Dan Palmer Retires as Tournament Director; Northfield, Minnesota’s, Jack Baker Tapped to Fill that Role

  • Filed under MWC News

  • February 20, 2017

Fisherman, a Fisherman’s friend and now an Entrepreneur!

Recently a pair of unique opportunities came along for Dan & Jen Palmer that required the industry veteran to make the very tough decision to retire from one dream job he loved in order to embrace another and then another as new business opportunities came along for him and his family.

“Thank you for the honor of representing each and every one of you as a Tournament Official, Sponsor Rep, Co-worker, and most of all Friends! Dan Palmer stated. “It has been an incredible 11 years of Living The Dream in the Tournament Industry.”

Late in 2016, Dan and his family acquired the Original Eddie Bait Company that started making Muskie baits in Hayward Wisconsin in 1947.  Dan’s plan was to continue running tournaments and the bait company. Then in January 2017, another opportunity became available in his home town when a popular local pub called “Twin Lakes Tap” unexpectedly became available to them. This is where the tough decision came into play with a once in a lifetime opportunity at stake, Dan and Jen made the leap into the realm of fulltime business owners!

“Dan has a great love and passion for the outdoors and for the anglers he served.” According to Robert Cartlidge, President at the Federation National Office.  “I consider him and his family life-long friends and while we will certainly miss them at our events, we wish them all the best in their new endeavors as entrepreneurs. If you get close to Hayward, please stop by Twin Lakes Tap and say “hello”. I am sure Dan would enjoy it.” 

The leadership team underwent a nationwide search for the right person to fill the position by contacting a long list of clubs, anglers and industry partners for their recommendations. A number of qualified candidates were identified and interviewed.  In the end, Northfield, Minnesota’s Jack Baker was picked to fill the role.

“Jack’s resume’ is impressive and he strikes me as a down to earth person who knows how to succeed and is no stranger to hard work,” Cartlidge stated. “Jack was selected to run our northern tournament operations because of his passion for the sport, his years of experience and his reputation in the industry. I’m sure there will be a learning curve between hard water and soft water events but I have no doubt that Jack will hit the ground running and serve our anglers well.” 

With 9 years of tournament operations experience as a business man, as a leader and as the current director of the premier ice fishing circuit in the US, the North American Ice Fishing Circuit, (NAIFC).  Baker also has past experience in managing the ICE MAN realty TV show, as a golf course pro and manager and as a young man he worked in the family’s lumber business.

Here is Jack’s take on his new role. “You don’t replace someone like Dan you build off his accomplishments and carry it forward. I am excited for this opportunity and to meet all the anglers, we are going to keep it fun.”

Baker is already on board with the national office as of Feb 1 working hard and prepping for the 2017 season openers. He can be reached via email for now  and on the tournament hotline starting March 1 which is 580.716.4291

Welcome aboard Jack!

 

 

SPRING VALLEY MWC Presented By Mercury is coming up! GET SIGNED UP TODAY COME AND MEET JACK!

 

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Lowrance SolarMAX™ HD display technology features high-definition views and clear visibility in all conditions with the widest available range of viewing angles. The new displays are engineered to withstand higher temperatures than conventional units, offering better reliability in warmer climates.

HDS Carbon bolsters award-winning Lowrance sonar technology lineup with the addition of Dual Channel CHIRP and Network Dual Sounder. Dual Channel CHIRP enables anglers to view dual range sonar coverage from the same transducer when a dual channel CHIRP sonar transducer is installed on their boat. Network Dual Sounder supplies sonar data from a network of CHIRP transducers, allowing anglers to cover more water in less time and mark fish targets more clearly.

Key Features:

  • NEW ultra-bright HDS SolarMAX™ HD displays with greater resolution and a wider range of viewing angles
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  • Multi-touch display interface
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  • Radar and SonicHub®2 audio server connectivity
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*requires dual-channel CHIRP sonar transducer

Introducing New Lowrance HDS Carbon Displays

Watch Video

Cabela’s Masters Walleye Circuit Unveils Action-Packed 2017 Team Tournament Schedule

  • Filed under MWC News

  • December 15, 2016

Cabela’s Masters Walleye Circuit Unveils Action-Packed 2017 Team Tournament Schedule

Lineup Includes Hefty Payouts, Exciting Team-Format Competition And Great Walleye Fishing!

