Skupien and Neuman Take 1st Place on Lake Erie Presented by Mercury Marine

Skupien and Neuman Take 1st Place on Lake Erie Presented by Mercury Marine

Lorain, Ohio – June 17th, 2023 – The Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s Masters Walleye Circuit (MWC) on Lake Erie Presented by Mercury was scheduled to bring two days of great fishing and monster limits to the scales, Friday June 16 and Saturday June 17, but mother nature doesn’t read schedules well.

A major storm blew into the area on Thursday evening, and continued through the pre-dawn hours of Friday morning. With wind speeds pushing 30 mph from the north and small-craft advisories all across Lake Erie’s southern shores, it was decided that this first day of competition must be cancelled for the safety of the anglers. That left just Saturday, for the two-person teams to put their skills to the test and bring in the five biggest walleyes they could find for a one-day shoot-out.  Steve Skupien (Frankfort, IL) and Wally Neuman (Morris, IL) figured out exactly what was needed to take home the win.

Steve and Wally headed out on Saturday to their best spot from practice. It was a nearly 30-mile boat ride in Saturdays much calmer waters. Steve Skupien stated in an interview, “We decided to run to the Canadian waters to the east of Pelee Island. After getting up there, we noticed there was a big bug hatch happening and the Lowrance units showed the walleyes were high in the water column. We were in 26-32 feet of water and ran our nightcrawler harnesses down 12 to 15 feet down. We used a mix of night crawlers and Berkley artificial crawlers, which caught our bigger fish. With a good limit by 9 a.m. we caught another 50 plus walleyes in order to add a couple kickers needed to boost our weight.” Their one-day weight of 32-04 lbs. was enough to earn the win. For their efforts, they took home the top prize of $11,800 that included a $1,000 NTC prize package, plus an additional $3,750 in Option Pot cash, Dakota Lithium Come-Back Award of $4,296 and two (2) Okuma reels valued at $200 for a grand total of $21,046.

On top of winning the MWC event, the Skupien and Neuman also took first place in the Lake Erie Walleye Trail (LEWT) tournament that was held alongside the MWC event in Lorain. For winning that event, they took home another paycheck worth $11,820. The LEWT is a Walleye Federation (TWF) affiliated organization that holds walleye tournaments on Lake Erie all across Ohio. This was the fourth year the MWC and LEWT have paired up to hold an event and talks are already under way for holding another together in the future.

Here’s how the rest of the top five teams from the MWC did on Lake Erie:

2nd  Adam Hume and Mike Karner 31-11 lbs. $5,642 cash, $2,750 option pot cash, and $500 Ranger Cup Bonus

3rd  Scott Geitgey and Jay Gullett(sub) 31-06 lbs. $3,850 cash, $2,000 option pot cash, and $1,000 Lowrance Bonus

4th  Michael McCardle(sub) and Jay Petermann 31-02 lbs. $2,750 cash, $1,380 option pot cash

5th  Rob Lester and Randy Cline 30-10 lbs. $2,200 cash

There was a tie for the largest fish in the tournament.  The teams of Larry Kammerer and Ali Shakoor and Chris Kosciewicz and Aaron Gavlak each caught and weighed a 8-09 walleye, splitting the first and second Big Fish pot and taking home $1,280 each. There were 355 fish caught totaling 1629-05 lbs.

Total possible payout for this event was $78,568 in cash and prizes and paid down 15 spots to a field of 78 teams from across the country.

Due to Ohio Fish and Game requirements pertaining to tournaments held on Lake Erie, all fish caught must be donated to a local charity, in this case Victory Kitchen Sandusky where they will help many needy families across northern Ohio.

Steve and Jeremy Skupien are a registered “Premier Team” with the MWC, meaning they committed to fishing 3 or more events in the MWC season prior to fishing their first event. One of the many benefits of being a “Premier Team” is the use of a substitute angler while still tracking the original team’s points. At this Lake Erie event, Wally Neuman, the team’s registered sub, fished in place of Jeremy.

From Lake Erie, the MWC packs up and heads back east to prepare for another tournament on the famed Bay of Green Bay out of Oconto, Wisconsin. The timing is perfect for anglers to see some of the largest weights that could come across the scales this year. Registration is open for this event until Monday, July 17th. Anglers can register by visiting masterswalleyecircuit.com.

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 the past 39 years and has directly donated hundreds of thousands and helped raise millions of dollars to support walleye & conservation programs nationwide. The MWC is open to walleye anglers from all walks of life. The 2023 schedule includes seven qualifiers in six states, plus a berth into the 2024 Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s MWC World Walleye Championship.

Bass Pro Shops & Cabela’s – The World’s Foremost Outfitters, are in their 22nd season as the title sponsor of the Masters Walleye Circuit. Official sponsors include: Lowrance Electronics, Mercury Marine, Ranger Boats, and Dakota Lithium Batteries. Associate sponsors include: The Walleye Federation, Church Tackle, FishLab, Okuma, Power-Pole and T-H Marine. For more information, email support@masterswalleyecircuit.com, or call (580) 765-9031.

