Ponca City, Okla.—July 9, 2015—A high-stakes, big-water walleye battle of epic proportions will break out when the Cabela’s Masters Walleye Circuit returns to the world-class waters of Little Bay de Noc out of Escanaba, Michigan, for a regular-season qualifier July 31-August 1.

Launching from scenic Gladstone Harbor, the event offers two-person teams two full days of competition on both Big and Little Bays de Noc, along with the adjoining Michigan waters of Lake Michigan. Collectively, the fisheries offer incredible walleye opportunities. In fact, the destination is so stellar, it was just selected to host the 2016 Cabela’s National Team Championship—which draws hundreds of grassroots walleye anglers from across North America.

Judging by past tournament results, the upcoming Cabela’s MWC qualifier should yield great fishing and more than a few behemoth baskets. For example, when the Circuit visited Escanaba in 2011 for a regular-season event combined with the Cabela’s NTC, it took more than 30 pounds per day to claim the crown. Circuit vets Korey Sprengel and Derek Navis eventually claimed top honors with a 64.41-pound, 10-fish limit. Thanks to the Circuit’s lucrative payback program, Sprengel and Navis earned more than $20,000 for their MWC victory in cash and sponsor contingencies.

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, and that trend continues this season. Plus, the MWC Big Fish Pot and sponsor bonuses from Ranger, Lowrance, Abu Garcia, Zippo Outdoor Brands 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. And new for 2015, the creation of an option pot adds even more chances to cash in. At the recent Petenwell Lake qualifier, for example, tournament champions Barb and Danny Plautz added $2,730 in option pot cash to their total winnings.

Adding to the excitement, 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. In states hosting two events, teams must fish both tournaments to be in the running, which means Michigan teams must have fished the Detroit River qualifier along with the Bays de Noc event for a shot at the state title.

Teams will be allowed to weigh five walleyes measuring 15 inches and over each day, and 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 Gladstone Harbor beginning at 3 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 Bays de Noc tournament is Monday, July 27th.

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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NOW is the time to register for the upcoming MWC event at Escanaba July 31 and Aug 1 registration deadline is July 27!  You are going to want to sharpen your skills on the Bays de Noc now because…….

2016 Cabela’s National Team Championship Returns To Legendary Bays de Noc Out Of Escanaba, Michigan

Ponca City, Okla.—July 8, 2015—Great news for walleye fans from coast to coast. The Cabela’s National Team Championship will return to the walleye-rich waters of Lake Michigan’s Big and Little Bays de Noc out of Escanaba and Gladstone, Michigan, for 2016.

Widely regarded as the walleye world’s premier grassroots championship, the Cabela’s NTC is comprised of teams that qualified through competition in local tournaments organized by walleye clubs sanctioned by The Walleye Federation (TWF).

The 2016 event will mark the 15th edition of the prestigious championship, which annually draws hundreds of avid walleye anglers from across the U.S. and Canada. At press time a May date was tentatively being considered, but complete details will be released shortly.

Long a favorite destination of serious walleye fans, the Bays de Noc fishery is known for world-class action. In 2011, the last time the Cabela’s NTC visited the Upper Peninsula paradise, more than 250 two-person teams from Arizona to New Jersey and everywhere in between competed in the event.

Derek Navis and Korey Sprengel claimed top honors by bringing in a 10-fish, two-day limit weighing a whopping 64.41 pounds. With the 2016 event set to run three days, the total will no doubt climb even higher.

Along with great fishing and exciting competition, the Cabela’s NTC offers the chance to win some of the walleye world’s most lucrative prizes. At the 2011 championship on Bays de Noc, Navis and Sprengel won $30,000 in cash plus a Ranger 619 boat rigged with an Evinrude E-tec for their efforts, along with a second identical Evinrude-powered Ranger for being the top-placing Ranger Cup team in the NTC. All told, their winnings topped $160,000 and the 2016 Cabela’s NTC champions could enjoy an equally impressive payday.

“Cabela’s, The World Foremost Outfitter, shows its unprecedented support of walleye anglers across North America each year by hosting this one-of-a-kind event for them,” says Dan Palmer of The Walleye Federation. “The Cabela’s NTC pays out more than $100,000 in cash to the top 50 teams, over $10,000 in Cabela’s gift cards to the remainder of the field, special awards for big fish and big basket each day—plus the Ranger prize boats! In addition, the top 25 teams earn the title of ‘Cabela’s All-Americans’ and receive commemorative rings marking their achievements.”