REGISTRATION OPENS JANUARY 4TH AT 12 NOON !

Ponca City, Okla.—Oct. 3, 2016—Since 1984 the Cabela’s Masters Walleye Circuit has set the standard for providing serious walleye anglers with affordable yet exciting, high-stakes team-format walleye competition in a professionally run atmosphere. That tradition continues in 2017, thanks to a tournament schedule once again filled with top walleye destinations at peak fishing times.

The circuit’s 2017 lineup features seven qualifiers in six states on a diverse selection of rivers, inland lakes and Great Lakes fisheries.

The 2017 Cabela’s MWC schedule includes:
March 17-18: Illinois River at Spring Valley, IL
April 7-8: Detroit River/Lake Erie at Trenton, MI
April 28-29: Big Stone Lake at Ortonville, MN
May 19-20: Bay of Green Bay at Green Bay, WI
June 2-3: Lake Winnebago at Menasha, WI
July 21-22: Devils Lake at Devils Lake, ND
August 25-26: St. Marys River at Sault Ste. Marie, MI

“The MWC once again focused on fishing premier destinations when the bite is on,” said MWC Senior Tournament Director Dan Palmer. “The 2017 schedule offers world-class walleye fishing, hefty tournament payouts and a great time for our anglers in a two-person team setting that lets you enjoy the thrill of competition with your favorite fishing partner.”

Along with enjoying fast fishing and exciting competition in a professionally run team format that has stood the test of time for more than 30 years, anglers have a shot to win thousands in cash and prizes at each event.

Cabela’s MWC qualifier payouts are based on the number of two-person teams entered in each event, and can top $20,000 cash for first place. Plus, the MWC Big Fish Pot, MWC side pot payouts and bonuses from sponsors including Ranger Boats, Lowrance Electronics, Lowe Equipment Attachments and Okuma add thousands more to the total.

Teams fishing three or more tournaments in 2017 will also battle for coveted berths in the 2018 Cabela’s MWC World Walleye Championship, set for October on Bays de Noc out of Escanaba, MI.

The MWC World Walleye Championship represents the top point-accumulating teams from the previous year’s season, with the payout based on that previous year’s participation as well. Teams fishing at least four qualifiers compete for Team of the Year awards, including thousands in cash and Cabela’s Cash cards, as well as fully paid entries, lodging and expense stipends into a full season of exciting walleye action and more.

Under the umbrella of The Walleye Federation (TWF), the Cabela’s MWC is open to avid walleye anglers from all walks of life, regardless of sponsor or club affiliations. Registration for 2017 events will open in January 4. Visit masterswalleyecircuit.com for updates, official rules and registration information.

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

Solid As A Rock, Gaines And Rhoades Lead Wire To Wire To Win 2016 Cabela’s Masters Walleye Circuit World Walleye Championship

champstrophies

Green Bay, Wisc.—Oct. 8, 2016—Randall Gaines and Mike Rhoades conquered both big-water and river bites to win the Cabela’s Masters Walleye Circuit 2016 World Walleye Championship Oct. 6-8.

The pair led all three days, topping the 48-team field with daily five-fish limits weighing 27-11, 7-02 and 17-15 for a 52-pound, 12-ounce total weight.

Presented by title sponsor Cabela’s, the prestigious event saw the top qualifiers from the circuit’s 2015 season battle for their share of more than $100,000 in cash and prizes on Wisconsin waters of Green Bay and the Fox River out of Green Bay’s Metro Park.

“This is one of those pinnacle events that you always dream of winning,” said Gaines, of Salem, Ohio. “It’s good closure for a great year and will light the fire all winter long to get after it again next spring. I’m just so excited.”

“It’s a little unbelievable but I’m very happy,” added Rhoades, of South Bend, Indiana. “Earlier in the week, I wouldn’t have believed this was going to happen.”

