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Cabela’s Masters Walleye Circuit Returns
To Green Bay at Oconto June 20-22

Presented by Ranger Boats

For Immediate Release –

Ponca City, Okla.—June 10, 2014—World-class Great Lakes walleye fishing and high-stakes team tournament competition collide when the Cabela’s Masters Walleye Circuit returns to Green Bay of Lake Michigan out of Oconto, Wisconsin, June 20-22 for a regular-season qualifying tournament.

The event offers two full days of competition on Green Bay’s incredible walleye fishery, with one day reserved in case of bad weather. The circuit’s time-tested team format lets anglers choose their favorite fishing partner to share the excitement. Two-person teams will be allowed to weigh five walleyes per day, and the team with the heaviest two-day total weight will be crowned the tournament champions.

While the event is open to all teams regardless of club or sponsor affiliation, be advised that registration closes on Monday, June 16.

Along with a chance to sample the bay’s legendary walleye fishing and test their skills against top teams from across the Walleye Belt, competitors will vie for thousands of dollars in cash and prizes. Cabela’s MWC payouts are based on the number of teams entered in each event. Plus, the MWC Big Fish Pot, along with sponsor bonuses including Ranger Cup, Berkley Baits, Lowrance Electronics, Optima True Blue and the Zippo Hot Hands Big Fish Award add thousands more to the total.

The public is invited to watch the action unfold at the weigh-ins, which begin at 4 p.m. daily at Breakwater Park in Oconto. Also in town for the weekend is a special city wide “Nature Fest” event hosted by the city of Oconto, there will be lot of nature related things to see and do in the area for the anglers and their families while they are in town and while the anglers are out on the water.  The Cabela’s MWC, National Professional Anglers Association, Pure Fishing and Zippo Outdoor Brands will present a Youth & Family Fishing Clinic immediately after the first day’s 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. The 2014 trail includes 10 stops spread across seven states in the Walleye Belt. Teams showcase their skills—and sponsor products—at world-class venues such as the Illinois, Detroit and Mississippi rivers, Green Bay, Big Stone Lake, Kinzua Reservoir, Cass Lake and Lake Erie.

Along with great payouts at each event, teams fishing three or more tournaments battle for coveted berths in the 2015 Cabela’s MWC Championship, set for October 2015 on Lake Erie out of Huron, Ohio. Teams fishing at least three qualifiers also compete for Team of the Year awards, including a $25,000 “Living the Dream” sponsorship package, which includes fully paid entries to the Cabela’s National Walleye Trail as a pro and co-angler, use of a 600 series Ranger boat, travel stipends and more.

Cabela’s, the World’s Foremost Outfitter for hunting, fishing and outdoor gear, is in its 12th season as title sponsor of the MWC. Official sponsors include: Berkley Gulp!, Lowe Equipment Attachments, Lowrance Electronics, Mercury Marine, MotorGuide, Ranger Boats, The Walleye Federation and Zippo Outdoor Brands. Associate sponsors include: Berkley Trilene, Church Tackle, Lindy Legendary Fishing Tackle, Optima Batteries, Rockstar Hitch Mounted Mud Flaps, T-H Marine and Sea Grant.

Entry fees are $650 per tournament, of which more than 100 percent is returned to anglers at the qualifiers, World Championship and Team of the Year races. Registration closes at 10 a.m. on Monday prior to each tournament. For more information, visit masterswalleyecircuit.com, email info@masterswalleyecircuit.com, or call (580) 765-9031.

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Neubauer, Tourangeau Score Comeback Win, 30,000 Cash and TWO New Ranger Boats with Evinrude Outboards At the 2014 Cabela’s National Team Championship

Green Bay, Wisc.—May 31, 2014—Michigan’s Ross Neubauer and Jamie Tourangeau overcame a 9-pound, 10-ounce final day deficit to score a dramatic comeback victory at the 2014 Cabela’s National Team Championship.

“This is unbelievable,” Tourangeau, of Escanaba, said while clutching the coveted Cabela’s NTC trophy seconds after claiming the crown in front of a cheering crowd gathered in the shadows of Green Bay’s legendary Lambeau Field. “We were so far behind, we thought we were fishing for second place.”

