Cabela’s Renews Support of Masters Walleye Circuit

Cabela’s Renews Federation Angler Support

 

 

 

 

 

Ponca City, Okla.—Sept. 18, 2017—Cabela’s, the World’s Foremost Outfitter of hunting, fishing and outdoor gear, has renewed its support for North America’s largest network of grassroots tournament fishing organizations by extending its Federation Angler sponsorship for the 2018 tournament season.

“We are happy to continue our support of Federation Angler, and are looking forward to another great year in 2018,” said Jennifer Murphy, Cabela’s brand partnership program manager. “Federation Angler is a dedicated group of knowledgeable and passionate anglers. That dedication shows in the quality events they plan and execute, and all the great work they do to promote fishing and conservation.”

“We are extremely proud to continue our Cabela’s partnership,” added Kelly Gohman, Federation Angler VP of sales and marketing. “Cabela’s has been a great supporter of Federation Angler’s competitive fishing, youth outreach and conservation efforts. Plus, their industry-leading products are a perfect fit for our hard-fishing members and the thousands of fans following them across our media platforms.”

Cabela’s, headquartered in Sidney, Nebraska, is the world’s largest direct marketer of hunting, fishing, camping and related outdoor merchandise. Since the company’s founding in 1961, Cabela’s has grown to become one of the most well-known outdoor recreation brands in the world, and has long been recognized as the World’s Foremost Outfitter.

Through Cabela’s expansive network of retail stores and its well-established direct-order business, it offers a wide and distinctive selection of high-quality outdoor products at competitive prices while providing superior customer service. Cabela’s also issues the Cabela’s CLUB Visa credit card, which serves as its primary customer loyalty rewards program.

Based in Ponca City, Oklahoma, Federation Angler represents the largest collection of fishing, youth and conservation organizations under one roof in America today, including two National Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame entities and some of the oldest and largest tournament organizations in existence.

The Federation Angler network includes The Bass Federation, Student Angler Federation High School Fishing, The Walleye Federation, Cabela’s Masters Walleye Circuit, Cabela’s North American Bass Circuit and National Bass Anglers Association. For complete details, visit federation.com or call (580) 765-9031.

Lahr, Skarlis Win Cabela’s Masters Walleye Circuit 2017 World Walleye Championship

  • Filed under MWC News

  • September 16, 2017

Cass Lake, Minn.—Sept. 16, 2017—Iowa’s Tommy Skarlis and Jeff Lahr overcame a day-two deficit, fierce competition and tough-bite conditions to win the Cabela’s Masters Walleye Circuit’s 2017 World Walleye Championship on Minnesota’s Cass Lake Chain.

“This is why I got into competitive walleye fishing on the MWC 27 years ago,” said Skarlis, of Waukon. “And I was finally able to achieve it. Besides the birth of my children, marrying my wife and finding Christ, this is one of the greatest days of my life.”

“It all worked out the way it was supposed to,” added Lahr, of Dubuque. “Our go-to presentations produced the fish we needed both days—including the big kicker fish that put us over the top today, which we caught at 2 o’clock this afternoon.”

Presented by Cabela’s, the MWC Championship ran Sept. 14-16 out of scenic and fishing-friendly Stony Point Resort, and featured the top 41 two-person teams from the circuit’s 2016 regular season. The anglers battled for a total payout topping $110,000 in cash and prizes.

Tournament officials were forced to cancel day one’s fishing due to extremely heavy fog that persisted through the half-day cutoff point for shortened fishing days. But the action quickly heated up when the field was let out at 7 a.m. on day two.

Carl Holten and Mickey Stuefen, also of Iowa, sacked a 5-fish limit weighing 17 pounds, 1 ounce to take the day-two lead, while Lahr and Skarlis were hot on their heels in second place with 5 fish for 16 pounds, 8 ounces.

The two Hawkeye teams traded places on the leaderboard the final day. Holten and Stuefen brought a 9-pound, 9-ounce limit to the MWC scale for 26 pounds, 10 ounces, while Lahr and Skarlis’ limit tipped the scale at 11 pounds, 11 ounces for the winning weight of 28 pounds, 3 ounces.

“We’ve been close to winning a championship before, and led on day two a couple of times, so it was actually great not leading it yesterday because it took some of the pressure off,” said Lahr.

