Ponca City, Okla. —August 23, 2019 ­­– The anglers of the Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s Masters Walleye Circuit (MWC) will round out the 2019 season by fishing one of Minnesota’s highest ranked walleye destinations, Leech Lake, Walker, MN. With a super close “Team of the Year” (TOY) race and many still vying for a spot in the 2020 World Walleye Championship, there will be plenty on the line come September 20-21.

“It’s incredible how often these points races come down to the last event.” Mentioned Jack Baker, MWC tournament director, as he spoke of the 2019 season. “All of these fishermen have been having fun, yet working so hard at beating each other. It will be exciting to see who pulls it off at Leech, who has the plan that works.”

The team of Max Wilson and Isaac Lakich once again leads the TOY race into the final event, much the same as they did during the 2018 season. Though, this time, the lead is not as comfortable. “All of these guys that could beat us in points, can beat us on the water. We don’t have room to stumble this year, not if we want to repeat.” Said Wilson when asked his thoughts about going to Leech with the point lead.

Presented by Lowe Equipment, the Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s MWC will send the teams out and weigh them in at the award-winning resort, Chase on the Lake, in Walker, Minnesota. Anglers staying at Chase on the Lake will enjoy a resort atmosphere that can be enjoyed by the whole family, making this stop a great chance for a family vacation along with healthy competition.

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 and 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.

Teams earning points in at least three qualifiers each season compete for coveted berths in a World Walleye Championship. Qualified teams from 2019 will fish the 2020 World Walleye Championship, set for October 2020 on the mighty Mississippi River in the Quad Cities. 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.

As a bonus benefit to all MWC anglers as well as all TWF members nationwide, Official Sponsor Lowe Equipment Attachments offers a 20 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.

Daily live weigh-ins at the Chase on The Lake are free and open to the public beginning at 3:00pm both days September 20, 21.  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, there is something for you 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 35 years and is open to avid walleye anglers from all walks of life. The 2019 schedule includes eight qualifiers in six states, plus the 2020 Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s MWC World Walleye Championship. Registration is now open for all events, and the registration deadline for the Leech Lake tournament is close of business September 16^th.  Visit masterswalleyecircuit.com for full details.

Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s – The World’s Foremost Outfitters, are in their 18th 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, MotorGuide, Okuma, Power-Pole and T-H Marine. For more information, email info@masterswalleyecircuit.com, or call (580) 765-9031.

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Devils Lake, North Dakota — August 18, 2019 — After spending 13 days on the water prior to the Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s Masters Walleye Circuit (MWC) event at Devils Lake, Chad Lunde and Luke Schultz of Littleton, CO thought they had seen all they needed to know.  This just wasn’t going to be “their weekend.”

Presented by Ranger Boats, the Devils Lake MWC tournament sent teams out across the vastness that is Devils Lake in North Dakota. With so many places for fish to hide and so many techniques to try, it was anyone’s guess as to who would have them locked down come Friday and Saturday. At the rules meeting Thursday night, Lunde and Schultz had no idea that less than 48 hours later they would be sitting with a chance to walk away with the win.

“We really had no plan and very low expectations.” Luke said in an interview after the win. “We had already used every rod and every lure in the boat while pre-fishing and thought we were just there to have some fun.” The team had zero fish when the clock struck 12:30pm on Friday afternoon, then something changed their entire weekend. “We saw something on the Lowrance side-imaging that caught our attention in 40 feet of water.” Said Luke.

Lunde talked about what happened next. “We got the idea to fish this spot like we would at home, pitching jigging-raps in deep water. At home we do it in 85 feet of water, here was only 40 feet, but it worked.” The anglers compiled a 5-fish, 26-02 limit in less than an hour on day one, good enough for second place, behind Jake and Gene Brueggemann’s 28-05.

“We didn’t go right to our spot on Saturday morning, honestly, we were worried that we were going to be followed, so we messed around a little to calm ourselves down and then found those fish once again.” Chad said. They once again put together a bag over 26 lbs. on day two for an impressive win, with 52 lbs. and 6 oz. “All we have wanted, for years, was to win an MWC event, we wanted that trophy, now we got it!”

Lunde and Schultz took home $14,085 in cash and prizes, including the $9,700 first-place cash payout, $3,685 option pot cash, $500 Lowrance Bonus, $500 AirWave certificate 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:

2^nd: Jarrod Fredericks & Steve Alverson 45-09, $4,800 cash, $2,500 option pot cash, $1000 Ranger Cup

3^rd: Jake & Gene Brueggemann 39-07, $3,350 cash

4^th: Terry Schlieve & Mearl Nelson 38-01, $2,600 cash

5^th: Chris & Joe Kujawa 35-11 $2,250 cash, $1,500 option pot cash

All together the Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s Masters Walleye Circuit awarded $48,565 in cash and prizes in Devils Lake.

431 fish weighed a total of 1189lbs- 10ozs during the event. Travor Diegel & Paul Steffen took home “Big Fish” honors with their 8-00 walleye on Saturday. National Professional Angler Association member Spencer Deutz presented the NPAA’s Youth and Family Fishing Clinic for a rain-soaked group, Saturday afternoon, immediately following the weigh-in and gave away fishing rods to attendees.

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 35 years and is open to avid walleye anglers from all walks of life. The 2019 schedule includes eight qualifiers in six states, plus the 2020 Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s MWC World Walleye Championship.

Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s – The World’s Foremost Outfitters, are in their 18th 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, MotorGuide, Okuma, Power-Pole and T-H Marine. For more information, email info@masterswalleyecircuit.com, or call (580) 765-9031.

