–Presented by Berkley
June 19, 2010—SANDUSKY, OH—Ben Sobieray and Craig Gushow charged from sixth place on Day One into the winner’s circle on Day Two of the Cabela’s Masters Walleye Circuit Eastern Division stop on Lake Erie out of Sandusky, Ohio.
“This is indescribable,” beamed Sobieray. Fishing just his second MWC tournament, he was in his own words “shaking like a leaf” in the leaderboard hot-seat with 76.10 pounds as the final team came to the scale. The entire Sandusky crowd held its breath as Day One leaders Conrad and Jamie Grubbs stepped onto the MWC stage. A monster basket of 43.94 pounds on Day One made the Grubbs the team to beat, but their second-day tally of
27.83 pounds allowed Sobieray and Gushow to steamroll into victory lane.
The dramatic ending was a fitting finale to a rollercoaster ride of lead changes, trophy fish and big baskets. “It’s a great feeling,” added Gushow, who shared with MWC fans that the victory capped an amazing week. “Last Sunday night my wife and I had a baby girl—Lauren.” A 6.4-pound daughter and MWC win made for seven days the Midland, Michigan, fisherman will never forget.
Sobieray and Gushow trolled crawler harnesses with clown-pattern Northland Fishing Tackle Baitfish-Image spinner blades 1.3 to 1.4 miles per hour. “We were as shallow as 30 feet and got as deep as 50 in the course of the tournament,” said Gushow. “In the mornings the fish were up high and got deeper as the day went.” Using Lowrance HDS electronics, the pair followed the walleyes in the water column, suspending their rigs just
above the fish using planer boards and 1-ounce in-line sinkers. Besides the $12,600 firstplace check, the team earned a $1,000 Ranger Cup bonus and $500 Cabela’s Angler Cash award, plus $500 Lowrance HDS and $200 U2 Oxygenator bonuses.
Ohioans Mike Knippenberg, of Hiram, and Ryan Buddie, of Lakewood, finished second with 75.50 pounds worth $5,900 plus a $500 Berkley Premier Team bonus.
Pennsylvanians Conrad and Jamie Grubbs, of Roulette and Sheffield, respectively, placed third with 71.77 pounds, good for $3,800 and a $300 Berkley Premier bump. Mark Brumbaugh of Arcanum, Ohio, and Mike Gofron of Antioch, Illinois, claimed big fish with an 11.90-pound trophy. In all, the top 15 teams shared more than $44,000 in cash and prizes. A total of 739 walleyes weighing 4,374.93 pounds were weighed in and donated to the local Amvets post to benefit the local veterans’home and Amvets’ youth programs in Sandusky.
Day One was capped off with a Youth & Family Fishing Clinic courtesy of the MWC and National Professional Anglers Association, with free rods, reels and tackle donated by Cabela’s, Abu Garcia and Northland Fishing Tackle.
Cabela’s, the world’s foremost outfitter for hunting, fishing and outdoor gear, is entering their nineth season as title sponsor of the MWC. Official sponsors of the MWC include: Berkley, Ranger Boats, Mercury, MotorGuide, Lowrance, Fishouflage, Versus (Vs.) Television Network and North American Fishing Club. Associate Sponsors include: O2 Marine Technologies, 3-IN-ONE No Rust Shield, Abu Garcia, Fin-tech, Northland Fishing Tackle, Ryjus and Reflections.
The Cabela’s Masters Walleye Circuit is the longest running professional walleye tournament circuit in the United States. For more information on the Cabela’s MWC or to view the 2010 schedule, visit: www.masterswalleyecircuit.com; email: events@masterswalleyecircuit.com.
