For Immediate Release –

Devils Lake, ND—August 3, 2013—South Dakotans Travor Diegel and Paul Steffen put on a vertical jigging clinic to win the Cabela’s Masters Walleye Circuit’s “artificial-only” qualifying tournament on North Dakota’s legendary Devils Lake August 2-3.

“Winning this artificial baits-only event is really special,” said Steffen, of Pierre. “It ranks right at the top in my book.” It was the team’s third Cabela’s MWC win in as many years, after claiming back-to-back qualifiers on Minnesota’s Cass Lake in 2011 and 2012. They also earned the title of MWC West Division Team of the Year in 2010.

On Day One, they brought a five-fish MWC limit weighing 24 pounds, 13 ounces to the stage. Anchored by an 8-pound, 9-ounce behemoth that was big fish of the day, it was enough to put them solidly atop the leaderboard more than 7 pounds ahead of their closest rivals in the 77-team field. They raised the bar even higher on Day Two, bringing in 20 pounds 13 ounces for a 45-pound, 10-ounce total that gave them an amazing 11-pound margin of victory.

The win earned them the $11,100 first-place cash purse, plus a $1,000 Cabela’s National Team Championship Prize Package featuring a paid NTC entry, travel stipend, team jerseys and plaques. They also won a $1,000 Cabela’s gift card from the Cabela’s Angler Cash Program, $1,000 Ranger Cup contingency, $500 Berkley Tackle Package, $500 Lowrance Electronics award for being the highest-finishing team using a Lowrance HDS Gen2, HDS Gen2 Touch or Elite-7 unit, and $714 from the Big Fish Pot for total winnings of $15,814 in cash and prizes.

Al Freidig and Clint Devier, both of Devils Lake, finished second with 34 pounds, 10 ounces, worth $5,700. The Circuit’s $200 Optima True Blue contingency went to Brenda and Steve Picht of Grand Rapids, Minnesota. In all, the top 15 teams shared $48,500 in cash, sponsor bonuses and Big Fish Pot winnings.

In a move common in bass tournaments but foreign to the walleye world, the Circuit made live natural baits such as leeches, minnows and nightcrawlers off-limits at Devils Lake. Only man-made baits such as Berkley Gulp!-type softbaits, crankbaits, spinners and other artificial presentations were allowed. Anglers responded in force, as registration increased by 26 percent over the last time the MWC visited Devils Lake, in 2011. Presenting sponsor Berkley Gulp! also embraced the concept, kicking in an extra $3,000 in cash to the payout, which was divided among the top 15 places

The artificial-only rule didn’t affect the winners’ strategies, which hinged on vertical jigging with spoons and hardbaits sweetened with minnow-flavored Berkley Gulp! Alive! Marinade. “We were ripping the jigs and letting them fall, in depths of 28 to 38 feet, fishing the ‘telephone towers’ on the main lake,” explained Diegel, also of Pierre. He noted that 12-pound-test Berkley Nanofil mainline was also a key to the presentation.

As it turned out, Diegel and Steffen’s artificial-only winning weight of 45 pounds, 10 ounces was well above the 33.01-pound first-place total at the 2011 Cabela’s MWC Devils Lake tournament, and both of their Day One and Day Two baskets were heavier that the single-day winning weight of 19.70 pounds in a weather-shortened Cabela’s MWC qualifier here in 2010.

“The anglers were very supportive of this format,” said Tournament Director Dan Palmer. “They understood that it leveled the playing field for everyone and that it is a great conservation effort to help stop any introduction of invasive species.” Palmer also noted that the teams appreciated the hospitality from state park staff, the Devils Lake Chamber of Commerce, and the local community in general. “This is a great place for a walleye tournament,” he said. “We’re looking forward to coming back in October 2014 for the Cabela’s MWC World Walleye Championship.”