Sturgeon Bay, Wisc — August5, 2019 — Sunshine and summertime was in full-swing for the 82 teams at Sturgeon Bay, WI August 2-3, presented by Mercury. Low winds and bluebird skies made fishing conditions comfortable, but fish-catching a bit more challenging.  For the champions, Matt Vanden Heuvel (Neenah, WI) and Chris Pockat (Gillett, WI), it was conditions their pre-fishing prepared them for.

When asked after their win on Saturday, what was the key to sealing the deal, Chris Pockat said “It was time on the water weeks ahead. We have been on this pattern for a while now and we knew it would hold if it was windy or calm.” Walleye fishing is generally thought to be better with a little “walleye chop” and though often that holds true on the Bay of Green Bay, the “Toughest Walleye Anglers on Planet Earth” often find a way to overcome the adversity of the weather.

“We pulled harnesses deep on structure” Matt mentioned after the event. “We stuck to this and didn’t know if it was going to be enough after yesterday” On day-one, Matt and Chris handed in a third-place basket weighing 32-15, nearly ten pounds behind the first day leaders of Nick Mills (Whitelaw, WI) and Trevor Gantz (Ashwaubenon, WI). Matt continued “We were thinking with the lack of wind today (Saturday) that the bite would be off for others.”

Matt and Chris knew winning in Sturgeon Bay would be a challenge, but their preparation for anything that may come their way set them up for a close, but accomplishing win. Matt quipped while holding the trophy that the next item he needed to be able to win again was the 2020 Ranger 622FS that was nearby. Ranger Boats along with Pamp’s Outboards (Green Bay) gave test rides in the much-hyped new multispecies boat during the weekend at the Lodge at Leathem Smith in Sturgeon Bay.

With 69-10 of fish, Vanden Heuvel and Pockat took home $17,200.50 in cash and prizes, including the $11,300 first-place cash payout, $3,900.50 option pot cash, $500 Lowrance Bonus, $500 AirWave certificate 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:

2^nd: Dan Woodke & Steve Meyer 69-05, $6,000 cash, $2,700 option pot cash, $1000 Ranger Cup

3^rd: Max Wilson & Isaac Lakich 68-03, $3,700 cash, $2,100 option pot cash

4^th: Kevin & Eric McQuiod 67-10, $2,750 cash, $1,440 option pot cash,

5^th: Mike Hanson & JJ. Debernardi 65-01 $2,250

All together the Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s Masters Walleye Circuit awarded $62,990.50 in cash and prizes in Port Clinton.

544 fish weighed a total of 2560lbs- 08ozs during the event. Team of Louie Apitz and Buck Gehm took home “Big Fish” honors with their 10-01 walleye on Saturday. National Professional Angler Association member Max Wilson presented the NPAA’s Youth and Family Fishing Clinic for an enthusiastic group, Friday afternoon, immediately following the weigh-in and gave away fishing rods to attendees.

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 35 years and is open to avid walleye anglers from all walks of life. The 2019 schedule includes eight qualifiers in six states, plus the 2020 Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s MWC World Walleye Championship.

Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s – The World’s Foremost Outfitters, are in their 18th 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, MotorGuide, Okuma, Power-Pole and T-H Marine. For more information, email info@masterswalleyecircuit.com, or call (580) 765-9031.

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Ponca City, Okla.—Aug 3, 2019— The stage is set for the 2020 Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s Masters Walleye Circuit. With seven championship-qualifying events planted in seven different states across the walleye world, the MWC looks to make their 36^th season their best one yet. The new season will pit the “Toughest Walleye Anglers on Planet Earth” against each other for a chance at the famed 2021 Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s MWC World Walleye Championship, which will be held September 30-October 2, 2021 in Lake City, MN.

“We have spoken to and surveyed anglers from all over the country, trying our best to fit the pieces of the puzzle together and give them the most exciting schedule we can.” Tournament emcee Jeff Kelm said. “The excellent fisheries along with community support should make the 2020 MWC season a fantastic ride for all involved.”

The 2020 Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s MWC tournament schedule looks like this:

March 20-21               Illinois River, Spring Valley, IL

April 17-18                 Detroit River (river only), Trenton, MI

May 15-16                 Bay of Green Bay, Marinette, WI

June 12-13                  Lake Erie, Lorain, OH

June 26-27                  Missouri River, Mobridge, SD

July 10-11                  Lake Sakakawea, New Town, ND

September 18-19              Cass Lake, Cass Lake, MN

Oct. 8-10, 2020             MWC World Walleye Championship, Mississippi River, Quad Cities*

(*qualifying teams from 2019 MWC tournament season)

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

The Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s MWC’s lucrative payouts, 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. As a result, winners routinely pocket $10,000 to $15,000 or more in cash and prizes. Plus, the first-place team wins a $1,000 Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s National Team Championship Prize Package including paid NTC entry, travel stipend, team jerseys and plaques.

Teams fishing three or more tournaments also compete for coveted berths in the Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s MWC World Walleye 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 2020 will fish the 2021 championship, at Lake City, MN.

Teams fishing at least four qualifiers compete for “Team of the Year” awards including a $10,000 “MWC Living the Dream” sponsorship package and thousands more in cash, Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s gift cards and paid tournament entries.

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 35 years and is open to avid walleye anglers from all walks of life. Registration for the 2020 events will open in January 3, 2020 online at masterswalleyecircuit.com.

Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s – The World’s Foremost Outfitters, are in their 18th 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, MotorGuide, Okuma, Power-Pole and T-H Marine. For more information, email info@masterswalleyecircuit.com, or call (580) 765-9031.

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