Ponca City, Okla.—April 19, 2018—Competitive walleye anglers are in for a high-stakes, Wild West walleye shootout when the Cabela’s Masters Walleye Circuit visits legendary Lake Francis Case out of Platte, South Dakota, for a two-day, team-format tournament April 27-28, 2018.

“It’s going to be a lot of fun,” says Mike Dorris, a veteran walleye tournament competitor and former MWC World Walleye Champion hailing from Madison, South Dakota. “Lake Francis Case probably has the healthiest walleye population of the all state’s reservoirs right now. The fish are aggressive and like to bite, so catching limits shouldn’t be a problem, whether you’ve fished here for 50 years or just rolled into town.”

Plus, thanks to the lake’s abundance of hard-bottom areas, Francis Case walleyes are easy to spot on sonar. “They mark really well against the hard bottom,” says Dorris, who runs Lowrance HDS Carbon units on his Ranger fishing platform. “This makes scouting easy. You just need to trust what your sonar is telling you.”

Walleyes and saugers will both be fair game for anglers competing in the tournament. Teams will be allowed to bring their best five fish to the scale each day, and the team with the highest two-day total weight will be crowned Lake Francis Case champions. Dorris expects to see plenty of hefty daily limits in the lower teens. “A good basket of 14 to 17 pounds each day should put you in the hunt for a top-10 finish, and I think it will take at least 35 pounds to win,” he says.

The tournament’s late April timing will give MWC anglers a chance to fish a variety of tactics and areas. “Everywhere from the Platte area all the way up to the head of the lake will produce fish,” Dorris says. “The trick will be finding larger fish that haven’t spawned yet.” He notes that during spring tournaments based farther up the lake in Chamberlain, anglers commonly run down to the Platte area in search of large fish. “It will be interesting to see what happens when we launch close to these big-fish spots,” he says. On the tactical front, Dorris believes trolling shad-bodied crankbaits on lead-core line will be a top presentation, as will fishing jigs tipped with minnows or soft-plastic bodies.

Besides enjoying great walleye fishing and the thrill of competition, teams will vie for hefty payouts. The Cabela’s MWC offers anglers lucrative payouts based on the number of teams entered in each event and paid to the top 20 percent of the field. 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. Plus, the first-place team wins a $1,000 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 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 2018 will fish the 2019 championship, set for October 3-5, 2019 on Wisconsin’s incomparable Lake Winnebago System.

Teams fishing at least MWC four qualifiers also compete for Team of the Year awards, including a $10,000 sponsorship package and thousands more in cash and Cabela’s Cash cards, as well as fully paid entries into a full season of great walleye action.

As an added bonus, Official Sponsor Lowe Equipment Attachments offers all Cabela’s MWC anglers a 25 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.

Adding to the excitement, weigh-ins typically draw a large crowd of walleye fans. Select MWC events are also filmed for national airing on Federation Angler TV. Plus, the Cabela’s MWC and National Professional Anglers Association will present a Youth & Family Fishing Clinic immediately after the day-one weigh-in. The first 50 youths will receive rod-and-reel combos courtesy of the NPAA.

North America’s longest-running and undisputed leader in team walleye tournaments, the Cabela’s MWC has set the standard for competitive walleye fishing since 1984. Operated under the umbrella of The Walleye Federation (TWF), the Cabela’s MWC is open to avid walleye anglers from all walks of life. The 2018 tournament schedule includes eight qualifiers in seven states, plus the 2019 Cabela’s MWC World Walleye Championship. Registration for 2018 events is now open, and the deadline for registering for the Lake Francis Case tournament is Monday, April 23 at 4 p.m. Visit masterswalleyecircuit.com for updates, official rules and registration information.

Cabela’s, the World’s Foremost Outfitter for hunting, fishing and outdoor gear, is entering its 17th season as title sponsor of the MWC. Official sponsors include: Bass Pro Shops, 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.

For info on the area shopping, lodging and discounts CLICK HERE

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Trenton, Mich.—April 14, 2018—Brothers Steve and Dan Bodinger of Chilton, Wisconsin, overcame challenging weather conditions and fierce competition to score an amazing come-from-behind victory at the Cabela’s Masters Walleye Circuit’s Detroit River regular season tournament at Trenton, Michigan, April 13-14.

Presented by Lowrance Electronics and headquartered riverside at scenic Elizabeth Park, the two-day tournament pitted 61 teams from across the Midwest against one another in an all-out, big-fish battle for Motor City bragging rights and a share of the MWC’s generous payout.

The Bodingers sacked a respectable 32 pound, 1-ounce, 5-fish limit on day one. The weight put them in eighth place, a long cast behind leaders Mitch Dougherty and Nichole Higgins, who brought in 47 pounds, 15 ounces. Undaunted, the hard-fishing brothers put together a 27-pound, 2-ounce day two limit that propelled to the top of the leaderboard with a 59-pound, 3-ounce tournament total.

“It feels awesome to have a comeback like this,” said Steve. “It was miserable out there today, with 20- to 30-mph winds out of the north and rain all day. I give all the anglers credit for toughing it out.”