As a bonus to Cabela’s NTC competitors and their families, the local community is decidedly fishing-friendly, and has a long tradition of rolling out the red carpet for visiting walleye hunters. “We’re extremely honored to be selected for this prestigious event and can’t wait to welcome the anglers back,” said Vickie Micheau of the Delta County Chamber of Commerce.

Micheau said the chamber will work collectively with the official site host—the Bays de Noc Convention and Visitors Bureau—along with the cities of Gladstone and Escanaba, local businesses and community organizations such as the Great Lakes Sportfisherman Club to ensure everyone involved in the event enjoys a great Delta County welcome.

She added that similar to 2011, the Upper Peninsula State Fairgrounds will serve as the epicenter for the event, including weigh-ins. “We’ll also provide a special meal for anglers at the rules meeting that showcases the great cuisine available at our local restaurants,” she said.

“Cabela’s is thrilled for the 2016 Cabela’s NTC to return to Bays de Noc. The waters provide wonderful opportunities for walleye anglers and the surrounding communities are outstanding hosts,” said Andrea Crass, Director of Communication and Partnerships for Cabela’s. “The event was a great success when it was hosted at Bays de Noc in 2011 and this year’s competition promises to be even better.”

The entire field will compete the first two days. Each team will be allowed to bring their best five fish to the scale each day. Competition will be fierce, as only the top 25 teams advance to the final round on day three. Adding to the excitement, the event will be streamed live online and also filmed for national television.

On the family front, a Kid’s Fishing Clinic will be held immediately following the day one weigh-in. Youngsters will get to meet NTC competitors and the first 100 kids will receive free rod-and-reel combos courtesy of Cabela’s and The Walleye Federation.

2015 Cabela’s NTC sponsors included Cabela’s, Ranger Boats, Evinrude, Geico, Power-Pole, Pepsi and TWF. The Walleye Federation, based in Ponca City, Oklahoma, manages the qualifying process and co-produces the event alongside the Cabela’s Corporate Brand Partnership Team. For details on qualifying for the Cabela’s NTC, visit walleyefederation.com, or call (580) 765-9031.

Plautzes Pull Off Cabela’s Masters Walleye Circuit Petenwell Win
Presented by Mercury Marine and BOLT Locks

Arkdale, Wisc.—June 28, 2015—Wisconsin’s Barb and Danny Plautz scored an exciting come-from-behind victory at the Cabela’s Masters Walleye Circuit’s Petenwell Lake qualifier presented by Mercury Marine June 26-27.

After bringing four walleyes weighing a total of 5 pounds, 1 ounce to the scale on day one, the mother-and-son team was sitting in third place, just 2 pounds, 6 ounces behind leaders Matt Johannes and Dan Vukovich. The Plautzes knew they were within striking distance, but with a tight race due to a tough bite on the 23,000-acre flowage system, they also realized the rest of the 43-team field was still in the hunt as well.

“Everyone had a shot at it on day two, which made things really interesting,” said Danny Plautz, of Lake Mills. He explained that although day one weights were low, Petenwell holds trophy walleyes that could easily push a team’s 5-fish daily limit above the 20-pound barrier.

Adding to the drama, walleye fans turned out in force to cheer on each of the two-person teams. Scores of well-wishers lined the take-off area each morning, while afternoon weigh-ins at Petenwell Park drew more than 400 spectators.

As they had on day one, team Plautz focused their day two attack on a stump-covered, 7½-foot-deep flat surrounded by shallower water, where they trolled size 5 Berkley Flicker Shad crankbaits at speeds of 1.9 to 2 mph. “We found the spot during practice and caught a walleye over 29 inches from it, so we knew the fish were there and stuck with it,” Danny explained.

The Plautzes’ patience and persistence paid off with four more walleyes totaling 6 pounds, 7 ounces. “Our fifth fish, a 19-incher, popped off right behind the boat,” Danny recalled. “We thought we needed it to win, so that was tough.”

But as their luck would have it, the Plautzes’ 11-pound, 8-ounce two-day total was enough to top the leaderboard and claim their second MWC win in 12 years of competing on the trail.

“This is phenomenal—I’m on cloud nine,” Barb Plautz, of St. Germain, Wisconsin, said as the crowd’s cheers finally subsided. “My son is the best fishing partner I could ask for, and the memories we’ve shared on the MWC are priceless. I wish more moms could experience this feeling.”

Part of a hard-fishing family that includes another MWC veteran, Dan Plautz Sr., Barb and Danny have put together a stellar MWC career. They won the Spring Valley qualifier in 2008 and are perennial contenders on a variety of waters. With the Petenwell win and a pair of additional top-10 finishes so far this season, they’re also making a serious run at the prestigious MWC Team of the Year title.

