Bass Pro Shops/Cabela’s MWC Anglers Ready for a Boarder-Water Battle on Big Stone Lake Presented by Lowrance

Ponca City, Ok. — April 16th, 2019 — The headwaters of the Minnesota River plays home for the third stop on the Masters Walleye Circuit’s 35th season. The “Toughest Walleye Anglers on Planet Earth” will have a chance to live up to that moniker while competing on the recently melted waters of the 26-mile long Big Stone Lake.

BPS/Cabela’s MWC fishermen are no strangers to Big Stone, with this being the 5th time, since 2014, the circuit has travelled to Ortonville. Fitting this event is presented by Lowrance, as anglers in the past have spoken about how critical quality electronics are at this event and that trusting what they tell you will make or break your days on the water.

“The fish haven’t seen a bait in a while.” Expressed tournament director Jack Baker. Jack continued “Its taken a while for all the ice to melt on Big Stone. Its pulled away from shore, preventing ice anglers from getting on, but the lake hadn’t open enough for boaters. The lake should be prime for catching fish when we arrive.”

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 Ortonville City Park, Ortonville, MN are free and open to the public beginning at 3:00pm both days April 26, 27.  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 Big Stone tournament is close of business Monday, April 22. 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.

Schiefelbein and Knottek Jig Their Way to A Motown Win on the Detroit River Presented Ranger Boats

Jim Schiefelbein (left) and Chad Knottek (right) take home the championship trophy from the Detroit River.

Trenton, MI—April 14, 2019 — With wind and water conditions less than ideal, Jim Schiefelbein, Marseilles, IL and Chad Knottek, Ottawa, IL weighed 22-08 after day-one and got just what they needed, 15-11, on day-two, for the win with 38lbs 3ozs. Presented by Ranger Boats, this year’s Detroit River event pitted anglers against one another in a River Only format, a first for the Bass Pro Shops/Cabela’s  MWC.

75 of the “Toughest walleye teams on planet earth” took off from Elizabeth park both Friday and Saturday mornings to face a fast moving and dirty Detroit River. Making matters worse was the 30-40 mph South winds taking aim at anglers and their boat control capabilities.

Detroit River champion, Chad Knottek said “We loaded the truck with anything we could bring, there is no room left in the back of Jim’s truck. But, we are primarily jig fishermen and that’s what we stuck with.” Jim was still in shock after all the awards were done and most anglers had gone. “I still can’t believe it,” Jim mentioned. “We have been close before, but we did not think we had the weight needed to win today when we pulled up to the dock.”

“We caught a lot of big fish earlier in the week, which made us nervous.” Jim continued. “We knew that the variable in all of this would be the dirty water, but that sun came out today and we felt it could end up going either way, really good or a grind, there is so many big fish here.”

Schiefelbein and Knottek leave, with $15,850 in cash and prizes, including the $10,500 first-place cash payout, $3,850 cash from the option pot, $500 AirWave certificate and a $1,000 Cabela’s National Team Championship Prize Package including paid entry into the Cabela’s NTC, travel stipend, team jerseys and plaques.

The rest of the top five teams:

2nd: Corey Blair, Kevin Hanson 37-11, $5,300 cash plus $2,800 from the option pot and $200 Okuma Reels bonus

3rd: Taylor Smith, Dakota Obrzut, 37-01, $3,750 cash

4th: Curtis Oliver, Jim Swenson, 36-05, $2,650 cash and $2,060 from the option pot and $500 Lowrance bonus

5th: Daniel Byers, Rob Hoover, 36-02, $2,100 cash plus $1,500 from the option pot

All together the BPS/Cabela’s MWC awarded $60,179 in cash and prizes at the Detroit River

Butch Rabetski (left) and Jim Passo (right) landed the largest fish at the Detroit River, a 9-07 hog!

625 fish weighed a total of 1774lbs- 12ozs during the event. Jim Passo and Butch Rabetski took the top “Big Fish” honors over the weekend with a 9-07 walleye. National Professional Angler Association member Rick Kretchmer presented the NPAA’s Youth and Family Fishing Clinic 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 & 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.

Big Fish – Small Changes Await Anglers at the Detroit River for the Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s Masters Walleye Circuit Presented Ranger Boats

Big Fish – Small Changes Await Anglers at the Detroit River for the Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s Masters Walleye Circuit

Presented by Ranger Boats

Ponca City, Okla.—March 26, 2019 —The 2019 stop at the Detroit River, launching from Elizabeth Park in Trenton, MI, will provide the MWC anglers with another quality opportunity for big, pre-spawn bites and they won’t have to leave the river to do so.

Dan (Left) and Steve (right) Bodinger , 2018 Detroit River Champions.

Presented by Ranger Boats, the “Toughest Walleye Anglers on Planet Earth” will see a small change to the boundary locations for this event. The BPS/Cabela’s MWC fishermen will be kept in the river for the duration of the event. This change is, in large part, due in response from anglers polled over the course of previous MWC seasons.