He and Skarlis reported casting lead swimming jigs on day two and part of day three, but said they switched to drifting live-bait rigs with redtail chubs and home-made ¾- to 1-ounce sinkers when jigs failed to produce the size walleyes they wanted in the livewell. Both days they fished depths of up to 32 feet in Cass Lake sweet spots like Allen’s Bay and Wishbone Bar.

Lahr and Skarlis collected $14,700 in winnings, including $12,000 in cash, the $1,000 Ranger Cup contingency and $500 AirWave Pedestal bonus, plus a pair of custom trophies and Cabela’s MWC champions’ rings.

Mickey Stuefen and Carl Holten with part of their day three catch.

Rounding out the top five were:

2nd: Carl Holten and Mickey Stuefen, 26-10, $6,000 cash plus $500 Lowrance bonus and $200 Okuma Reel bonus

3rd: Travor Diegel, Paul Steffen, 25-08, $3,000 cash

4th: Spencer and Ron Deutz, 25-03, $$2,500 cash

5th: Dan Geiken, Brad Berens, 23-02, $2,000 cash

All teams shared in the remainder of the payout, cashing $1,500 checks all the way out to 41st place. In all, the Cabela’s MWC awarded $113,361 in cash and prizes.

For complete results, CLICK HERE.

 

Third-place finishers Paul Steffen and Travor Diegel in action on day three.

A total of 391 walleyes weighing 703 pounds, 1 ounce were brought to the scale during the championship. Ninety-seven percent of those fish were returned to the Cass Lake Chain in the Circuit’s time-tested and research-proven catch-and-release format.

Stony Point Resort hosted takeoffs and weigh-ins, which drew enthusiastic crowds despite damp conditions at times. The action was also broadcast live online via streaming video coverage and an updated leaderboard, both at masterswalleyecircuit.com. On-the-water and weigh-in footage was also filmed for national television airing on Federation Angler TV, which appears on the Pursuit Channel. For Federation Angler TV schedules, visit federationangler.com.

To encourage the next generation of walleye anglers, the Cabela’s MWC and National Professional Anglers Association presented a Youth & Family Fishing Clinic immediately following the weigh-in. Youths received fishing, safety and conservation advice from MWC anglers, along with free rod-and-reel combos courtesy of the NPAA.

Under the umbrella of The Walleye Federation (TWF), the Cabela’s MWC is open to avid walleye anglers from all walks of life. The Cabela’s MWC’s 2018 schedule has already been announced and features eight qualifiers in seven states. The lineup includes the Illinois River, Detroit River, Lake Erie at Lorain, Ohio, Lake McConaughy, Lake Francis Case, Lake of the Woods, Green Bay and Cass Lake. For dates and complete details, visit masterswalleyecircuit.com.

Cabela’s, the World’s Foremost Outfitter for hunting, fishing and outdoor gear, is wrapping up its 16th season as title sponsor of the MWC and is eagerly awaiting the 2018 season. Official sponsors include: Lowe Equipment Attachments, Lowrance Electronics, Mercury Marine, Ranger Boats and The Walleye Federation. Associate sponsors include: AirWave Pedestals, Bagley Baits, Church Tackle, G-Juice, MotorGuide and Okuma. For information, email info@masterswalleyecircuit.com, or call (580) 765-9031.

Holten, Stuefen Grab Day Two Lead At Cabela’s Masters Walleye Circuit 2017 World Walleye Championship

  • Filed under MWC News

  • September 15, 2017

Mickey Stuefen and Carl Holten with part of their leaderboard-topping day two limit.

Cass Lake, Minn.—Sept. 15, 2017—Iowans Carl Holten and Mickey Stuefen sacked a 5-fish limit weighing 17 pounds, 1 ounce to take the lead on day two of the three-day Cabela’s Masters Walleye Circuit 2017 World Walleye Championship on the Cass Lake Chain out of Stony Point Resort.

“This is really exciting,” said Holten, of Harpers Ferry. “It’s a great spot to be in.”

Their weight was anchored by a 7-pound, 15-ounce walleye that was also the tournament’s big fish of the day. “We got that fish at about 9:30,” Holten recalled. “We were high-fiving because that’s what it takes in an event like this—that one big kicker fish.”

