Whitson, Campeau Win 2015 Cabela’s Masters Walleye Circuit World Walleye Championship

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Huron, Ohio—Oct. 24, 2015—Ontario, Canada’s Greg Whitson and Mark Campeau compiled a consistent three-day tournament performance to win the Cabela’s Masters Walleye Circuit’s 2015 World Walleye Championship on Lake Erie out of Huron, Ohio.

Presented by Cabela’s, the three-day event Oct. 22-24 featured the top 49 point-accumulating teams from the 2014 MWC season. Whitson and Campeau topped the talented field by bringing 5-fish limit catches to the scale each day, including a 24-pound basket on day one, 24 pounds, 9 ounces on day two, and 17 pounds, 3 ounces on day three for a 65-pound, 12-ounce three-day total weight.

“I can’t believe it,” said Whitson, of Windsor, moments after claiming the crown in front of a great crowd gathered at the Huron Boat Basin. “We put a lot of work into this and it’s taken a lot of years to get to this point.”

“It’s incredible,” added Campeau, of St. Joachim. “I wouldn’t have wanted to win it with anyone but Mark.”

Whitson and Campeau collected more than $21,000 including the $15,000 first-place cash prize, along with a $1,000 Ranger Cup contingency, $500 Lowrance Electronics bonus, $200 Okuma bonus, custom World Champions’ rings by Tight Lines Jewelry and $3,650 from the option pot.

Tournament partners for six seasons and lifelong friends, the pair claimed their first MWC win this past summer by trolling spinner rigs at the Circuit’s Bays de Noc qualifier on Lake Michigan out of Escanaba July 31-Aug. 1.

At the Championship, they tackled Lake Erie with a stickbait trolling program that hinged on running purplish, perch-colored baits as close to 1.5 mph as possible, 30 to 40 feet behind planer boards on 10-pound Berkley Trilene XT mainline. They focused on eight to 12 feet of water around the Kelleys Island and Gull Island shoals.

Rounding out the top five were:

2nd: Jaimee Tourangeau, Ross Neubauer, 59-14, $7,000

3rd: Randall Gaines, Mike Rhoades, 59-14, $4,000 plus $2,700 from the option pot

4th: Tim Ahrens, Mickey Stuefen, 52-14, $3,000

5th: Matt Davis, Dan Geis, 51-13, $2,000 plus $1,700 from the option pot

Michael McCardle and Scott Valleskey claimed the $200 Zippo Hot Hands Big Fish Award and $200 Abu Garcia reel bonus for catching an 8-pound, 13-ounce trophy walleye that was big fish of the championship. In all, more than $100,000 in cash and prizes were awarded through the World Championship and Team of the Year race.

A total of 370 walleyes weighing 1,427 pounds, 1 ounce crossed the scale during the three-day tournament. Walleye fans of all ages watched the drama unfold at the weigh-ins, which were held daily at the Huron Boat Basin amphitheater. Immediately following Saturday’s weigh-in, the Cabela’s MWC, National Professional Anglers Association, Pure Fishing and Zippo Outdoor Brands presented a Youth & Family Fishing Clinic immediately after Saturday’s weigh-in, with participating youths receiving rod-and-reel combos courtesy of the NPAA.

Adding to the excitement, on-the-water and weigh-in action was filmed for national television airing on Federation Angler TV, which appears on NBC Sports and the Pursuit Channel. Check federationangler.com for dates and airtimes.

Under the umbrella of The Walleye Federation (TWF), the Cabela’s MWC is open to avid walleye anglers from all walks of life.

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.

 

Whitson, Campeau Lead Day Two Of 2015 Cabela’s MWC World Walleye Championship

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Huron, Ohio—Oct. 23, 2015—A solid 24-pound, 9-ounce, 5-fish limit lifted Canadians Greg Whitson and Mark Campeau into the lead on day two of the Cabela’s Masters Walleye Circuit’s 2015 World Walleye Championship on Lake Erie today.

