Stockton, MO. March 5, 2015

A good mix of anglers at Stockton Lake!

“As we outlined in the press release about Stockton last week we were expecting 20-30 teams depending on the weather. Stated Dan Palmer MWC Senior Tournament director. “We knew when we schedule Stockton that it would not be a huge 1st time event but we wanted to expose MWC and our sponsors to new area and mix of anglers and we have.”

The main ramp is ice free today at Orleans Trail Marina even after the recent record cold spell. All the sponsor support crews, Ranger, Lowrance and Mercury are here on site supporting the event and all the new faces. The field is a great mix of anglers competing not only for the MWC prize money but for the title of Missouri State Champions. The field is made up of faithful MWC teams from 10 states who braved the weather to come to Stockton. Included in the 22 boat field are; 2 past World Walleye Champions, 3 past MWC event winners and nearly half the field brand new anglers to MWC!

Weigh ins are at 3:00pm CST each day Friday and Saturday at Orleans Trail Marina. Internet here lake side in the Ozarks Mountains is none! BUT we will update the leaderboard as much as we can and tape the weigh in and upload to MastersWalleyeCircuit.com as soon as we get to a signal! You can follow the weigh in leader-board and see the video of each day at MastersWalleyeCircuit.com!
The first 50 kids at the weigh in tomorrow will receive a free rod and reel and a Family Fishing clinic courtesy of NPAA!

Cabela’s Masters Walleye Circuit Kicks Off
2015 Tournament Season On Stockton Lake March 6-7
Presented by The Walleye Federation

Ponca City, Okla.—Feb. 13, 2015—High-stakes, professionally run walleye tournament action descends on Missouri’s legendary Stockton Lake March 6-7 as the Cabela’s Masters Walleye Circuit kicks off its 31st season of exciting team-format walleye competition.

Part of an expanded lineup of world-class walleye destinations for the 2015 season, the Stockton tournament is timed to allow competitors to enjoy epic fishing for schools of spawn-minded walleyes gathered around tributaries and main-lake spawning grounds. “The first week of March is prime time on Stockton,” says Cabela’s MWC Senior Tournament Director Dan Palmer. “We’re expecting teams to bring in plenty of limits, including trophies into the teens.”

While the Circuit has opened its season on the Illinois River at Spring Valley, Illinois, for the past 28 seasons, the Stockton event was added for 2015 to give tournament anglers across the Walleye Belt an even earlier shot at great fishing, intense competition and the chance to win thousands in cash and prizes. “The Illinois is still a world-class fishery,” Palmer noted. “And we’re going back there March 20-21.”

In all, the 2015 Cabela’s MWC schedule spans nine states and includes 11 regular-season qualifiers plus the 2015 World Walleye Championship. Adding to the excitement, all Cabela’s MWC tournaments will be 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, at minimum, custom trophies, decals, a berth in the Cabela’s NTC, and a spot on the MWC website’s Wall of Fame.

Palmer acknowledged that Stockton is new territory. “We knew when we put Stockton on the schedule that it wouldn’t be one of our larger events,” he said. “But we wanted to expose an entirely new segment of walleye anglers to the MWC and our sponsors. There are some great walleye sticks in that part of the country, and I’m hoping some of them will join the MWC at additional events this season. Heading to Stockton also gives our faithful, longtime teams a chance to get out of the house, fish a new body of water and earn a last-chance qualifier spot in the 2015 NTC.”

At Stockton, two-person teams will be allowed to weigh five walleyes, saugers or saugeyes 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. For example, in 2014 the Circuit rewarded anglers with a total payback of more than 127 percent. Payouts are based on the number of teams entered in each event. Plus, the MWC Big Fish Pot and sponsor bonuses 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.

The public is invited to the Stockton Lake weigh-ins, which begin at 3 p.m. daily at Orleans Trail Resort and Marina. 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 rods 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. Registration for all events is now open. Registration for the Stockton tournament closes at 5:45 p.m. March 5, the evening of the Rules Meeting.

Cabela’s, the World’s Foremost Outfitter for hunting, fishing and outdoor gear, is entering 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, and T-H Marine. For more information, visit masterswalleyecircuit.com, email info@masterswalleyecircuit.com, or call (580) 765-9031.
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Cabela’s Masters Walleye Circuit’s Reigning Team of the Year Koester and Rhodes Excited for Season Ahead

Ponca City, Okla.—Feb 3, 2015—After spending the winter months savoring the accomplishment of claiming prestigious 2014 Team of the Year honors on the Cabela’s Masters Walleye Circuit, Jeff Koester and Scott Rhodes are eagerly awaiting a chance to defend their title on the 2015 trail.

“We’re definitely excited about the year ahead,” said Rhodes, of Interlochen, Michigan. “Right now we’re still deciding which events to enter.” He was quick to note that the Cabela’s MWC’s schedule, which has expanded to 11 qualifiers on world-class walleye waters spread across nine states, offers anglers a host of options to ponder before marking their calendars.

“With more choices, plus a few changes in timing and locations, we’ve got a lot to consider,” he said. “A lot of it boils down to what dates work out for us, the waters we’re best suited to, and the time of year the event is being held.” While he and Koester’s schedule wasn’t yet set in stone, Rhodes said the annual March tournament on the Illinois River at Spring Valley, Illinois, would be difficult to pass up. “After winning there in 2014, it would be hard not to go back,” he said.

Koester, of Brookville, Indiana, is still getting used to the idea of winning Team of the Year. “It’s still sinking in,” he said. “Consistently putting three or four good finishes together against the caliber of anglers on the MWC is an incredible challenge.”

Rhodes agreed. “Winning Team of the Year was a milestone for us,” he said. Which is no small statement, considering the circuit veterans are past Cabela’s MWC World Walleye Champions, scored wins at a pair of MWC Walleye Madness events, and took top honors at the 2014 Spring Valley qualifier.

Looking ahead, Koester shared Rhodes’ anticipation for the 2015 tournament season. “I’m looking forward to defending our title,” he said. Toward that end, the team is busy rigging a new boat with the latest in walleye weaponry, including Mercury outboards and Optima batteries, and wrangling a mountain of tackle for the battles to come. “In the celebration over winning Team of the Year last fall, putting everything away in a real organized manner wasn’t a top priority,” he laughed. “We’ve got some work to do.”

While the thrill of competition and chance to win thousands in cash and prizes is a compelling combination, both anglers note that one of the biggest benefits of fishing the Cabela’s MWC remains the camaraderie shared between so many of the teams. “Winning titles and tournaments is great, but just getting away from work and hanging out with friends we’ve made over the years is what we really look forward to,” Rhodes explained.

Under the umbrella of The Walleye Federation (TWF), the Cabela’s MWC is open to avid walleye anglers from all walks of life. Registration for all events opened January 2, 2015. For more information, check back often at www.masterswalleyecircuit.com as season info is regularly updated.

Cabela’s, the World’s Foremost Outfitter for hunting, fishing and outdoor gear, is entering 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, and T-H Marine. For more information, visit masterswalleyecircuit.com, email info@masterswalleyecircuit.com, or call (580) 765-9031.

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4 weeks away to the MWC season opener! Get out of the cold and come to Stockton to get your 2015 season off to a good start!

Stockton is a LAST CHANCE  qualifier for the 2015 NTC!