“It hasn’t sunk in yet,” added Dan, who was stunned by the win. “I still don’t believe it. We were 15 pounds out when we left the dock this morning, and I didn’t think we had a chance of doing this.”

It was the Bodingers’ third MWC victory on the Detroit River, having won the event in 2010 and 2015. At the 2015 tournament, they broke the circuit’s all-time two-day basket record with a 90-pound, 11-ounce limit. Their 2018 winning tactics included trolling crankbaits in 15 to 17 feet of water on Lake Erie, and snap-jigging ¾-ounce jigs tipped with soft-plastic trailers in the Detroit River.

“Most of our trolling fish hit baits with a ‘Funky Monkey’ pattern, custom-painted for us by Rippin’ Lips Tackle,” Dan added. “It’s black-and-gold with purple lines and pink dots.”

“We trolled on the lake until about 1 p.m. on day one, then moved into the river when the trolling bite turned off,” said Steve. “The first spot we tried, we jigged up a 10½-pound walleye, which was a big bonus. When teams were restricted to the river today due to the bad weather conditions, we hit our go-to main-channel spots and put together another limit.”

Dan added that precision boat control was a key part of their day two success. “My brother did a great job of keeping us slipping downriver at just the right speed,” he explained. “Making the right moves to the right places at the right time was also a huge factor in the win.”

The Bodingers collected $14,700 in cash and prizes for their efforts, including the $9,500 first-place cash payout, $3,500 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 Cabela’s NTC, travel stipend, team jerseys and plaques.

Rounding out the top five were:

2nd: Wayne Butz, Scott Cisewski, 56-12, $4,700 cash plus $2,385 from the option pot, the $1,000 Ranger Cup bonus and $500 Lowrance Electronics contingency

3rd: Mark Lemke, Walter Price, 55-13, $3,200 cash plus $1,500 from the option pot

4th: Mitch Dougherty, Nicole Higgins, 55-07, $2,500 cash

5th: Steve Vandemark, Jerry Fox Jr., 49-01, $2,000 cash plus $1,200 from the option pot
In all, the Cabela’s MWC awarded $47,565 in cash and prizes.

A total of 498 walleyes weighing 1,840 pounds, 8 ounces crossed the scale at Elizabeth Park during the event. Adding to the fun, the Cabela’s MWC and National Professional Anglers Association presented a Youth & Family Fishing Clinic immediately after the day-one weigh-in, with participating youths receiving rod-and-reel combos courtesy of the NPAA.

North America’s longest-running and undisputed leader in team walleye tournaments, the Cabela’s MWC has set the standard for competitive walleye fishing since 1984. Operated under the umbrella of The Walleye Federation (TWF), the Cabela’s MWC is open to avid walleye anglers from all walks of life. The 2018 tournament schedule includes eight qualifiers in seven states, plus the 2019 Cabela’s MWC World Walleye Championship. Visit masterswalleyecircuit.com for updates, official rules and registration information.

Cabela’s, the World’s Foremost Outfitter for hunting, fishing and outdoor gear, is enjoying its 17th season as title sponsor of the MWC. Official sponsors include: Bass Pro Shops, 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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REGISTRATION CLOSES MONDAY APRIL 9th

Ponca City, Okla.—April 2, 2018—Walleye anglers who enjoy the thrill of competition and the excitement of catching big fish are invited to compete in the Cabela’s Masters Walleye Circuit’s Detroit River regular-season tournament April 13-14.

Headquartered at scenic Elizabeth Park in Trenton, Michigan, and presented by Lowrance Electronics, the two-day, team-format event offers anglers a chance to test their skills on one of North America’s premier spring walleye fisheries. Flush with an influx of spawn-run walleyes from Lake Erie, the Detroit River routinely produces sag-bellied trophies topping 10 pounds.

“Last year, weights were decent but down a little bit due to challenging conditions and restricted fishing boundaries on day one,” says MWC Tournament Director Jack Baker. “But it normally takes a 10-fish limit with an 8-pound or better average to win here. For example, Mitch Dougherty and Dan Stier won in 2016 with 85 pounds, 13 ounces. And in 2015, Steve and Dan Bodinger sacked a two-day, 10-fish MWC limit weighing 90 pounds, 11 ounces, to break the MWC’s all-time two-day basket record.”

Weather permitting, teams will enjoy two full days of competition on the U.S. and Canadian sides of the 32-mile waterway, along with their choice of downstream hotspots on legendary Lake Erie. Teams will be allowed to bring their best five fish to the scale each day, and the team with the highest two-day total weight will be crowned the Detroit River champions.

The Cabela’s MWC’s lucrative payouts, which are 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. Plus, the first-place team wins a $1,000 Cabela’s National Team Championship Prize Package including paid NTC entry, travel stipend, team jerseys and plaques.

Such winnings quickly add up. At the recent Illinois River MWC tournament, for example, winners Jeff Lahr and Jason Hancock were rewarded with a $13,700 payday, while the top 20 percent of the field shared more than $60,000 in cash and prizes.

Teams fishing three or more tournaments also compete for coveted berths in the 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 2018 will fish the 2019 championship, set for October 3-5, 2019 on Wisconsin’s incomparable Lake Winnebago System.

