Gehm And Apitz “Weed Out” Green Bay Walleyes To Win

Cabela’s Masters Walleye Circuit Oconto Qualifier

Presented By Lowe Equipment

Oconto, Wisc.—July 9, 2016—While other walleye warriors went deep, Wisconsin’s Buck Gehm and Louie Apitz targeted shallow weeds to rack up a 46-pound, 2-ounce total and win the Cabela’s Masters Walleye Circuit’s Green Bay tournament presented by Lowe Equipment out of Oconto, Wisconsin, July 8-9.

“It’s pretty surreal to win a big tournament like this,” said Apitz, of Menasha. “The MWC is the top of the line in team trails and our favorite one to fish.”

“This is awesome,” added Gehm, of Crivitz. “I didn’t think we’d be able to pull it off. We couldn’t put a program together targeting big fish on the mud, so we ground it out fishing the tops of shallow weeds about a mile from the launch.”

Apitz and Gehm pulled perch-colored hatchet and willow-leaf spinner rigs sweetened with nightcrawlers 1.4 mph over weed tops in eight to 11 feet of water. Split shot kept their blades spinning just above the weed tops most of the time, but the winners report checking rigs for bits of weeds or bait lost to small fish was a never-ending part of the program.

“Constantly bringing in one line after another was part of the deal,” said Gehm. “There were a lot of small walleyes, along with perch, pike and sheepshead,” added Apitz, who noted they went through 13 dozen nightcrawlers on day two alone. “We made a rule that nothing under 25 inches was going into the livewell. We got a little nervous this morning, but stuck with it and things worked out.”

For their efforts, Apitz and Gehm claimed more than $14,680 in cash and prizes, including the $10,000 first-place cash payout, $1,000 Ranger Cup contingency and $500 Lowrance Electronics bonus. Plus, they claimed a complete 750 auger attachment package with drive unit, 12-inch diameter auger, mounting accessories and hose kit valued at $2,181 from presenting sponsor Lowe Equipment. They also won a $1,000 Cabela’s National Team Championship Prize Package including paid entry into the 2017 NTC, travel stipend, team jerseys and plaques.

Because all 2016 Cabela’s MWC tournaments are designated as “State Championship Qualifying Events,” Gehm and Apitz also earned the title of Wisconsin State Walleye Champions. Besides bragging rights, they claimed custom state champions’ prizes and awards, a berth in the Cabela’s 2017 NTC, and a spot on the MWC website’s Wall of Fame.

Rounding out the top five were:

2nd: Bill Osterman, Kevan Kokkonen, 45-14, $5,000

3rd: Kevin Dahl, Steve Stack, 44-12, $3,400 plus $3,350 from the option pot

4th: Adam Sandor, Steve Sandor, 44-11, $2,550 plus $2,520 from the option pot

5th: Troy Nelson, Benjamin Kehoe, 44-06, $2,100 plus $2,550 from the option pot

In all, the Cabela’s MWC awarded $49,890 in cash and prizes.

A total of 415 walleyes weighing 1,516 pounds, 8 ounces crossed the scale at Breakwater Park during the catch-and-release event. Adding to the fun, the Cabela’s MWC, National Professional Anglers Association and Pure Fishing 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.

Under the umbrella of The Walleye Federation (TWF), the Cabela’s MWC is open to avid walleye anglers from all walks of life. The 2016 schedule includes seven qualifiers in six states on a diverse selection of the Walleye Belt’s finest rivers, inland lakes and big-water fisheries. Up next on the 2016 Cabela’s MWC qualifier circuit is the Devils Lake, North Dakota, qualifier August 19-20.

Cabela’s, the World’s Foremost Outfitter for hunting, fishing and outdoor gear, is in its 15th season as title sponsor of the MWC. Official sponsors include: Berkley Gulp!, Abu Garcia, 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, visit masterswalleyecircuit.com, email info@masterswalleyecircuit.com, or call (580) 765-9031.

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Cabela’s Masters Walleye Circuit Heads For Big-Water Walleye Bonanza On Green Bay

Presented By Lowe Equipment

Ponca City, Okla.—June 29, 2016—Great walleye action and a chance to win thousands in cash and prizes await anglers when the Cabela’s Masters Walleye Circuit returns to Oconto, Wisconsin, July 8-9 for a regular season qualifying tournament on the world-class walleye waters of Green Bay.

In fact, the event offers two-person teams a shot at more than $2,000 in extra prizes over and above the Circuit’s already lucrative payout schedule, which is based on the number of teams entered in each event and consistently tops 100 percent each season.

Presenting sponsor Lowe Equipment Attachments has donated a complete 750 auger attachment package with drive unit, 12-inch diameter auger, mounting accessories and hose kit valued at $2,181. Plus, the MWC Big Fish Pot and MWC side pot payouts, along with sponsor bonuses including Ranger Cup, Abu Garcia, Lowrance Electronics and Okuma add thousands more to the total. As an added incentive, the first-place team will win a $1,000 Cabela’s National Team Championship Prize Package including paid NTC entry, travel stipend, team jerseys and plaques.

Cabela’s MWC qualifiers serve as “State Championship Events.” All teams fishing the event are eligible for the State Champions title in that state, and any event with more than 10 teams registered from any state where the MWC is not holding a qualifier that year will offer a State Champions title for that state as well. Besides bragging rights, state champions earn, at minimum, custom state champions’ prizes and awards, a berth in the Cabela’s NTC and a spot on the MWC website’s Wall of Fame.