A three-day event held May 29-31, the Cabela’s NTC is widely regarded as the pinnacle of grassroots walleye tournaments. It is comprised of two-person teams that qualified through competition in local tournaments organized by walleye clubs sanctioned by The Walleye Federation.

During the first two days of competition, the full field of 237 teams from 20 states and provinces across North America battled on the walleye-rich waters of Green Bay and the Fox River. Each team was allowed to bring their best five fish to the scale each day. Competition was fierce, as only the top 25 teams advanced to the final round on day three.

Neubauer and Tourangeau, who qualified through the Great Lakes Sport Fishermen club out of Escanaba, sacked a respectable 31 pounds, 3 ounces on day one and 29 pounds, 9 ounces on day two to enter the final round in second place with 60 pounds, 12 ounces. They trailed Wisconsin’s Adam Adler, of Oconto Falls, and Ryan Dempsey, of Oneida, who had a commanding lead with 70 pounds, 6 ounces.

“We stuck to our game plan,” said Neubauer, of Iron Mountain, explaining that he and Tourangeau trolled gold-colored crankbaits behind planer boards to target walleyes suspended around 15 feet down over deeper water off a sand point between Peshtigo and Sturgeon Bay.

Weighing in ahead of the leaders, Neubauer and Tourangeau brought a 28-pound, 13-ounce five-fish limit to the scale for an 89-pound, 9-ounce total weight. As Adler and Dempsey took the stage with a limit of their own, the walleye world collectively held its breath. Adler and Dempsey needed 19 pounds, 3 ounces for the win. And considering they had brought in baskets weighing more than 30 pounds apiece to the scale on both days one and two—and led the field the entire tournament—the odds of victory were definitely in their favor.

But this day would be different. Adler and Dempsey’s final weight tallied 18 pounds, 13 ounces for an 89-pound, 3-ounce total—leaving them just six ounces short of claiming the championship. “Today we played it safe and it cost us,” said Dempsey.

Neubauer and Tourangeau were stunned. Besides ultimate bragging rights in the walleye world, they claimed the $30,000 first-place cash prize, along with a $60,000 Evinrude E-Tec powered 620 Ranger boat. They also won a second Ranger and E-Tec combo through the Ranger Cup contingency program, pushing their total winnings over $150,000.

In all, the Cabela’s NTC paid out $121,000 in cash to the top 50 teams and $14,600 in Cabela’s gift cards to the remainder of the field. In addition, the top 25 teams earned the title of “Cabela’s All-Americans” and received commemorative rings marking their achievement.

Another $1,000 in Cabela’s gift cards was awarded for big-fish and big-basket honors. On day one the Chevrolet Big Basket Award went to Adler and Dempsey for their 39-pound, 8-ounce bag. They also pocketed the Evinrude Big Fish Award for the 9-pound, 3-ounce trophy that anchored the impressive weight. On day two, the Ranger Boats Big Basket Award went to Wisconsin’s Kevin Adams, of Shawano, and Pat Schuette, of Manitowoc, for their 31-pound, 1-ounce catch. Day two Pepsi Big Fish honors went to Wisconsin’s Phillip Weigel, of West Salem, and Adam Woodhouse, of Stoddard, for the 10-pound, 3-ounce beauty that ended up big fish of the event.

A total of 1,969 fish weighing 7,221 pounds, 2 ounces crossed the stage during the three-day Cabela’s NTC event, of which the vast majority were released alive back into the Green Bay system.

Adding to the excitement, the event was streamed live on the internet and filmed for national television, to air the first week of August on “Americana Outdoors” on NBC Sports and the Pursuit Channel. Exact dates and airtimes will be announced at walleyefederation.com.

The event offered a number of family-friendly activities. A Kid’s Fishing Clinic was followed the day one weigh-in; youngsters met NTC competitors and received free rod-and-reel combos courtesy of Cabela’s and The Walleye Federation. On Saturday, Ranger Boats and Evinrude motors presented a TESTRIDE event at Metro Boat Launch, offering the chance to test-drive four new, fully-rigged, Evinrude E-Tec powered Ranger boats.

Weigh-ins were also just a short cast from Cabela’s brand-new 100,000-square-foot destination retail center at 1499 Lombardi Avenue in the Village of Ashwaubenon. With a Wisconsin Sportsman’s Hall of Fame showcasing trophy animal mounts and other memorabilia honoring the state’s outdoor heritage, plus aquariums and an incredible selection of outdoor gear, it provided the perfect place to spend time between take-offs and weigh-ins.