Teams fishing at least MWC four qualifiers also compete for Team of the Year awards, including a $10,000 sponsorship package and thousands more in cash and Cabela’s Cash cards, as well as fully paid entries into a full season of great walleye action.

As an added bonus, Official Sponsor Lowe Equipment Attachments offers all Cabela’s MWC anglers a 25 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.

Adding to the excitement, weigh-ins typically draw a large crowd of walleye fans. Select MWC events are also filmed for national airing on Federation Angler TV. Plus, the Cabela’s MWC and National Professional Anglers Association will present a Youth & Family Fishing Clinic immediately after the day-one weigh-in. The first 50 youths will receive rod-and-reel combos courtesy of the NPAA.

North America’s longest-running and undisputed leader in team walleye tournaments, the Cabela’s MWC has set the standard for competitive walleye fishing since 1984. Operated under the umbrella of The Walleye Federation (TWF), the Cabela’s MWC is open to avid walleye anglers from all walks of life. The 2018 tournament schedule includes eight qualifiers in seven states, plus the 2019 Cabela’s MWC World Walleye Championship. Registration for 2018 events is now open, and the deadline for registering for the Detroit River tournament is Monday, April 9 at 4 p.m. Visit masterswalleyecircuit.com for updates, official rules and registration information.

Cabela’s, the World’s Foremost Outfitter for hunting, fishing and outdoor gear, is entering its 17th season as title sponsor of the MWC. Official sponsors include: Bass Pro Shops, 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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Spring Valley, Ill.—March 24, 2018—Undaunted by bitter winds and a spring snowstorm, Iowans Jeff Lahr and Jason Hancock rallied to win the Cabela’s Masters Walleye Circuit’s 2018 season opener on the Illinois River at Spring Valley, Illinois, March 23-24.

Presented by Lowe Equipment Attachments and headquartered at the Spring Valley Boat Club, the two-day tournament pitted 81 teams from across the Midwest against one another in an epic battle for serious bragging rights and a share of the MWC’s generous payout.

“It was brutal out there today—snowing and cold, with 20- to 30-mile-an-hour winds,” said Lahr of the day two weather conditions. “But the win feels great! I had my face in the wind, running the boat, and Jason came through with the bites we needed.”

One of the most important of those bites came at 2:50 p.m. on the final afternoon of competition. The fish turned out to be a 5-pound, 13-ounce walleye that anchored their day-two basket of 15 pounds, 12 ounces and catapulted them from 16th place to the winners’ circle with a 27-pound, 9-ounce total. “I was shaking after we got the fish in the boat,” said Hancock, who was fishing as a substitute for Lahr’s regular tournament partner, Tommy Skarlis. “I was so excited, it was five minutes before I could get my line back in the water.”

For Lahr, the win marked his second straight MWC victory and third overall. He and Skarlis won the Cabela’s MWC World Walleye Championship last October and a regular season qualifier on the Mississippi River in 2014. “We’ve been blessed,” said Lahr. “And back-to-back wins are really hard to beat.”

Lahr and Hancock’s main tactic was vertically fishing a jig, ringworm and minnow combination, mainly in 12½ to 13½ feet of water in the Peru Flats area. Their MWC 10-fish tournament limit included nine saugers and the one kicker walleye.

The winners collected $13,700 in cash and prizes, including the $11,200 first-place cash payout, plus the $1,000 Ranger Cup bonus, $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.

Rounding out the top five were:
2nd: John Dalzot, Jena Dalzot, 26-12, $5,950 cash plus $3,600 from the option pot and $200 Okuma Reel bonus
3rd: David Kleszyk, Dave Zurawski, 25-14, $3,700 cash plus $2,800 from the option pot
4th: James Debernardi, Mike Hanson, 24-13, $2,700 cash
5th: Troy Rahn, Jeremy Wildeman, 23-14, $2,200 cash
In 11th place, Rodger Riggs and Jason Kopf added the $500 Lowrance Electronics contingency to their $1,100 in MWC payout winnings. In all, the Cabela’s MWC awarded $60,293 in cash and prizes.

A total of 683 walleyes and saugers weighing 1,370 pounds, 4 ounces crossed the scale at the Spring Valley Boat Club during the event. Adding to the fun, the Cabela’s MWC and National Professional Anglers Association presented a Youth & Family Fishing Clinic immediately after the day-one weigh-in, with participating youths receiving rod-and-reel combos courtesy of the NPAA.

North America’s longest-running and undisputed leader in team walleye tournaments, the Cabela’s MWC has set the standard for competitive walleye fishing since 1984. Operated under the umbrella of The Walleye Federation (TWF), the Cabela’s MWC is open to avid walleye anglers from all walks of life. The 2018 tournament schedule includes eight qualifiers in seven states, plus the 2019 Cabela’s MWC World Walleye Championship. Visit masterswalleyecircuit.com for updates, official rules and registration information.

Cabela’s, the World’s Foremost Outfitter for hunting, fishing and outdoor gear, is entering its 17th season as title sponsor of the MWC. Official sponsors include: Bass Pro Shops, 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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