forward to turning the calendar over to 2021 and kicking off the 38th season of the Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s Masters Walleye Circuit (MWC). Registration for the 2021 season opens January 4th.

Participants may register for individual tournaments online at 12 noon (CST) beginning Monday January 4th at masterswalleyecircuit.com or by calling the MWC offices at (580)765-9031. “Premier Team” status and the benefits that goes with it which are defined in the rules, such as Premier team swag, use of a substitute, delayed billing and more is all secured by registering for at least (3) events at once prior to fishing your first event of the year. It’s our way of saying “Thank You” for their commitment.

Planning events of this magnitude takes several months, up to years, to plan. While we strive to announce our schedule early each year to help anglers plan, sometimes conflicts still arise and it’s never a best-case scenario when set tournament must be moved, but such is the case with the 2021 Big Stone Lake qualifier, originally set for the final days of May. The city of Ortonville and the Big Stone Chamber of Commerce worked alongside the MWC to set the new event dates of April 23-24, 2021.

Anglers competing in the 2021 MWC qualifiers will want to know what waters they will be attempting to qualify to fish on for the 2022 World Walleye Championship. We are pleased to announce that the walleye rich waters of the bay of Green Bay out of Oconto, WI. will host that event. Oconto County and the City of Oconto are excited to welcome anglers to their shoreline Sept 29-Oct 1, 2022.

With that, the 2021 Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s Masters Walleye Circuit Season looks like this:

March 19-20, 2021 – Illinois River, Spring Valley, IL

                                    April 16-17, 2021 – Lake Erie, Port Clinton, OH

                                    April 23-24, 2021 – Big Stone Lake, Ortonville, MN

                                    May 21-22, 2021 – Lake Winnebago, Oshkosh, WI

                                    June 25-26, 2021 – Lake Oahe, Mobridge, SD

                                    August 13-14, 2021 – St Marys River, Sault Ste Marie, MI                          

                                    September 17-18, 2021 – Cass Lake, Cass Lake, MN

                                    Sept 30-Oct 2, 2021 – World Walleye Championship – Lake City, MN

Sept 29-Oct 1, 2022 – World Walleye Championship – Oconto, WI

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 2021 season earning points in at least three qualifiers compete for coveted berths in the 2022 World Walleye Championship, set for late September 2022 on the Bay of Green Bay in Oconto, WI. 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.

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 37 years. MWC is open to walleye anglers from all walks of life. The 2021 schedule includes seven qualifiers in six states, plus the 2022 Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s MWC World Walleye Championship.

Bass Pro Shops & Cabela’s – The World’s Foremost Outfitters, are in their 20th 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 support@masterswalleyecircuit.com, or call (580) 765-9031.

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Brueggemanns Clinch the Lead Day One at World Walleye Championship and Never Let It Go – Presented by Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s

Brueggemanns Clinch the Lead Day One at World Walleye Championship and Never Let It Go

Presented by Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s

 

Moline, Ill — October 13, 2020 — Competitors from 13 different states converged on the Mississippi River for the 2020 Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s Masters Walleye Circuit’s (MWC) World Walleye Championship (WWC) anchored out of Moline, Il and hosted by Visit Quad Cities October 8th-10th. Nebraskan Father-Son team of Jake and Gene Brueggemann (Wilber and Clatonia, NE) weighed one of the largest 5-fish baskets of the event on the very first day and never looked back.

Casting Berkley Flicker Shads all day long for three days of competition took a toll on the elder Brueggeman, but Gene jokingly said he still had enough strength to hoist the championship trophies. “I don’t think I have ever cast that much before. I think I know what these muskie fishermen feel like.” The team drew upon knowledge they learned from locals in the area and that of their fellow friends and competitors that have spent ample time on the Muddy Mississippi.