The Plautzes’ Petenwell performance was worth nearly $12,000 including $7,200 in cash plus the $1,000 Ranger Cup contingency. They also pocketed $2,730 in cash from the option pot, and a $1,000 Cabela’s National Team Championship Prize Package, including paid entry into the 2016 NTC, travel stipend, team jerseys and plaques.

Rounding out the top five were:
2nd: Doug and Michael David, 10-13, $3,600 cash plus $200 Okuma award, $250 BOLT locks Big Bag Bonus, and $200 Zippo Hot Hand Award for big fish of the event, a 2-pound, 7-ounce walleye
3rd: Mike Olson, Pete Geroy, 10-07, $2,500 cash plus $500 Lowrance Electronics bonus
4th: Matt Johannes, Dan Vukovich, 9-15, $2,000 cash
5th: Michael McCardle, Scott Valleskey, 9-12, $1,600 cash plus $1,820 from the option pot

In all, the Cabela’s MWC awarded a payback of $31,040 in cash and prizes.

The Petenwell tournament also provided the stage for the Wisconsin State Walleye Championship.
Randy Harwood, of Oshkosh, and Brad Skupas, of Wautoma, claimed the crown by accumulating 277 points between the MWC’s Sturgeon Bay and Petenwell qualifiers. Besides Badger State bragging rights, they won 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.

A total of 129 walleyes weighing 169 pounds, 6 ounces came to the scale during the event. As a testament to the challenging bite MWCers encountered on Petenwell this weekend, just six five-fish daily limits were recorded, and no “overs” (trophy walleyes more than 28 inches long) crossed the stage.

Along with the thrill of witnessing such intense competition among the country’s top competitive walleye anglers, youngsters in the crowd were treated to a Youth & Family Fishing Clinic after the day one weigh-in, presented by the Cabela’s MWC, National Professional Anglers Association, Pure Fishing and Zippo Outdoor Brands. Youths got the chance to meet MWC anglers and received 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 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, Tight Lines Jewelry and Bolt Locks. For more information, visit masterswalleyecircuit.com, email info@masterswalleyecircuit.com, or call (580) 765-9031.
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Bradford, Penn.—June 20, 2015—Pennsylvania’s Ryan Rieger and Joe Papalia sacked a two-day, 10-fish limit weighing 15 pounds, 6 ounces to win the Cabela’s Masters Walleye Circuit’s Kinzua Reservoir qualifying tournament presented by Zippo Outdoors June 19-20.

“It’s an amazing feeling,” Rieger, of Belle Vernon, said of his first MWC victory. The win was worth over $13,000 to the pair including, $7,400 in cash along with the $1,000 Ranger Cup contingency and $200 Okuma bonus. He and Papalia, of Warren, also pocketed $2,520 in cash from the option pot, and a $1,000 Cabela’s National Team Championship Prize Package, including paid entry into the 2016 NTC, travel stipend, team jerseys and plaques.

Because all 2015 Cabela’s MWC tournaments are designated as “State Championship Qualifying Events,” Rieger and Papalia also earned the title of Pennsylvania State Walleye Champions. Besides Keystone bragging rights, they claimed 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.

Rieger and Papalia primarily pulled slow death-style nightcrawler rigs along the tops and edges of offshore humps in 10 to 23 feet of water on day one for a 7-pound, 1-ounce total. They added Berkley Flicker Shads to the program on day two and put 8 pounds, 5 ounces in the basket.

“This is the greatest thing ever,” grinned Papalia after the weigh-in. “It was a grind because inconsistent weather made the bite challenging, but all of our efforts paid off.”

Rounding out the top five were:
2nd: Mike Maholic, Scott Hotelling, 13-09, $3,800 cash
3rd: Dewayne Cawley, Steve Colley, 13-03 $2,500 cash plus $1,680 from the option pot
4th: Dan Johnson, Larry Rhoads, 11-11, $2,000 cash
5th: Glenn and Matthew Boser, 11-11, $1,600 cash

Big-fish honors and the $200 Zippo Hot Hand Award went to Terry Zampogna and Toney Avenali for a 6-pound, 7-ounce walleye. In 7th place, Jesse and Dylan Nussbaum collected the $500 Lowrance Electronics contingency. In all, the Cabela’s MWC awarded a payback of $33,540 in cash and prizes.

Weigh-ins were held at the Richard E. & Ruth McDowell Sport & Fitness Center Arena. The 47-team field brought a total of 210 walleyes weighing 300 pounds, 14 ounces to the scales during the event, including 18 five-fish daily limits. 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 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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