Dubuque, Iowa—Sept. 26, 2015—Iowans Chris Burns and Roger Abel rocketed up the leaderboard to score an exciting comeback win on the Mississippi River at Dubuque, Iowa, at the Cabela’s Masters Walleye Circuit’s final regular-season qualifier presented by Lowe Equipment Attachments Sept. 25-26.

Burns, of Davenport, and Abel, of Fairfax, weighed four walleyes for 8 pounds, 5 ounces on day one of the two-day tournament to land in ninth place among the 49 two-person teams battling for thousands in cash and prizes on the walleye-rich waterway.

“We lost a couple of key fish and came in one fish short of our limit,” Abel recalled. “We decided to start day two at our ‘numbers’ spot and then go hunting for big fish after that.”

As luck would have it, they landed a dandy kicker fish right out of the gate. “That took the pressure off,” Abel grinned. But he noted that in the end, they needed every bite—and nearly every second of fishing time—to pull off their rally. “We fished several different areas throughout the day and ended up getting our last fish with five minutes left to go,” he added.

With a five-fish MWC limit in the livewell, Burns and Abel added 13 pounds, 11 ounces to their tally for a 22-pound two-day total that topped the hard-fishing field of 98 anglers representing eight states.

“This is fantastic!” said Burns. “I always wanted an MWC win. Words can’t describe the feeling right now.”

Burns explained that the team tried different presentations, but their ace in the hole was pitching ¼-ounce jigs to holes in cutbanks along the edges of the main and side channels.

“We fished hair jigs and standard leadheads tipped with plastics,” he said, noting that both setups worked best when sweetened with a small chunk of nightcrawler. “The best approach was making a short cast and then letting the current sweep the jig through the hole, while slowly mending the line,” he added.

Burns and Abel collected nearly $16,840 in cash and prizes for their accomplishment, including $7,600 in cash for placing first, plus $2,940 in cash from the option pot and a $2,100 Lowe 750 Classic Power Auger Package from presenting sponsor Lowe Equipment Attachments—which included a 12-inch Lowe auger, hose kit and universal mounting system.

Burns and Abel’s winnings also included the $1,000 Ranger Cup award, $500 Lowrance Electronics contingency, $200 Okuma bonus, more than $500 from the MWC Big Fish Pot, and a $1,000 Cabela’s National Team Championship Prize Package, which includes paid entry into the 2016 NTC, travel stipend, team jerseys and plaques.

They also claimed the title of Iowa State Walleye Champions, which comes with a $1,000 prize package including custom trophies, custom State Champions rings by Tight Lines Jewelry, a berth in the Cabela’s NTC, decals and a spot on the MWC website’s Wall of Fame.

Rounding out the top five were:
2nd: Les Roemig, Glenn Daugherity, 21-08, $3,900 cash
3rd: Mike Bisdorf, Jason Hancock, 19-08, $2,600 cash
4th: Cody Decker, Matt Oliver, 19-04, $2,050 cash
5th: Dave Gossar, Jay Walsh, 19-03, $1,650 cash plus $1,960 from the option pot and $200 Zippo Hot Hands bonus for catching the largest walleye of the event, an 7-pound, 3-ounce Mississippi River beauty

To commemorate the Cabela’s MWC’s last regular-season event of 2015, sponsors and the Circuit celebrated with an appreciation party that showers the anglers with more than $11,000 in extra prizes. “We wanted to thank our anglers for making this another great season,” said MWC owner Robert Cartlidge. “The added prizes pushed the payback for this event to 121.4 percent—which is one of the highest, if not the highest, return on entry fees in MWC qualifying history.”

In addition, the following prizes were awarded by random drawing to all registered teams as a thank you for supporting the MWC: a Lowrance HDS 7 Gen 2 Touch valued at $1,299; two Abu Garcia line-counter reels valued at $200; a pair of $100 Cabela’s gift cards; two Ranger Boats Clothing Packages valued at $200; TH Marine Juice Package valued at $100; and a Mercury Prize Package valued at $100. Plus, each angler received a custom IM7, 7-foot Federation Angler jigging rod valued at $69.99 apiece.

In all, the Cabela’s MWC awarded $38,699.02 in cash and prizes, plus $2,100 in Big Fish cash plus $4900 from the option pot for a total of $45,699.02 it total cash and prizes to the anglers.

In all, 316 walleyes and saugers weighing 550 pounds, 8 ounces crossed the stage at Dubuque’s Ice Harbor Marina during the event, including 40 five-fish daily limits. Adding to the fun, the Cabela’s MWC, National Professional Anglers Association, Pure Fishing and Zippo Outdoor Brands 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 2015 schedule spans nine states and includes 11 regular-season qualifiers plus the 2015 World Walleye Championship.