The duo set a goal to catch five fish each day, which grew harder with each sunrise as fewer legal fish were catchable in the small area they fished. “We had one spot and each day we went in it got harder. Today we only caught 6 fish, one was a slot fish the rest we put in the box.” Jake said after the team’s final weigh-in. The challenge for them and many of the anglers at this event was the slot limit. Teams could bring five fish to the scales, but they needed to be between 15-19.9” of over 27”. The Quad cities area has lots of fish that measure between 20” and 26.9”, keeping the teams catching, but challenging their opportunity to weigh fish.

Surrounded by friends and family at the end of three hard-fought days of fishing, Jake and Gene Breuggemann finished the event with 32-10, a three-pound advantage over 2nd place and over $20,000 richer. The pair wore the emotion of the win on their faces as they mustered up the final bit of arm-strength to hoist the trophies over their heads and rightfully claim the title of World Walleye Champions.

The lucrative payout for Jake and Gene began with that $20,000 cash and continued with $1,200 worth of championship rings, a Lowrance HDS 9 LIVE ($1,999), Power Pole Pro Pole II ($1,600), $500 Lowrance LIVE bonus, Power Pole Drift Paddle ($200), a $500 AirWave certificate and $200 Okuma reels

 

The rest of the top five teams:

2nd: Peter & Ted Mart 29-14, $10,000 cash, Power Pole Pro Pole II ($1,600), Power Pole Drift Paddle ($200)

3rd: Casey Williams & Kent Leibhart 28-03, $5,000 cash, Power Pole Drift Paddle ($200), $150 Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s Gift Cards, TH Marine Z-Launch Cord ($50)

4th: Jeff Synak & Jake Hammer 24-00, $3,000 cash, $1,000 Ranger Cup Bonus

5th: Tim & Tom Ahrens 23-11, $2,500 cash

 

All together the Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s Masters Walleye Circuit awarded $119,846.05 in cash and prizes in the Quad Cities.

221 fish weighed a total of 423 lbs. 05 oz. during the event.

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 and is open to avid walleye anglers from all walks of life. The 2020 schedule included seven qualifiers in seven states to qualify for the 2021 Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s MWC World Walleye Championship in Lake City, MN.

Bass Pro Shops and 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, Berkley, Church Tackle, Soft Steel, Okuma, Power-Pole and T-H Marine. For more information, email info@masterswalleyecircuit.com, or call (580) 765-9031.

 

Walleye World’s Best Converge on Quad Cities Oct. 8-10

Walleye World’s Best Converge on Quad Cities Oct. 8-10

 

The Bass Pro Shops & Cabela’s Masters Walleye Circuit’s 2020 World Walleye Championship

 

Ponca City, Okla. — October 5, 2020 — The 2020 Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s Masters Walleye Circuit (MWC) is set to wrap up a unique season October 8, 9, 10th along the Mississippi River with the 2020 World Walleye Championship (WWC) in the Quad Cities area of Illinois and Iowa.

The Mississippi River is a great fishery in the fall and a major walleye event has not been held in the Quad Cities in more than a decade. The world championship event is a “qualify only” event, in other words only the very best of the best will attend. The 58 best walleye anglers anywhere will compete after qualifying for this opportunity by finishing atop the 2019 MWC regular season events held across the country, including events at the Illinois River, IL, Detroit River, MI, Big Stone Lake, MN, Lake McConaughy, NE, Lake Erie, OH, Bay of Green Bay, WI, Devils Lake, ND and Leech Lake, MN.

The World Championship contenders will have ample opportunity to catch fish with optimum water levels in the river for this time of year. They will be looking for a maximum 5 fish limit of Walleye, Sauger and Saugeye, at least 4 of which must be 15”- 20” long and are allowed only one fish per angler over 27” in their bag to weigh-in as there is a protected 20”-27” inch slot on the river.

Total payout at the World Walleye Championship will push $120,000 in cash and prizes, the bulk of which is cash and includes multiple added funds thanks in part to Ranger Boats and the $1,000 Ranger Cup Bonus, Lowrance and their $500 HDS Live/Elite Ti2 bonus, $500 Airwave Seat Pedestals, T-H Marine Atlas Awards, more than $10,000 in cash and prizes added to the pot by TWF/MWC as well as custom made trophies and the always coveted World Championship custom rings. Every team in attendance will receive a prize check.

