Ponca City, Okla. —August 1st, 2019 ­­– Though the waters may not be raising at the levels they once were, it doesn’t calm the conversations surrounding the historical watershed that is Devils Lake in North Dakota. Presented by Rangers Boats, competitors on the Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s Masters Walleye Circuit will look to capitalize on the various structures and nuances that Devils Lake provides, as they compete August 16-17.

Suzie Kenner, Executive Director of the Devils Lake CVB says the community is ready for that anglers and families. “We always look forward to having the Masters Walleye Circuit in town. It’s a real fun group of men and women.” Suzie added “The Resorts and cabins are filling with reservations and the bait shops are ready for the anglers to fill up with what they need.” North Dakota’s Grahams Island State Park will play host to the weigh-in festivities and fish will be donated to the Devils Lake community’s free-will “Fish Fry and Corn Feed.”

Two-time winning team of Troy Morris and Corey Heiser look to make this year’s event win number three for the artificial-bait only team. “The lake is so versatile, there is fish in 4 feet of water and 40 feet of water at any time of the year.” Troy Morris said. “Our two wins and our second-place finish were done with fish caught in three entirely different parts of the lake.” Troy added that memories will hurt you on this lake, you can spend a lot of time fishing places of the past and driving right over the new locations.

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 Grahams Island State Park are free and open to the public beginning at 3:00pm both days August 16, 17.  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 Devils Lake tournament is close of business August 12^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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Ponca City, Okla. —July 8, 2019 ­­– The 6^th stop for the Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s Masters Walleye Circuit in 2019 is another angler favorite, presented by Mercury. The Bay of Green Bay provides opportunity for a host of catching techniques, plus has the numbers and size classes to excite anyone who wets a line in this Lake Michigan arm.    

Many of the fishing patterns in the bay shift from the west to the east as the summer rolls on. Anglers participating in the event may not have a far run to where they will catch their 5-best fish to bring the scales for weigh-in at the Lodge at Leathem Smith, in Sturgeon Bay, WI. Though never easy to win, this Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s MWC event will not be one to miss by anyone wanting to be called one of the “Toughest Walleye Anglers on Planet Earth”!

Another factor at play now with 5 events behind is the “Team of The Year” standings. Jim Schiefelbein (Marseilles, IL) and Chad Knottek, (Ottawa, IL) lead the way after a win on the Detroit River earlier this year as well as solid finishes at Lake McConaughy and Lake Erie. Rounding out the top 3 are the Utica, MN team of Peter and Ted Mart followed by Scott Geitgey (Canton, OH) and David Kolb (Gand Blanc, MI).

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 Lodge at Leathem Smith are free and open to the public beginning at 3:00pm both days August 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, 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 Sturgeon Bay tournament is close of business July 29^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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Port Clinton, Ohio — June 23, 2019 — With wind and waves, Lake Erie did all it could to slow down the “Toughest Walleye Anglers on Planet Earth”, but try as it may, the fishermen still won out. Presented by Lowrance, the Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s Masters Walleye Circuit launched the two-day tournament from Port Clinton, OH, with Rodger Riggs (Cleveland, OH) and Jason Kopf (Avon Lake, OH) grabbing the win by ounces over Jim Passo (St Charles, IL) and “Butch” Rabetski (Kimberly, WI).

“This is just fantastic!” an elated Jason Kopf exclaimed “The first MWC event I fished was here in Port Clinton in 2009, I won that event, and here we are, once again. I feel like I got the (title) belt back!” Jason and Rodger ran 32 miles each day through rough conditions to find fish. “When we got to our spot on Friday morning, I set everything up to start trolling and the next thing I did was grab a screwdriver and began tightening everything back down that came loose on the ride over.”

Trolling crankbaits with a 3 oz. snap-weight down at the bottom produced the bites needed to seal the deal. Rodger Riggs mentioned “We had a plan that worked, and on Saturday morning, we thought maybe this could be ours? Then we started watching Jimmy (Passo) and Butch and thought, oh man, maybe not, this is going to be close.” Close it was. Jim and Butch weighed in an impressive 39lbs. bag on day-two to make a 20-place jump to second, finishing only 7oz. behind Riggs and Kopf.

Both Rodger and Jason are proud to win on their home water, knowing it’s never easy to win a Masters Walleye Circuit event and often even harder when the pressure of homefield advantage weighs on you. “I take a tremendous amount of pride showing off this fishery and this win means a ton to Rodger and me.” Jason added, while holding the champions trophy.

With 56-2 of fish, Riggs and Kopf take home $14,090.50 in cash and prizes, including the $7,700 first-place cash payout, $3,200.50 option pot cash, $1,000 Ranger Cup, $500 Lowrance Bonus, $500 AirWave certificate, $200 in Okuma reels, $490 custom necklace pendants (Tru Luv Jewelers) 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: Jim Passo and Gordan (Butch) Rabetski 55-11, $3,850 cash, $2,000 option pot cash, $463 for Saturday Big Fish

3^rd: Rodney Blackwell and Brett Rogers 51-09, $2,550 cash, $185 for 3^rd place Saturday Big Fish

4^th: Virgill Tent and Ciprian Donici 47-10, $2,000 cash, $1,250 option pot cash, $185 for 3^rd place Friday Big Fish

5^th: Richard Larson and Mark Crites 47-04, $1,500 cash

All together the Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s Masters Walleye Circuit awarded $34,130.50 in cash and prizes in Port Clinton.

413 fish weighed a total of 1509lbs- 11ozs during the event. Teams of Jim Passo & Gordan (Butch) Rabetski and Adam Hume & Miles Schmidt tied for “Big Fish” honors over the weekend with 9-04 walleyes 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, Ok—May 22, 2019 —When surveyed, walleye anglers from around North America told the Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s Masters Walleye Circuit staff there is only a few places that has great fishing anytime of year, one of those places is Lake Erie. Spring, Summer or Fall, Lake Erie provides a world-class opportunity to catch a fish of a lifetime and plenty for the freezer.

The numbers and sizes of walleye now found in the Ohio waters of Lake Erie are staggering, with catch rates over five times better than the “exceptional” rating, and even better than that in the month of June! (source: 2019 OhioDNR update) Anglers will likely find most fish ranging between 17-22 inches, and the previous Lake Erie MWC tournament weights tell a story of a growing bags. Looking back in the archives at masterswalleyecircuit.com, one will find the final weigh-ins to continue a trend in the ‘heavy direction.

Presented by Lowrance, the June 21-22 event will take place at the mouth of the Portage River and pits the “Toughest Walleye Angler on Planet Earth” against one another, all for a share of the large tournament purse and prizes.  The “Team of the Year” race and “World Walleye Championship” qualifying continues to add another level of competition headed into this, the 5^th event of the season.

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.

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 Jefferson Street Pier are free and open to the public beginning at 3:00pm both days June 21, 22.  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 Lake Erie tournament is close of business June, May 17. Visit masterswalleyecircuit.com for full details.

Bass Pro Shops & 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.