Presented by Cabela’s, the MWC Championship runs Sept. 14-16 and features the top 41 two-person teams from the circuit’s 2016 regular season. The anglers are battling for more than $100,000 in cash and prizes.

Teams were eager to get on the water today after tournament officials were forced to cancel day one’s fishing due to extremely heavy fog that persisted through the half-day cutoff point for shortened fishing days.

Holten reported that the team was fishing live-bait rigs, a popular technique among anglers on Cass Lake. “It’s not a secret,” he laughed. “Ninety-five percent of the other teams are probably doing that, too.”

He also admitted that leading the tournament is a “little nerve-wracking,” but said he and Stuefen, of Cedar Rapids, plan to stick to their guns and follow a similar strategy tomorrow. “We’re going to do the same thing,” he said. “If the fish cooperate, I think we’ll be right there.”

Winning the event would be a dream come true, he added. “I told my wife there’s one more thing I want to cross off my bucket list, and that’s a championship,” he said. “Right now, we’re in the hunt for it.”

Jeff Lahr and Tommy Skarlis are currently in second place.

Fellow Iowans Jeff Lahr, of Dubuque, and Tommy Skarlis, of Waukon, were close behind in second place with 16 pounds, 8 ounces. Spencer Deutz, of Moorhead, Minnesota, and Ron Deutz, of Fargo, North Dakota, were in third with 15 pounds, 4 ounces. In all, 200 walleyes weighing 365 pounds, 7 ounces came to the scale and a full 97 percent were returned to the lake in the MWC’s time-tested and research-proven catch-and-release format.

For today’s results, CLICK HERE.

To view weigh-in photos, CLICK HERE.

Or CLICK HERE for on-the-water photos of the MWC competitors in action.

The Cabela’s MWC and National Professional Anglers Association presented a Youth & Family Fishing Clinic immediately following the weigh-in. Youths received fishing, safety and conservation advice from MWC anglers, along with free rod-and-reel combos courtesy of the NPAA.

Youngers lined up with their new tackle after the youth clinic.

The action continues tomorrow at Stony Point Resort, which hosts launches and weigh-ins. Teams are scheduled to take off at 7 a.m., and the final weigh-in starts at 3 p.m. The public is encouraged to enjoy the excitement live at Stony Point. Fans unable to attend the weigh-in can watch the drama unfold online via live streaming video coverage and an updated leaderboard, both at masterswalleyecircuit.com.

On-the-water and weigh-in action is also being filmed for national television airing on Federation Angler TV, which appears on the Pursuit Channel. For Federation Angler TV schedules, visit federationangler.com.

Under the umbrella of The Walleye Federation (TWF), the Cabela’s MWC is open to avid walleye anglers from all walks of life. The Cabela’s MWC’s 2018 schedule has already been announced and features eight qualifiers in seven states. The lineup includes the Illinois River, Detroit River, Lake Erie at Lorain, Ohio, Lake McConaughy, Lake Francis Case, Lake of the Woods, Green Bay and Cass Lake. For dates and complete details, visit masterswalleyecircuit.com.

Cabela’s, the World’s Foremost Outfitter for hunting, fishing and outdoor gear, is wrapping up its 16th season as title sponsor of the MWC and is eagerly awaiting the 2018 season. Official sponsors include: Lowe Equipment Attachments, Lowrance Electronics, Mercury Marine, Ranger Boats and The Walleye Federation. Associate sponsors include: AirWave Pedestals, Bagley Baits, Church Tackle, G-Juice, MotorGuide and Okuma. For information, email info@masterswalleyecircuit.com, or call (580) 765-9031.

Ron and Spencer Deutz landed in third place heading into Saturday’s final round.

 

Day One Of Cabela’s Masters Walleye Circuit’s 2017 World Walleye Championship Cancelled Due To Heavy Fog

  • Filed under MWC News

  • September 14, 2017

Cass Lake, Minn.—Sept. 14, 2017—Tournament officials cancelled day one of the three-day Cabela’s Masters Walleye Circuit 2017 World Walleye Championship on the Cass Lake Chain due to extremely heavy fog that persisted through the circuit’s half-day cutoff point for shortened fishing days. 