Cabela’s, the World’s Foremost Outfitter for hunting, fishing and outdoor gear, is concluding its 14th season as title sponsor of the MWC. Official sponsors include: Berkley Gulp!, Abu Garcia, Lowe Equipment Attachments, Lowrance Electronics, Mercury Marine, Ranger Boats, MotorGuide, The Walleye Federation and Zippo Outdoor Brands. Associate sponsors include: Yellow Bird Fishing Products, Okuma, T-H Marine and Tight Lines Jewelry. For more information, visit masterswalleyecircuit.com, email info@masterswalleyecircuit.com, or call (580) 765-9031.

Ponca City, Okla.—Sept. 11, 2015—Hard-fishing two-person teams from across the Midwest will descend on the Mississippi River at Dubuque, Iowa, to compete in the Cabela’s Masters Walleye Circuit’s final regular-season qualifier presented by Lowe Equipment Attachments Sept. 25-26.

The two-day tournament, open to all anglers regardless of club or sponsor affiliation, promises plenty of world-class competition as teams battle for thousands in cash and prizes on the walleye-rich waterway.

Payouts are based on the number of teams entered in each event. In 2014 the Circuit rewarded anglers with a total payback of more than 127 percent, including the World Walleye Championship and Team of the Year payouts, and that trend continues this season. Plus, the MWC Big Fish Pot and sponsor bonuses from Ranger Boats, Lowrance Electronics, Abu Garcia, Zippo Outdoor Brands and Okuma add thousands more to the total.

The first-place team will also win a $1,000 Cabela’s National Team Championship Prize Package including paid NTC entry, travel stipend, team jerseys and plaques. And new this season, the creation of an option pot adds even more chances to cash in. At the recent Devils Lake qualifier, for example, tournament champions Troy Morris and Corey Heiser added $3,400 in option pot cash to their total winnings.

To commemorate the Cabela’s MWC’s last regular-season event of 2015, sponsors and the Circuit decided to celebrate with an appreciation party that showers the anglers with more than $11,000 in extra prizes. “We wanted to thank our anglers for making this another great season,” explained MWC owner Robert Cartlidge. “The added prizes will push the payback for this event to one of the highest, if not the highest, return on entry fees in MWC qualifying history.”

Presenting sponsor Lowe Equipment Attachments got the ball rolling by offering an additional $2,100 in prizes to the first-place team, including a Lowe 750 Classic auger drive attachment package complete with 12-inch auger, hose kit and universal mounting.

In addition, the following prizes will be awarded by random drawing to all registered teams as a thank you for supporting the MWC this year: a Lowrance HDS 7 Gen 2 Touch valued at $1,299; two Abu Garcia line-counter reels valued at $200; a pair of $100 Cabela’s gift cards; two Ranger Boats Clothing Packages valued at $200; TH Marine Juice Package valued at $100; and a Mercury Prize Package valued at $100.

Plus, every angler who signs up for the Dubuque end-of-the-season event will receive a custom IM7, 7-foot Federation Angler jigging rod valued at $69.99 apiece. If the event fields 80 boats, that means the Circuit will hand out 160 custom rods valued at $11,198.40

Teams that have fished multiple events will also vie for points toward team of the year honors and invitations to the 2016 Cabela’s MWC World Walleye Championship, which is set for October 2016 on Wisconsin’s legendary Green Bay.

Adding to the excitement, the Circuit designated the Dubuque event as a World Walleye Championship wildcard qualifier. Teams that have fished a minimum of two additional 2015 MWC tournaments have the option to compete for coveted berths in the championship, and one WWC spot will be allocated for each 10 wildcard entries. Full details are posted in the “New For 2015” section of the MWC website.

As if that weren’t enough high-stakes walleye-fishing drama, all Cabela’s MWC tournaments are designated as “State Championship Qualifying Events.” Teams from the state where the event is held are eligible, along with teams from a state not hosting an MWC event in 2015 (provided at least 10 teams from their state are competing in the event). Besides bragging rights, state champions will earn a $1,000 prize package including custom trophies, custom State Champions rings by Tight Lines Jewelry, decals, a berth in the Cabela’s NTC, and a spot on the MWC website’s Wall of Fame.

Teams will be allowed to weigh five walleyes, saugers or saugeyes measuring 15 inches and over each day; all fish from 20 to 27 inches long must be released, and one fish over 27 inches is allowed daily per angler.

When the dust settles, the team with the heaviest two-day total weight will be crowned the winners. Weigh-ins, which are free and open to the public, will be held at Ice Harbor Marina beginning at 4 p.m. daily. As a bonus to budding tournament fans, the Cabela’s MWC, National Professional Anglers Association, Pure Fishing and Zippo Outdoor Brands 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.