NOTICE: Day 1 of the MWC event at Lorain, OH on Lake Erie postponed due to wind and wave conditions

Day 1 of the MWC event at Lorain, OH on Lake Erie, Presented by Mercury has been postponed for safety reasons due to wind and wave conditions for today, Friday June 16. The anglers will now compete on Saturday as a 1-day event.

Saturday’s weigh in will take place as published at 3:15pm ET at Grumpy’s Bait/Black River Launch

We understand that a postponement is hard sometimes but the safety of our anglers is always our primary concern and we will always err on the side of safety.

So please tune in for live coverage from Black River Launch at Lorain, OH Saturday June 17 at 3:15pm ET on MastersWalleyeCircuit.com and on Facebook to watch the Lake Erie giants come to the scales!

Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s Masters Walleye Circuit Anglers Ready for Lorain, OH and Lake Erie Presented by Mercury Marine

Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s Masters Walleye Circuit Anglers Ready for Lorain, OH and Lake Erie

Presented by Mercury Marine

Ponca City, Okla. – May 23, 2023 – The powerhouse that is Lake Erie is the next stop on the 2023 Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s Masters Walleye Circuit, presented by Mercury Marine. Passionate anglers from across North America are gearing up for the heavyweight battle out of Black River Landing in Lorain, OH. With what seems like lingering spring water temperatures local tournament anglers are reporting that fish are widespread on the lake and techniques to catch them are just as diverse.

“Teams are going to be able to chase fish from Michigan to New York if they want to.” Ohio angler Scott Geitgey stated. “This spring we saw water temps stagnate in the 50s and 60s and it seems like the fish really spread out across the lake.” Scott also mentioned that the weights it may take to win are pushing 70 lbs. in two days of competition. “I think 7-pound fish on average is what the target is, but the big fish are out there, post spawn and hungry.”

Trolling “stick baits” is the usual technique for chasing Lake Erie walleyes at any time of year, but don’t be surprised if some teams decide to target fish on shallow structure casting and jigging to find an advantage. Tournament Director Jeff Kelm has been keeping an eye on the trends in the area. “I am always fascinated by what the anglers do to find fish, more so, the thought process. Here on Erie, there has been one mindset for decades and now there seems to be some shifting sands.” In recent events more anglers are willing to take chances, break from tradition and search for fish in shallow weedy flats, or cast for walleyes off points dotted along the lake. “How ever they catch them, Lake Erie is always a fun trip with big weights and lots of happy anglers.

For the 4th year in a row, the MWC has teamed up the Lake Erie Walleye Trail (LEWT) to run this as a dual event, side by side. Participating teams have the option to fish one or both of the events and win thousands more in cash and prizes.

The MWC welcomes the public to experience this event in-person at the Black River Landing in Lorain, June 16 and 17.  Send-off is at 7:00 a.m. with weigh-in to begin at 3:15pm both Friday and Saturday.  Our live stream will begin at 3:15pm each day on masterswalleyecircuit.com or on Facebook at facebook.com/MastersWalleyeCircuit.

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, a travel stipend, team jerseys, and plaques. Additionally, the big-fish pot, option-pot and sponsor bonuses from Ranger Cup, Lowrance, Dakota Lithium, Okuma, and T-H Marine Atlas Awards add thousands more for distribution among the field.

Anglers competing during the 2023 MWC season will be competing for a spot in the 2024 Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s World Walleye Championship in Alpena, Michigan on Lake Huron. MWC Teams may fish as many events as they wish during a season. Teams must earn points in at least three qualifiers to have a chance at earning an invitation to the World Walleye Championship in the final “best of 3” final standing each year.

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.

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 the past 39 years. The MWC is open to walleye anglers from all walks of life. Registration deadline for the Lake Erie – Lorain, OH event is Monday June 12th. Visit masterswalleyecircuit.com for full details.

Bass Pro Shops & Cabela’s –Are in their 22th season as title sponsor of the Masters Walleye Circuit. Official sponsors include: Lowrance Electronics, Mercury Marine, Ranger Boats and Dakota Lithium. Associate sponsors include: The Walleye Federation, Church Tackle, FishLab, Okuma, Power-Pole and T-H Marine. For more information, email support@masterswalleyecircuit.com, or call (580) 765-9031.