Launching from Breakwater Park, the event offers two-person teams two full days of competition. Teams will be allowed to weigh five fish measuring 15 inches and over each day, and the team with the heaviest two-day total weight will be crowned tournament champions.

Walleye fans of all ages are invited to the weigh-ins, which begin at 3 p.m. daily at Breakwater Park. As a bonus to budding tournament fans, the Cabela’s MWC, National Professional Anglers Association and Pure Fishing 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.

Along with great payouts at each event, teams fishing three or more 2016 tournaments battle for berths in the 2017 Cabela’s MWC World Walleye Championship, set for September on Minnesota’s Cass Lake out of Stony Point Resort. 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 paid entries into a full season of great walleye action.

Under the umbrella of The Walleye Federation (TWF), the Cabela’s MWC is open to avid walleye anglers from all walks of life. In all, the 2016 schedule includes seven qualifiers in six states on a diverse selection of the Walleye Belt’s finest rivers, inland lakes and big-water fisheries. Deadline to register for the Green Bay tournament is Tuesday, July 5.

Cabela’s, the World’s Foremost Outfitter for hunting, fishing and outdoor gear, is in its 15th season as title sponsor of the MWC. Official sponsors include: Berkley Gulp!, Abu Garcia, 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, visit masterswalleyecircuit.com, email info@masterswalleyecircuit.com, or call (580) 765-9031.

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Cabela’s Masters Walleye Circuit Heads To Lake Erie at Lorain, OH.

Presented By Lowrance

Ponca City, Okla.—May 24, 2016—Big water walleye action and thousands in cash and prizes will be on hand when the Cabela’s Masters Walleye Circuit returns to legendary Lake Erie out of Lorain, Ohio, for a qualifying tournament June 3-4.

The massive Great Lake and its world-class trophy walleye fishery have hosted many Cabela’s MWC events over the years, producing heavy baskets, record fish and exciting team tournament action.

Launching from Black River Wharf, the Circuit’s 2016 Lake Erie event offers teams two full days of competition. Teams will be allowed to weigh five fish measuring 15 inches and over each day, and the team with the heaviest two-day total weight will be crowned the tournament champions.

The Cabela’s MWC offers lucrative payouts, which are based on the number of teams entered in each event. Plus, the MWC Big Fish Pot and MWC side pot payouts, along with sponsor bonuses including Ranger Cup, Abu Garcia, Lowrance Electronics and Okuma add thousands more to the total. Additional bonuses can push the tally even higher. And as an added incentive, the first-place team will win a $1,000 Cabela’s National Team Championship Prize Package including paid NTC entry, travel stipend, team jerseys and plaques.

Adding to the excitement, Cabela’s MWC qualifiers also serve as “State Championship Events.” All teams fishing the event are eligible for the State Champions title in that state, and any event with more than 10 teams registered from any state where the MWC is not holding a qualifier that year will offer a State Champions title for that state as well.

Besides serious bragging rights, state champions will earn, at minimum, custom state champions’ prizes and awards, a berth in the Cabela’s NTC, and a spot on the MWC website’s Wall of Fame.

The tournament also offers anglers a chance to practice for the 2017 Cabela’s National Team Championship, which will be held June 8-10 on Lake Erie out of Lorain, Ohio. Considered the walleye world’s premier grassroots championship, the event is comprised of teams that qualified through competition in local tournaments organized by walleye clubs sanctioned by The Walleye Federation.

The Cabela’s NTC offers a lucrative payback of more than 400 percent; in 2016 the 190 qualifying teams vied for more than $249,000 in cash and prizes, plus 50 custom Cabela’s All-American rings, trophies, plaques and more. 2016 Cabela’s NTC winners Adam Adler and Ryan Dempsey collected more than $165,000 including $25,000 in first-place cash plus a brand-new Ranger boat rigged with a Power-Pole shallow–water anchor. They also claimed a second Ranger-Power-Pole combo for winning the Ranger Cup contingency.

As a bonus at the MWC qualifying event, the MWC will award a total of five berths into the 2017 Cabela’s NTC. The winners will receive the regular $1,000 prize package, with the next four teams earning a coveted invitation to compete.

Walleye fans of all ages are invited to the weigh-ins, which begin at 3 p.m. daily at the Black River Landing. As a bonus to budding tournament fans, the Cabela’s MWC, National Professional Anglers Association and Pure Fishing 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.

Along with great payouts at each event, teams fishing three or more tournaments in 2016 will battle for coveted berths in the 2017 Cabela’s MWC World Walleye Championship, set for September on Minnesota’s Cass Lake out of Stony Point Resort. 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 into a full season of great walleye action.

Under the umbrella of The Walleye Federation (TWF), the Cabela’s MWC is open to avid walleye anglers from all walks of life. In all, the 2016 schedule includes seven qualifiers in six states and includes a diverse selection of the Walleye Belt’s finest rivers, inland lakes and big-water fisheries. Deadline to register for the Lake Erie tournament is Monday, May 30.

Cabela’s, the World’s Foremost Outfitter for hunting, fishing and outdoor gear, is in its 15th season as title sponsor of the MWC. Official sponsors include: Berkley Gulp!, Abu Garcia, 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, visit masterswalleyecircuit.com, email info@masterswalleyecircuit.com, or call (580) 765-9031.

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