Long-time MWC angler and 3-time Detroit River champion Steve Bodinger is excited for the change. “Yeah, I like it, Dan and I won all three of our events from the river, one trolling, one jigging and one doing a mix of both. The river gives everyone the chance to fish just about any way they want, live rigging, trolling or jigging. You can catch in so many places and in so many ways, it really can give you lots of confidence in your plan, confidence is key.”

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.

And finally, this event will serve as our “Last Chance” qualifying events for the 2019 Bass Pro Shops/Cabela’s NTC at Sault Ste Marie, MI. in May 30-June 1, 2019. The top 10 teams at the Detroit River not already qualified can earn a spot in the 2019 NTC!

Daily live weigh-ins at Elizabeth Park, Trenton, MI are free and open to the public beginning at 3:00pm both days April 12, 13.  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 Detroit River tournament is close of business Monday,  April 8. 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: Bass Pro Shops, Cabela’s. 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.

5-fish Limits Gives Johnson and Rhoads Illinois River Win, Presented Lowe Equipment Attachments – Kick-off’s MWC’s 35th Season

Spring Valley, IL — March 24th, 2019 — Dan Johnson, Fayetteville, OH. and Larry Rhoads, Milford, OH. sat in 22nd place at the start of the second and final-day of the Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s Masters Walleye Circuit, presented by Lowe Equipment Attachments, on the Illinois River. If you ask them, it’s right where they wanted to be.

“We came into this event with an “every day is a pre-fishing day” mentality, it helped us to not get set on any one way and be blinded, the bite changes everyday” said Rhoads. “This is a special event, so much history here and now we have two MWC wins on this river in the last seven years.”

“As a team, we just keep a cool head,” mentioned Johnson. “We moved around a lot, fishing places we knew had not been fished in the last couple days. Where we fished today wasn’t even close to where we fished yesterday and then we upgraded from a 17” female to an 18” female in the last ten minutes.”

It took a combination of hand-lining and pole-lining for the MWC premier team along with subtle speed changes, while getting away from the crowd to find needed bites and a MWC rule on tie breakers sealed  up win. This is the second MWC event they have won at Spring Valley, the first back in 2012 where they sat in 82nd place after the first day and came from behind that time as well for the win.

Both the first and second place teams weighed 23lbs – 3ozs for the event. Scott Geitgey, Canton, OH. and David Kolb, Grand Blanc, MI. brought 5 fish to the scales Friday and only 4 fish Saturday while Johnson and Rhoads handed in a 5-fish tournament limit both days, winning the tie breaker.

Johnson and Rhoads walk away from Spring Valley, with $16,401 in cash and prizes including: $10,800 first-place cash payout, $3,901 cash from the option pot, $500 AirWave certificate, $200 Okuma reel bonus and a $1,000 Cabela’s National Team Championship Prize Package including paid entry into the 2020 Bass Pro Shops/Cabela’s NTC, with travel stipends, team jerseys and plaques. While Geitgey & Kolb took home a cool $10,000 in cash and prizes including; $5,650 cash for 2nd place, a $1,000 Ranger Cup bonus, $2,850 cash from the option pot and a $500 cash Lowrance bonus.

Rounding out the top 5 were:

3rd Place: Robert Hausler, Plano, IL, & Chris Clemmons, Newark, IL, 22lbs -02oz, $3,850 cash.

4th Place: Max Wilson, Lomira, WI., &  Isaac Lakich, Richfeild, WI., 22-01, $2,750 cash and a

additional $1,900 from the option pot.

5th Place: Witold Niemiec, & Wojciech Czykier, of West Milford, NJ.,  21-8, $2,200 cash

Jeff and Jared Franta took the top “Big Fish” honors for the weekend with a 7-07 walleye out of the river. All together the BPS/Cabela’s MWC awarded $60,871 in cash and prizes at the Illinois River event.

984lbs- 12ozs of Sauger and Walleye were weighed in 100% alive from the 498 fish that graced the scales during the event. In an annual cooperative conservation program between MWC and the Illinois DNR all the fish were taken by the IDNR for brood stock to spawn out in the hatchery this spring and continue to restock the Illinois River with Sauger.

National Professional Angler Association member Max Wilson hosted a slew of kids at the MWC and NPAA’s Youth and Family Fishing Clinic Friday afternoon, immediately following the weigh-in and gave away a number of fishing rods to attendees.

Under the umbrella of The Walleye Federation (TWF), the Bass Pro Shops/Cabela’s Masters Walleye Circuit is North America’s longest-running, undisputed leader in team walleye tournaments. A proud member of the freshwater fishing hall of fame, MWC 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 including: Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Nebraska, Ohio and North Dakota, plus the 2020 Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s MWC World Walleye Championship.

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: Bass Pro Shops, Cabela’s. 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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