Under the umbrella of The Walleye Federation (TWF), the Cabela’s MWC is open to avid walleye anglers from all walks of life. Deadline to register for the Mississippi River tournament is Monday, Sept. 21.

Cabela’s, the World’s Foremost Outfitter for hunting, fishing and outdoor gear, is in its 14th season as title sponsor of the MWC. Official sponsors include: Berkley Gulp!, Abu Garcia, Lowe Equipment Attachments, Lowrance Electronics, Mercury Marine, Ranger Boats, The Walleye Federation and Zippo Outdoor Brands. Associate sponsors include: Yellow Bird Fishing Products, Okuma, T-H Marine and Tight Lines Jewelry. For more information, visit masterswalleyecircuit.com, email info@masterswalleyecircuit.com, or call (580) 765-9031.
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Cass Lake, Minn.—Sept. 12, 2015—Minnesotans Dan Fuller and Chad Benson rallied from 11th place on day one to win at the Cabela’s Masters Walleye Circuit’s regular-season qualifier on Cass Lake, Minnesota, Sept. 11-12 presented by Lowrance Electronics.

“It’s a dream come true!” said Fuller, of Bemidji, seconds after thrilling the weigh-in crowd gathered at Stony Point Resort by scoring the exciting come-from-behind victory. “I placed second in a nail-biter at the 2011 Cabela’s MWC Cass Lake qualifier, fishing with a different partner, and ever since then I’ve wanted this tournament so much, it’s great to finally win it.”

Benson, also of Bemidji, was likewise elated. “It feels really good,” he grinned.

A longtime fishing guide on the storied Cass Lake system, Benson had kept a coveted pound of jumbo leeches alive in his refrigerator since May—just for the MWC event. “I know they’re hard to come by in late summer and fall, but the walleyes love them,” he admitted.

Indeed, many of their fish fell for leeches, which he and Fuller fished along bottom at .5 mph on live-bait rigs, in depths ranging from 15 to 40-plus feet of water. They also worked redtail chubs into their repertoire, but said leeches accounted for the most bites.

With water temperatures hovering in the mid-60s and walleyes scattered from deep to shallow, Fuller said scanning potential areas with their Lowrance sonar before investing the time to drop their lines was a key component to their top finish.

Fuller and Benson brought a respectable 12-pound, 11-ounce, five-fish MWC allowable limit to the scale on day one, then raised the bar on day two with five walleyes weighing 18 pounds, 14 ounces for a 31-pound, 9-ounce two-day total.

Fuller and Benson collected more than $13,000 for their accomplishment, including $11,100 in cash plus the $200 Okuma award and a $1,000 Cabela’s National Team Championship Prize Package, which includes paid entry into the 2016 NTC, travel stipend, team jerseys and plaques. They also earned the $200 Zippo Hot Hands bonus and $863 from the Big Fish Pot for catching the largest walleye of the event, an 8-pound, 11-ounce Cass Lake beauty that anchored their day-two basket and helped propel them to victory.

Rounding out the top five were:
2nd: Toby and Dean Kvalevog, 30-00, $5,550 cash plus $500 Lowrance Electronics bonus
3rd: Ryan Dempsey and Adam Adler, 27-15, $3,700 cash plus $3,000 from the option pot and $1,000 Ranger Cup contingency
4th: Mike Winkler and Sean Moran, 27-06, $2,800
5th: Abraham and Amos Wolf, 26-07, $2,250

In all, the Cabela’s MWC awarded a payback of $58,400 in cash and prizes.

Adding to the excitement, the Cass Lake event also crowned the 2015 Minnesota State Champions. North Dakota’s Troy Morris and Corey Heiser claimed that honor by accumulating the most points at the Big Stone Lake and Cass Lake qualifiers. They claimed a $1,000 prize package including custom trophies, custom State Champions rings by Tight Lines Jewelry, decals and a spot on the MWC website’s Wall of Fame.

Morris and Heiser recently won the Cabela’s MWC’s Devils Lake qualifier, and are the reigning North Dakota State Champions as well. The team is also known as the Circuit’s most ardent promoters of fishing artificial presentations instead of live bait.

In fact, in March of 2014 they swore off live bait entirely and formed Artifishalleyes. They’ve since shown how a variety of artificial presentations such as Berkley Gulp! and PowerBait can outfish leeches, nightcrawlers and other traditional walleye baits.

A total of 628 walleyes weighing 1,287 pounds, 15 ounces crossed the scale during the event, including 98 five-fish daily limits. Adding to the fun, the Cabela’s MWC, National Professional Anglers Association, Pure Fishing and Zippo Outdoor Brands 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.