The event will be filmed for the Federation Angler TV’s block in prime time network television on the Pursuit Channel which broadcasts to over 40 million households as well as other networks across the nation. Daily live weigh-ins at the Sunset Park and Marina, beginning at 3:30pm all three days October 8,9,10.  We encourage everyone to watch online at masterswalleyecircuit.com or on our Facebook page facebook.com/MastersWalleyeCircuit.

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 and is open to all avid walleye anglers. For more information visit masterswalleyecircuit.com.

Bass Pro Shops and 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: Berkley Fishing, AirWave Pedestals, Church Tackle, Okuma, Soft Steel, Power-Pole and T-H Marine. For more information, email info@masterswalleyecircuit.com, or call (580) 765-9031.

 

 

Cliffe, Nix Win 2020 Regular Season Final at the Illinois River Presented by Lowrance

Cliffe, Nix Win 2020 Regular Season Final at the Illinois River

Presented by Lowrance

Spring Valley, Ill — October 7, 2020 — Adrian Cliffe and Brent Nix gambled on a 40 mile-run down river through two days of fishing to win the 2020 Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s Masters Walleye Circuit (MWC) qualifier at the Illinois River. The final championship-qualifying event for 2020 was presented by Lowrance and found many of the Spring Valley faithful scrambling for a bite.  Having local knowledge of the system and “go for broke” attitude the pair took home the $8,300 cash and more.

Spring Valley, IL and the Illinois River have a decades-long history with the MWC, but due to Covid-19 the 2020 event took a turn few were prepared for. For its entire history, the event placed on the Illinois River in Spring Valley has always been a spring-time event. Some anglers have been fishing that spring event since the beginning. The introduction of the pandemic and ensuing Covid restriction, the March event was moved to October, challenging many of the anglers that typically fish the river as a start to their season.

Competitors made the best of it and found bites a variety of ways. The winners, Cliffe and Nix found that trolling was the right way to catch over 22lbs of fish over the course of the event. “That’s what worked best for us so far.” When asked how he was catching fish before the rules meeting on Thursday afternoon. “What I am concerned about is that we have had two great days of pre-fishing in a row here, which means we need to have four great days to win this thing.” Cliffe and Nix had not only another couple of great days, it was enough to solidify the win against a great group of anglers.

With the top weight of 22-08, Adrian and Brent took home over $11,000 in cash and prizes, including the $8,300 first-place cash payout, $1,000 Ranger Cup bonus, $500 AirWave certificate, $200 Okuma reels and a $1,000 Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s National Team Championship Prize Package, including paid entry into the Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s NTC, travel stipend, team jerseys and plaques.

 

The rest of the top five teams:

2nd: Robert Hausler & Chris Clemmons 21-01, $4,000 cash

3rd: Jim Passo & butch Rabetski 20-08, $2,300 cash

4th: Adam & Steve Sandor 20-03, $2,000 cash

5th: Chase Rockstead & Andy Pogorzelski 20-01, $1,600 cash, $2,853 option pot cash

 

The 9th place team of Casey Williams and Kent Leibhart took home the $500 Lowrance bonus from the Illinois River.

All together the Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s Masters Walleye Circuit awarded $31,637 in cash and prizes in Spring Valley, IL.

391 fish weighed a total of 624 lbs. 08 oz. during the event.

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 and is open to avid walleye anglers from all walks of life. The 2020 schedule includes 7 qualifiers in seven states, plus the 2021 Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s MWC World Walleye Championship.

Bass Pro Shops and 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, Berkley, Church Tackle, Soft Steel, Okuma, Power-Pole and T-H Marine. For more information, email info@masterswalleyecircuit.com, or call (580) 765-9031.