Second Half of Season takes Masters Walleye Circuit to Sault Ste Marie on the St. Mary’s River
Presented by: Lowrance
Ponca City, Oklahoma – June 29, 2026 – As the half-way mark of summer passes, the second half of the 2026 Masters Walleye Circuit Season will put anglers on border waters of the U.S. and Canada on the St. Mary’s River in Sault Ste Marie, MI. Sitting alongside the historically significant shipping canals, the St. Mary’s River still is frequently used to move cargo through the chain of the Great Lakes. On Thursday and Friday, July 23-34, it will used in a different, but not uncommon fashion, and will be a central location to bring anglers together – whether local, or from hundreds of miles in any direction – to see which team can prove their skill as the best to catch 5 walleyes.
As the date approaches fast for this 4th qualifier of the 2026 season, it is important to note that the rules meeting for the event in Sault Ste Marie takes place Wednesday afternoon, the 22nd, at 5:15 pm Eastern Time, with the tournament days being Thursday and Friday, the 23rd and 24th. This is a unique event, being paired with the Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s National Team Championship (NTC) for a dual event. Anglers that are qualified and registered for the NTC can also sign up for the MWC event and have their weight each day counted towards both events. The NTC competition day take-offs and weigh-ins will take place simultaneously, the only difference being the NTC has a third day of competition on Saturday, July 25, after cutting the field down to the All American 25.
Lowrance is once again boosting opportunities for anglers fishing the Masters Walleye Circuit, with their; $500 Lowrance Trolling Motor Bonus for running a Ghost or Recon Trolling Motor, $750 Lowrance Exclusive Bonus for running only Lowrance Electronics in your boat, and an added Lowrance Recon Trolling Motor to the prize pool!
Tournament days will start each day with a 7:00 am (Eastern Time) take-off, given safe light conditions, and live weigh-ins beginning at 3:15 pm (Eastern Time) on Thursday and Friday, July 23-24, 2026, both of which will be held at William Gregory Boat Ramp, in Sault Ste Marie, MI. Spectators are encouraged to join in person as the weigh-in is free and open to the public, or follow the action live online at masterswalleyecircuit.com or on the official Facebook page, facebook.com/MastersWalleyeCircuit.
Registration for this tournament on the St. Mary’s River closes on Monday, July 20, 2026. Teams that are interested in signing up should visit:
www.masterswalleyecircuit.com/registration
or call
Federation National Office at (580) 765-9031.
Now that we are halfway through the 2026 season, points for the WWC are posted on the website and can be found HERE. These will be updated the week following each of the remaining events. For teams competing for the Team of The Year “Living the Dream” title and the rewards that come with it, the 4th event of the season is coming quickly and after it is completed, the TOY points will be posted and updated following each event as well.
As part of the 2026 MWC season, anglers can compete for a coveted spot in the 2026 World Walleye Championship held in Devil’s Lake North Dakota. The 2026 WWC will be a one-time Dual Event with qualifying teams from 2025 and 2026, with a combined pot and, new to 2026 – a Brand-New Nitro ZV20 Powered By Mercury as the top prize. Teams can participate in as many events as they wish, with points earned in at least three qualifiers necessary for an invitation to the World Walleye Championship. MWC’s “Living the Dream” team, using points from four qualifiers throughout the regular season, will earn a sponsorship package valued up to $10,000 which includes a spot to compete in the National Team Championship and up to four, paid-in-full, MWC events.
Each MWC event has a lucrative payout which is based on the number of teams entered into that event. Overall payout is awarded to 20% of the field, providing more inspiration to sign up and join the fun. In addition to a hefty check, the first-place team also earns a $1,000 Bass Pro Shops/Cabela’s National Team Championship (NTC) prize package including: paid entry, a travel stipend, team jerseys, and plaques. Additionally, the big-fish pot, option-pot and sponsor bonuses will add thousands more for distribution among the field.
Under the umbrella of The Walleye Federation (TWF), the Masters Walleye Circuit (MWC) is North America’s longest running and undisputed leader in team walleye tournaments since 1984 and as an inductee into the freshwater fishing hall of fame. MWC has set the standard for competitive walleye fishing for 42 years. The 2026 schedule includes six qualifiers in five states, plus berths into the 2026 MWC World Walleye Championship presented by Nitro boats in Devils Lake, North Dakota. Stay tuned for more 2026 announcements at:
www.MastersWalleyeCircuit.com.
Masters Walleye Circuit Official Level Sponsors: Mercury Marine, Lowrance Electronics, and Nitro Boats. Associate Sponsors: TH Marine, Airsafe Hitch Products, National Professional Anglers Association, and The Walleye Federation.
For more information, contact support@masterswalleyecircuit.com or call (580) 765-9031.