 

Peter Mart and Dave Lester Grind It Out for the Win on Wisconsin’s Petenwell Lake. Presented by Lowrance

Peter Mart and Dave Lester Grind It Out for the Win on Wisconsin’s Petenwell Lake. Presented by Lowrance

Arkdale, Wisc – May 8th, 2023 – The third stop on the 2023 Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s Masters Walleye Circuit (MWC) presented by Lowrance was originally set for the Mississippi River at Red Wing. Mother nature had other ideas as the “Mighty Miss” was flooded from record snow melt and the event had to be moved. Petenwell Lake was the closest place not flooded with an open walleye season that the event could be held. 2021 MWC World Walleye Champion (WWC) Peter Mart (Utica, MN) and partner Dave Lester (Onalaska, WI) found just the right presentation to get the winning fish across the stage to take home the big 1st place MWC trophies, a large check, and bragging rights

84 competitors from 8 different states, took off each morning of the two-day event, looking to bring the five best walleyes they could to the stage. The protected slot size on this system, 15” to under 20” and only one fish over 28” allowed per angler, proved challenging to overcome for the entire field. Anglers seemed to have no issues catching “slot fish” on both days, though finding the correct bite, legal fish to weigh, in the right order was key as always, in a no-cull event. Throughout the weigh-in on both days, it was evident the race to the top was going to be close and the precious over 28-inch walleyes, that a handful of teams caught, were going to be crucial in cashing a check on Petenwell Lake.

Mart and Lester put together a program that proved to be the ticket for a win. After day one, the eventual champions were tied for 6th with 12-06 without having an “over” as a kicker.

On day two the Minnesota/Wisconsin duo set out with a plan to bring in an even bigger bag than the previous day. Mart and Lester found a trolling program that proved vital for their success. They used bottom bouncers with long leaders and floating jigs to present live bait at the correct speed and depth to trigger the bites they needed.

Using their Lowrance units as a guide, they were able to find schools of fish and know exactly where those fish were in the water column to present their offerings. On this second and final day, the team brought in the tournament big sack, at 18-03. They had one fish over 28 inches to seal the deal with a two-day weight of 30-09 to bring home custom trophies, $7,400 cash, a $1,000 NTC prize package, and $200 in Okuma reels for a total of $8,600 in cash and prizes.

Here’s a break-down of what the rest of the top 5 teams brought to the scales:

2nd: Mike Dorris and Douglas McDonough 29-06, $3,940 cash, $2,750 option pot cash, $1,000 Lowrance Bonus

3rd: Jason Wanty and David Parker 29-02, $2,540 cash

4th: Chris and Joe Kujawa 27-13, $1,940 cash, $1,650 option pot cash

5th: Brandon Newby and Jeff Maleport 26-11, $1,500 cash, $1,032 option pot cash

The winners of the new, Dakota Lithium Batteries “Comeback” award worth $2,977, were Brandon and Tom McPeak. They ended day one sitting in 21st and jumped up in the final standings on day two to 11th.

Presenting sponsor Lowrance gave away a new 60-inch Lowrance Ghost trolling motor at the Thursday night rules meeting by random draw. The team of Carl Holten and Marty Stueffen (Harpers Ferry, IA) won the prize valued at over $3,700.00.

The total payout for Petenwell Lake was $38,379, paying down eight places out of 42 teams. The anglers caught a total of 332 walleyes with a total weight of 706 lbs. 5 oz. The largest fish weighed was caught by Nick and Tony Renner, weighing in at 7-11.

MWC and its staff partnered up with biologists from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WIDNR) to aide in furthering their ongoing study of the population and growth rates of walleyes on this section of the Wisconsin River. After the weigh-in ceremonies on both days of the event, MWC staff members helped the WIDNR record lengths and tag almost every fish brought in by anglers. These studies help track populations and prove pivotal in the state’s decision-making process on setting bag-limits for today’s recreational anglers and for future generations of anglers to come.

After leaving Wisconsin, the MWC is heading east to fish on Lake Erie out of Lorain, Ohio. Lake Erie is said to have one of the largest population densities of walleyes in the world. This event will be a dual event held alongside another The Walleye Federation (TWF) affiliated circuit, the Lake Erie Walleye Trail (LEWT). These two circuits have teamed up in the past and have brought in some very large and competitive fields of anglers from across the country that will try to compete for trophies in both tournaments. The deadline to register for this event is Monday, June, 12th. Anglers can register by visiting masterswalleyecircuit.com.

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 the past 39 years and has directly donated hundreds of thousands and helped raise millions of dollars to support walleye & conservation programs nationwide. The MWC is open to walleye anglers from all walks of life. The 2023 schedule includes seven qualifiers in six states, plus a berth into the 2024 Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s MWC World Walleye Championship.

Bass Pro Shops & Cabela’s – The World’s Foremost Outfitters, are in their 22nd season as the title sponsor of the Masters Walleye Circuit. Official sponsors include: Lowrance Electronics, Mercury Marine, Ranger Boats, and Dakota Lithium Batteries. Associate sponsors include: The Walleye Federation, Church Tackle, FishLab, Okuma, Power-Pole and T-H Marine. For more information, email support@masterswalleyecircuit.com, or call (580) 765-9031.