“Safety is our foremost concern,” said MWC Tournament Director Jack Baker. “The fog was so heavy it limited visibility to mere yards at the Stony Point harbor mouth, and it was even worse farther out on the lake. We monitored forecasts and conditions right up to the cutoff, which is in place to give everyone a fair chance to follow their game plans and bring their best weight to the scale. Unfortunately, we could not let the teams go out today.”

Presented by Cabela’s, the MWC Championship runs Sept. 14-16 and features the top 41 two-person teams from the circuit’s 2016 regular season, who are fighting for their share of more than $100,000 in cash and prizes. Baker explained that field would launch in the original day-one order when the championship gets under way tomorrow.  

Veteran MWC anglers supported the decision. “It was definitely the right choice,” said Kevin McQuoid of Isle, Minnesota. “The fog wasn’t going anywhere.”

“It’s always better to err on the side of safety,” added Kevin Dahl, of Muskego, Wisconsin. “We don’t want anyone getting hurt.” 

Neither of the anglers expected the shortened timeframe to affect their fishing strategies. “Our plan is still to go out and catch fish,” Dahl quipped. “MWC events are usually two-day tournaments, so this will be business as usual.” 

“A three-day event is more challenging, because it forces you to be consistent for three full days,” McQuoid added. “This reduces the challenge a bit, but our strategy will still be to go out looking for big fish. The payout is weighted to the top 10 places, to make sure everyone goes home with a check (as requested by MWC anglers). So we’re aiming high on the leaderboard—and that means keying on the big bites.”

Noted local guide Brian “Bro” Brosdahl, of Max, Minnesota, fishing his first MWC championship, was equally supportive of the cancellation. “It was a great call,” he said. “I’ve been in tournaments where they let us go out in fog and it was dangerous, with a lot of close calls. I love fishing and my wife too much to ever be put in that kind of situation again.” 

Brosdahl said he still expects the walleye-rich Cass Lake system to product plenty of walleye gold. Teams may bring in their best five fish per day—with two fish over 20 inches allowed per team. “There are fish topping 30 inches, so there are some big “overs,’” he explained. “But the ‘unders’ will be just as important. There aren’t a lot of 18- to 19-inchers, but there’s a flood of fish from 14 to 17 inches, so it will be interesting.” 

Brosdahl predicts it will take 12½ to 14 pounds a day to make the top 10. “We’re going to see some good weights, with the potential for 20-pound limits. But it’s extremely hard to do that two days in a row,” he said.

As for his strategy, Brosdahl plans to put a limit in the box and go from there. “The MWC is a well-oiled machine and these are some of the world’s best walleye anglers—I’m just looking forward to competing with them,” he adds.

MWC anglers visited in the Stony Point Resort Harbor while waiting for heavy fog to clear from the main lake.

Stony Point Resort will host both the launches and weigh-ins. Weigh-ins begin at 3 p.m. The public is invited to watch the drama unfold each afternoon; fans unable to attend the weigh-ins can catch the action online via live streaming video coverage and an updated leaderboard, both at masterswalleyecircuit.com.  

On-the-water and weigh-in action is also being filmed for national television airing on Federation Angler TV, which appears on the Pursuit Channel. For Federation Angler TV schedules, visit federationangler.com.

The Cabela’s MWC and National Professional Anglers Association will present a Youth & Family Fishing Clinic immediately following Friday’s weigh-in. The first 50 youths will receive rod-and-reel combos courtesy of the NPAA.

Under the umbrella of The Walleye Federation (TWF), the Cabela’s MWC is open to avid walleye anglers from all walks of life. The Cabela’s MWC’s 2018 schedule has already been announced and features eight qualifiers in seven states. The lineup includes the Illinois River, Detroit River, Lake Erie at Lorain, Ohio, Lake McConaughy, Lake Francis Case, Lake of the Woods, Green Bay and Cass Lake. For dates and complete details, visit masterswalleyecircuit.com

Cabela’s, the World’s Foremost Outfitter for hunting, fishing and outdoor gear, is wrapping up its 16th season as title sponsor of the MWC and is eagerly awaiting the 2018 season. Official sponsors include: Lowe Equipment Attachments, Lowrance Electronics, Mercury Marine, Ranger Boats and The Walleye Federation. Associate sponsors include: AirWave Pedestals, Bagley Baits, Church Tackle, G-Juice, MotorGuide and Okuma. For information, email info@masterswalleyecircuit.com, or call (580) 765-9031.