Cabela’s NTC sponsors include Chevrolet, Ranger Boats, Evinrude, Geico, MotorGuide and Pepsi. The Walleye Federation, based in Ponca City, Oklahoma, manages and produces the event, including the qualifying process. For details, visit walleyefederation.com, or call (580) 765-9031.

For Final Results CLICK HERE

For pictures of the event CLICK HERE

Ponca City, Okla.—May 16, 2014—Walleye fishing’s most coveted crown will be up for grabs on Green Bay May 29-31 when 237 two-person teams from across North America battle for top honors in the Cabela’s National Team Championship.

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. A total of 20 states and provinces from Nevada to Maryland will be represented.

The event marks the 13th edition of the prestigious championship. Teams will vie for ultimate bragging rights and more than $250,000 in cash and prizes. First prize is $30,000 in cash plus a $60,000 Evinrude E-Tec powered 620 Ranger boat. A second Ranger and E-Tec combo will be awarded through the Ranger Cup contingency, meaning the victors could take home more than $150,000 in cash and prizes.

In all, the Cabela’s NTC pays out $121,000 in cash to the top 50 teams, $14,600 in Cabela’s gift cards to the remainder of the field, and $1,000 in Cabela’s gift cards for big fish and big basket awards. In addition, the top 25 teams earn the title of “Cabela’s All-Americans” and received commemorative rings marking their achievement.

The entire field will compete the first two days on the walleye-rich waters of Green Bay and the Fox River. 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.

Walleye fans are invited to cheer on their favorite teams when they take off from Green Bay’s Metro Boat Launch each morning at 7 a.m., then watch the action unfold in person at the weigh-ins, which begin at 4 p.m. daily in the shadows of legendary Lambeau Field in Green Bay. Adding to the excitement, the event will be streamed live on the internet at www.cabelas.com/ntc and at www.walleyefederation.com

It is also filmed for national television, to air the first week of August on “Americana Outdoors” on NBC Sports and the Pursuit Channel. Exact dates and airtimes will be announced at walleyefederation.com.

Weigh-ins are also just a short cast from Cabela’s brand-new 100,000-square-foot destination retail center at 1499 Lombardi Avenuein the Village of Ashwaubenon. With a Wisconsin Sportsman’s Hall of Fame showcasing trophy animal mounts and other memorabilia honoring the state’s outdoor heritage, plus aquariums and an incredible selection of outdoor gear, it’s the perfect place to spend time between take-off and weigh-in.

For store information, call: (920) 264-0140 or visitcabelas.com.

The Cabela’s store also showcases the latest technology from the company’s newest NTC partner—trolling motor icon MotorGuide. “We have long supported anglers in a variety of venues, and are proud to help The Walleye Federation and Cabela’s NTC promote walleye fishing and fisheries conservation coast to coast,” said MotorGuide marketing manager Dave Walsh. “We also look forward to introducing their hard-core anglers and countless dedicated fans to MotorGuide’s new high-performance Xi5 wireless trolling motor and Pinpoint GPS navigation system. These exciting new technologies can help anglers everywhere catch more fish in all types of conditions.”

Other activities include a Kid’s Fishing Clinic at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 29 in the Lambeau Field parking lot following the day one weigh-in; youngsters will get to meet NTC competitors and receive free rod-and-reel combos courtesy of Cabela’s and The Walleye Federation.

On May 31, Ranger Boats and Evinrude motors will present a TESTRIDE event at Metro Boat Launch from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., offering the chance to test-drive four new, fully-rigged, Evinrude E-Tec powered Ranger boats, including an 1880 Angler, 1850 Reata, and two 621s. A new Z521 will also be on display. Test-rides are free, youth and adult life jackets are provided, and families are encouraged to experience the latest in marine technology with a professional angler as their guide.

Cabela’s NTC sponsors include Chevrolet, Ranger Boats, Evinrude, Geico, MotorGuide and Pepsi. The Walleye Federation, based in Ponca City, Oklahoma, manages and produces the event, including the qualifying process. For details, visit walleyefederation.com, or call (580) 765-9031.