The tournament offered two days of competition on Devils Lake’s incredible walleye fishery, with one day reserved in case of bad weather. Teams were allowed to bring up to five walleyes per day to the scale. A total of 579 walleyes weighing 1,256 pounds, 15 ounces crossed the stage during the tournament. Big fish was a 9-pound beauty caught by the Fargo, North Dakota, team of Chad Maloy and Don Denning. The fish was worth $714 from the Big Fish Pot.

Weigh-ins were held at scenic Graham’s Island State Park. The Cabela’s MWC, National Professional Anglers Association, Pure Fishing and Zippo Outdoor Brands presented a Youth & Family Fishing Clinic immediately after the first day’s weigh-in. The first 50 youths received rod-and-reel combos courtesy of the NPAA.

This was the eighth of 10 Cabela’s MWC qualifying tournaments in 2013. The remaining schedule includes the St. Mary’s River at Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, August 22-23; and Cass Lake, Minnesota, out of Stony Point Resort, Sept. 13-15.

Cabela’s, the World’s Foremost Outfitter for hunting, fishing and outdoor gear, is in its 11th season as title sponsor of the MWC. Official sponsors include: Berkley Gulp!, Lowe Equipment Attachments, Lowrance, Mercury Marine, MotorGuide, Ranger Boats, The Walleye Federation and Zippo Outdoor Brands. Associate sponsors include: Berkley Trilene, Church Tackle, Optima Batteries, O2 Marine Technologies and Sea Grant.

Based in Ponca City, Oklahoma, the Cabela’s MWC is oldest running national walleye circuit in America. Cabela’s MWC is owned by The Walleye Federation and is open to two-person teams regardless of club or sponsor affiliation. 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 remains open through the Sunday night prior to each tournament. For more information, visit masterswalleyecircuit.com, email info@masterswalleyecircuit.com, or call (580) 765-9031.

For hundreds of photos from the event or for full standings check out the results page.  CLICK HERE

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For Immediate Release – Ponca City, Okla.—July 29, 2013

The walleye world will be watching when the Cabela’s Masters Walleye Circuit holds a special “artificial-only” qualifying tournament on North Dakota’s legendary Devils Lake August 2-4.

In a bold departure from walleye tournament norms, the Circuit made natural baits such as leeches, minnows and nightcrawlers off-limits to two-person teams competing for thousands of dollars in cash and prizes at Devils Lake. Only man-made baits will be allowed, including Berkley Gulp!-type softbaits, crankbaits, spinners and other artificial presentations.

The idea evolved thanks to a partnership between Berkley Gulp! and the Circuit. So convinced was Berkley in the concept, the company kicked in an extra $3,000 in cash to the payout, to be divided among the top 15 places. “I’m very excited about this format,” said Cody Roswick, field marketing manager for Berkley and Pure Fishing. “It levels the playing field for all of the anglers, because nobody has to search for hard-to-find bait such as jumbo chubs or leeches. The same artificial baits are available to everyone. Plus, anglers don’t have to worry about transporting or caring for expensive live bait.”

A longtime Devils Lake angler, Roswick believes the fertile fishery is the perfect proving ground for an artificial-lures-only tournament. He also expects the ever-innovative competitors to put new and creative riggings into play. “It will be fun seeing what they come up with to out-do the competition,” he said.

Anglers responded to the artificial-only opportunity in droves, as registration jumped by more than 26 percent over the last time the MWC visited Devils Lake, in 2011. Seventy-seven teams signed up for this season’s tournament, pushing the regular payout to more than $42,000 in cash and prizes. First place includes over $11,000 in cash plus a $1,000 Cabela’s National Team Championship Prize Package including paid NTC entry, travel stipend, team jerseys and plaques. The MWC Big Fish Pot, along with sponsor bonuses including Cabela’s Angler Cash, Ranger Cup, Lowrance HDS Gen2/Elite-7, Berkley Baits and Optima True Blue boost the total in cash and prizes to nearly $48,000.