Presented by Cabela’s, the three-day event pits the top point-accumulating teams from the 2014 MWC season against one another for their share of more than $100,000 in cash and prizes. Plus, sponsor contingencies including Ranger Cup, Lowrance Electronics, Abu Garcia, Okuma and the Zippo Hot Hands Big Fish Award add thousands more to the total.

The catch gave Whitson and Campeau a 10-fish, 48-pound, 9-ounce two-day total. It was a notable accomplishment during a day marked by heavy seas and numerous position changes on the MWC leaderboard. For example, after breaking the 30-pound barrier with a 30-05 limit in the first round of competition, day one leaders Matt Davis and Dan Geis managed just two fish for 5 pounds, 8 ounces today and fell to 10th with 35-13.

While Whitson and Campeau are sitting more than four pounds ahead of their nearest rivals—Randall Gaines and Mike Rhoades—they’re not resting on their laurels.

“That’s nothing on Lake Erie,” confided Whitson, of Windsor, Ontario. “Anything can happen. We were very fortunate today and are going out tomorrow with the exact same program we’ve used the past two days.”

That program produced a flurry of fish this morning. In fact, the pair caught their first walleye within two minutes of dropping a line in the water, and put five fish in the livewell on their first pass.

“That took the pressure off,” said Campeau, of St. Joachim, Ontario.

As gusting winds riled Erie’s surface, Whitson was thankful for a reliable fishing platform. “Some waves were better than six footers,” he said. “We felt fortunate to be in our Ranger boat with the conditions out there.”

With a south wind of 16 to 21 mph looming in the forecast for day three, Whitson and Campeau were confident their pattern would hold up.

“I don’t think it’s going to hurt us,” said Campeau. “We lit up that spot on a southwest wind during prefishing.”

Six-year MWC veterans and lifelong fishing buddies, Whitson and Campeau are on a roll this season, having won the Circuit’s Bays de Noc qualifier out of Escanaba July 31-Aug. 1. With 49 teams competing for the coveted crown, however, it’s a safe bet that more than one team will make a concerted effort to topple them.

The action resumes Saturday morning with take-off set for just after 7 a.m. at the Huron Boat Basin. Teams are due back at 3 p.m. for the final weigh-in, which is free and open to the public. Adding to the excitement, the event is being filmed for national television airing on Federation Angler TV, which appears on NBC Sports and the Pursuit Channel.

As a bonus for young walleye anglers, the Cabela’s MWC, National Professional Anglers Association, Pure Fishing and Zippo Outdoor Brands will present a Youth & Family Fishing Clinic immediately after Saturday’s 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 will be released shortly.

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.

Cabela’s Masters Walleye Circuit’s 2015 World Walleye Championship Comes To Lake Erie Oct. 22-24 At Huron, Ohio Presented by Cabela’s

2015-MWC-logoPonca City, Okla.—Oct. 16, 2015—A high-stakes, big-fish battle of epic proportions is expected when North America’s top two-person walleye-fishing teams clash on legendary Lake Erie out of Huron, Ohio, Oct. 22-24 at the Cabela’s Masters Walleye Circuit’s 2015 World Walleye Championship.

Presented by Cabela’s, the event pits the top point-accumulating teams from the 2014 MWC season, which spanned seven states and included 10 qualifiers on world-class walleye waters such as the Illinois, Detroit and Mississippi rivers, Green Bay, Big Stone Lake, Kinzua Reservoir, Cass Lake Chain and Lake Erie.

Each spot in the field is by invitation-only and highly coveted among tournament anglers across the Walleye Belt. Along with a chance to claim the celebrated title of “World Walleye Champions,” the event offers more than $100,000 in cash and prizes. Plus, sponsor contingencies including Ranger Cup, Lowrance Electronics, Abu Garcia, Okuma and the Zippo Hot Hands Big Fish Award add thousands more to the total.

The field includes 2014 Cabela’s NTC champions Ross Neubauer and Jamie Tourangeau, reigning Cabela’s MWC world walleye champions Derek Navis and Korey Sprengel, and 2014 Cabela’s MWC Team of the Year Jeff Koester and Scott Rhodes.