Indeed, they endured a challenging practice period that started out tough. “We didn’t catch a fish our first day here,” Gaines noted. “But we just kept working, trying different things and fortunately peaked at the time of competition, so it turned out to be the perfect storm for us.”

On Green Bay, the five-year circuit veterans made a 40-mile run to an area near Sturgeon Bay where they vertically fished swimming jigs weighing up to 1¼ ounces on bottom at the base of a sharp drop-off in 60 to 70 feet of water.

“Slow lifts and tight-line drops were key,” said Rhoades, explaining that they used fast-action baitcasting outfits spooled with superbraid mainline capped with a two-foot, heavy fluorocarbon leader to limit tangles.

When the field was restricted to the Fox River on day two due to gale force winds, they trolled Berkley Flicker Shads and Flicker Minnows behind planer boards.

Gaines and Rhoades collected a cool $15,000 in cash for their efforts, along with custom trophies and championship rings.

Mike Lenarduzzi and Doug McDonough.

Mike Lenarduzzi and Doug McDonough.

Wisconsin’s Michael Lenarduzzi and Douglas McDonough pushed the leaders throughout the tournament, holding second place with 26-07, 7-08 and 13-08 catches for 47 pounds, 7 ounces. They pocketed $9,255 including the $7,000 second-place cash payout, plus the $1,000 Ranger Cup contingency, $500 Lowrance Electronics bonus, $200 Okuma Reels award and $550 cash for second place in the MWC Big Fish Pot.

Rounding out the top five were:

3rd: Tommy Skarlis, Jeff Lahr, 42-03, $3,500

4th: Steve VandeMark, Jerry Fox, Jr., 41-06, $3,000

5th: Mike Dorris, Brian Tordsen, 37-14, $2,000 plus $370 from the Big Fish Pot

In all, the Cabela’s MWC awarded more than $147,000 in end of the season cash and prizes, including Team of the Year and Championship payouts. The circuit provided a 174 percent Championship payback and 137.5 percent overall payback on entry fees for the season.

A total of 545 walleyes weighing 1,274 pounds, 2 ounces crossed the scale during the three-day tournament in the Cabela’s MWC’s catch-and-release format. South Dakota’s Brian Steichen and Shawn Carl earned $925 cash plus the $200 Abu Garcia bonus for catching big fish of the event, an 8-pound, 10-ounce trophy.

Great crowds gathered riverside to watch the action at Green Bay Metro Park. To the delight of young walleye fans and their families, the Cabela’s MWC, National Professional Anglers Association and Pure Fishing presented a Youth & Family Fishing Clinic immediately after Friday’s weigh-in. Youngsters got to meet MWC anglers, learn about fishing and conservation, and received a free rod-and-reel combo courtesy of the NPAA.

Adding to the excitement, the event was being filmed for national television airing on Federation Angler TV, which appears on the Pursuit Channel.

To view image galleries from the each of the three days, along with team photos from the rules meeting and a special ceremony at the Green Bay Cabela’s commemorating the Cabela’s MWC’s induction into the National Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame ceremony on Oct. 5,

Under the umbrella of The Walleye Federation (TWF), the Cabela’s MWC is open to avid walleye anglers from all walks of life. The 2017 schedule includes qualifiers on the Illinois River March 17-18, the Detroit River April 7-8, Big Stone Lake April 28-29, Green Bay May 19-20, Lake Winnebago June 2-3, Devils Lake July 21-22, and the St. Marys River Aug. 25-26.

Cabela’s, the World’s Foremost Outfitter for hunting, fishing and outdoor gear, is concluding its 15th season as title sponsor of the MWC. Official Circuit sponsors include: Berkley Gulp!, Abu Garcia, Lowe Equipment Attachments, Lowrance Electronics, Mercury Marine, Ranger Boats and The Walleye Federation. Associate MWC sponsors include: AirWave Pedestals, G-Juice, MotorGuide and Okuma. For more information, visit masterswalleyecircuit.com, email info@masterswalleyecircuit.com, or call (580) 765-9031.