The MWC has a rich history on Devils Lake. In 2011—a dual event combining the Devils Lake Chamber of Commerce Tournament with a Cabela’s MWC qualifier—David Harmon, of Omaha, Nebraska, and Scott Busteed, of Windsor, Colorado, trolled up a nine-fish total weighing 33.01 pounds on Berkley Flicker Shads to claim victory.

In 2010, Jon Dircks, of Devils Lake, and Curtis Blake, of Grand Marais, Minnesota, brought a monster 19.70-pound basket to the scale to win a weather-shortened, single-day walleye fest at Devils Lake.

For 2013, the tournament offers two days of competition on the system’s incredible walleye fishery, with one day reserved in case of bad weather. Teams will be allowed to weigh up to five walleyes per day, and the team with the heaviest two-day total weight will be crowned the Devils Lake tournament champions.

Walleye fans of all ages are invited to the weigh-ins, which are free and open to the public. The festivities begin at 3 p.m. daily at Graham’s Island State Park. 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 rod-and-reel combos courtesy of the NPAA.

This is the eighth of 10 Cabela’s MWC qualifying tournaments in 2013. The remaining schedule includes the St. Mary’s River at Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, August 22-23; and Cass Lake, Minnesota, out of Stony Point Resort, Sept. 13-15.

Cabela’s, the World’s Foremost Outfitter for hunting, fishing and outdoor gear, is in its 11th season as title sponsor of the MWC. Official sponsors include: Berkley Gulp!, Lowe Equipment Attachments, Lowrance, Mercury Marine, MotorGuide, Ranger Boats, The Walleye Federation and Zippo Outdoor Brands. Associate sponsors include: Berkley Trilene, Church Tackle, Optima Batteries, O2 Marine Technologies and Sea Grant.

Based in Ponca City, Oklahoma, the Cabela’s MWC is oldest running national walleye circuit in America. Cabela’s MWC is owned by The Walleye Federation and is open to two-person teams regardless of club or sponsor affiliation. 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 remains open through the Sunday night prior to each tournament. For more information, visit masterswalleyecircuit.com, email info@masterswalleyecircuit.com, or call (580) 765-9031.

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For a list of Teams entered CLICK HERE

For a copy of the event fact sheet CLICK HERE

LOWELL, Mich. – MotorGuide, a trusted fishing brand with more than 50 years of engineering and manufacturing trolling motors, introduces Pinpoint® GPS navigation available on its new Xi5 wireless trolling motor. Pinpoint GPS delivers on-target location accuracy that enables anglers to precisely position their boats and achieve optimum boat control.

“In talking with anglers, the most important aspect of GPS-integrated trolling motors is their ability to maintain accuracy,” said Ben Curtis, category director for MotorGuide. “Pinpoint GPS uses an ultra-precise GPS receiver and control algorithms to keep the boat positioned tightly on the target.”

Through a compact, easy-to-use hand-held remote, Pinpoint GPS enables anglers to move a boat in five-foot increments in any direction and store up to 8 locations when in “anchor” mode.

“Being able to position and jog your boat to make the best possible presentation of the bait is essential to catch fish, and Pinpoint GPS enables anglers to precisely position their boats to stay on fish and bring home a bigger catch,” Curtis said.

Pinpoint GPS features “heading lock” and “cruise control” options to navigate the boat to specific compass headings while holding a constant speed against wind and current. In its “route memory” mode, Pinpoint GPS can store and recall up to eight routes of four miles each.

Pinpoint GPS is available this fall as a factory-installed upgrade or as an easy to install option that anglers can purchase from retailers for use on the new MotorGuide Xi5 wireless trolling motor.

About MotorGuide

MotorGuide, based in Lowell, Michigan, has more than 50 years of experience engineering and manufacturing trolling motors for anglers who enjoy fishing and don’t want a break in the action. More information can be found at MotorGuide.com.