Walleye fans of all ages are invited to cheer the teams on at the 7 a.m. take-off each morning at the Huron Boat Basin, then return at 3 p.m. to watch the Championship drama unfold live at the weigh-ins—which are free and open to the public.

Adding to the excitement, on-the-water and weigh-in action will be filmed for national television airing on Federation Angler TV, which appears on NBC Sports and the Pursuit Channel.

As a bonus for budding walleye anglers, the Cabela’s MWC, National Professional Anglers Association, Pure Fishing and Zippo Outdoor Brands will present a Youth & Family Fishing Clinic immediately after Saturday’s 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 will be released shortly.

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.

Adler, Dempsey Crowned Cabela’s Masters Walleye Circuit 2015 Team of the Year

2015-MWC-logoPonca City, Okla.—Oct. 13, 2015—Wisconsin’s Ryan Dempsey and Adam Adler put together a dream season against the world’s top walleye tournament anglers to earn the coveted title of the Cabela’s Masters Walleye Circuit’s 2015 Team of the Year.

“It feels great,” said Adler, of Oconto Falls. “We never expected at the beginning of the year to wind up on top at the end.”

He and Dempsey, of Oneida, turned in a string of solid performances on a variety of different waters to take the title, which is awarded to the two-person team accumulating the highest point total from four qualifying events.

Adler and Dempsey racked up a total of 609 points after placing third at Cass Lake in north-central Minnesota; fourth at the Detroit River out of St. Clair Shores, Michigan; sixth at Sturgeon Bay of Lake Michigan; and 15th at the Spring Valley, Illinois, tournament on the Illinois River. Along the way, they also tied the Circuit’s all-time big-fish record with a 13-pound, 4-ounce Detroit River giant.

“I feel very lucky,” added Dempsey. “A guy could go a long time without getting the kind of breaks we got this season.”

Indeed, there were times the ball bounced their way. But a never-say-die attitude was also critical to enjoying such good fortune. At Spring Valley, for example, they struggled on day two until an afternoon rally saved the day. Their Detroit River monster boosted them up the Motor City leaderboard with one big bite. And with barely 20 minutes left of competition at Cass Lake, they landed a 4½-pound kicker for a 3-pound upgrade.

“We never gave up until the last minute,” Adler reflected.

Those who know the team have seen such spirit before. In 2014, for example, they finished second in a heartbreaker at the Cabela’s National Team Championship on Green Bay after leading the event the first two days. A month later, they roared back to win an MWC qualifier on the same body of water by nearly a 13-pound margin.

“When times get tough, you keep your head up and your lines in the water,” Dempsey quipped. Both he and Adler also noted that support on the home front and from their fellow MWC anglers played a major role in their success.

Along with extreme bragging rights in the walleye world, Adler and Dempsey earned their choice of prizes including a $25,000 Living the Dream package consisting of paid entry fees into the 2016 Cabela’s National Walleye Trail, use of a Ranger 600 Series walleye boat, custom gear and apparel package, travel stipend, custom trophies and $1,000 in Cabela’s gift cards.

Rounding out the top five teams were:
2nd: Danny and Barb Plautz, 599 points, $2,300 in cash and Cabela’s gift cards
3rd: Larry Rhoads and Dan Johnson, 596 points, $1,500 in cash and Cabela’s gift cards
4th: Troy Morris and Corey Heiser, 588 points, $1,200 in cash and Cabela’s gift cards
5th: Brian Steichen and Shawn Carl, 578 points, $1,000 in cash and Cabela’s gift cards

Teams finishing in the top five also claimed a paid entry to the 2016 Cabela’s National Team Championship, while places 6th through 10th pocketed $800 in cash and Cabela’s gift cards.

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 spanned nine states and included 11 regular-season qualifiers plus the 2015 World Walleye Championship. The 2016 schedule will be released shortly.

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.