Sweet Victory on Bitter Lake For Wilson and Korth
Presented By: Nitro Boats
Wesbter, SD – August 24, 2026 – Bitter Lake showed out well for the 5th qualifier of the 2026 season of the Masters Walleye Circuit. With great weather and prime timing, teams caught fish every which way, and many brought limits to the scale. Being a no-cull state and fishing on a lake with a slot of one fish over 20” per angler, it took well thought out decision-making to have the biggest bag and secure a win.
Day 1 take-off came with nearly zero wind, and temps in the upper 50’s. With nearly 18,000 acres of fishable water, teams had a multitude of areas to choose from. Peter and Jared Mart took a lead on day 1 with an 8lb 1oz giant Bitter Lake Walleye to anchor their 21lb 10oz bag. In 18th place going into day 2 was Max Wilson with his sub, Rob Korth. They had a weight of 17lbs 14oz after boxing a mediocre over early in the day which limited them. Their goal for day 2 was simply to go out and catch a consistent bag to stay in check range and pick up some good Team of the Year points.
The stars seemed to align on day 2 for Wilson and Korth, making a relatively short run to fish the main basin for their overs. Their big fish of the day at 8lbs 5oz came early on a jig and plastic, taking a huge weight off their shoulders and allowing them to focus on finding the perfect unders for their bag. They switched to targeting weeds in under 15’ of water with reaction style baits and secured a bag that would weigh 21lbs and 11oz by 10:45 in the morning for a total of 39lbs and 9oz to win the event by a mere 2 ounces.
Max Wilson is no stranger to cashing checks in the Walleye World, now hoisting his 5th Trophy for the Masters Walleye Circuit and looking to add to his 3 previous Team of the Year Wins. Winning the 5th qualifier of the 2026 Masters Walleye Circuit on Bitter Lake with a total of 39lbs and 9oz, Max Wilson and Rob Korth earned a champions trophy and a paid berth into the 2027 National Team Championship. Wilson and Korth took home $12,300 in Cash, $3,900 in Option Pot Cash, the NTC prize package valued at $1000 consisting of custom NTC jerseys, custom NTC plaques, and a cash travel stipend, and the Big Fish Award on day 2 consisting of $1,860 in Cash, for a total of $19,060.
The remainder of the top 5 teams took home impressive prizes as well:
2nd: Jason Swartz & Cody Bruns, 39-07 $6,080 Cash, $2,648 Option Pot Cash
& Lowrance Exclusive Bonus of $750
3rd: Steven Kincaid & Sean Kincaid, 38-01, $4,080 Cash
4th: Jack Lee & Gavin Hibbert, 37-13, $3,100 Cash
5th: James Campbell Jr. & Randy Vike, 36-08, $2,580 Cash
Overall, 91 two-man teams consisting of 182 anglers competed in this event representing 11 different states caught 787 fish for a total of 1944 pounds and 5 ounces of Bitter Lake Walleye.
In total, the top 18 teams went home with cash and prizes. Before this MWC event in Webster, SD began, on registration night the Premier Team drawing of a duffle bag package was awarded to Frank John Weeda and Corbin Hime out of Minnesota. As an added benefit, Lowrance adds two contingencies for anglers that come in the form of the Lowrance Exclusive Bonus of $750 and the Lowrance Trolling Motor Bonus of $500 for running a Ghost or Recon on your boat.
The Big Fish Award on Day 1 was won by Peter and Jared Mart with their healthy 8lb 1oz giant walleye that anchored their 21lb 10oz bag and set them up with a hefty lead on day 1. Big Fish Award for day 2 went to the winners, Max Wilson and Rob Korth at 8lb 5oz. The cash pot for big fish was $3,720, meaning each day the big fish winners took home $1,860.
Current World Walleye Championship qualifying points are now live on the website here and will be updated after each event for teams to keep track of the goal of reaching Devil’s Lake, North Dakota this coming October. Also developing quickly now that the 5th qualifier has been completed, is the Team of The Year points race. The premier team of James Campbell Jr. and Randy Vike still have a healthy lead, although they intend to defend that to the end as the final regular season event on Cass Lake out of Stony Point Resort is within sight.
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.
