Bass Pro Shops Cabela’s Masters Walleye Circuit 41st Season Starts at Spring Valley March 22-23, 2024

Bass Pro Shops Cabela’s Masters Walleye Circuit 41st Season Starts at Spring Valley March 22-23, 2024 Presented by: Mercury Marine

 

New For 2024 Is GUARANTEED Minimum $10,000.000 First Place Prize At Every Event And A New Points Structure To Benefit Those Who Fish 3 Or More Events!

Ponca City, Okla, — Feb. 13, 2024 – The Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s Masters Walleye Circuit (MWC) is excited to get started on its 41st season, which is quickly approaching. MWC has once again chosen the Illinois River in Spring Valley to kick this season off as it has done 38 out of MWC’s storied 41-year history as the longest running national walleye circuit in North America. This is sure to be a captivating kick-off to the 2024 MWC season.

Scheduled for March 22-23, 2024 at Spring Valley, Illinois, on the renowned Illinois River, the two-day event will attract anglers from across the walleye world and serve as a welcome departure as winter loses its grip. Anglers have struggled through the past few months trying to find a place to fish with ever changing ice conditions and record warm weather. The MWC season opener at Spring Valley annually marks the first major walleye event in the country each spring and brings with it a little bit of anticipation to bend some rods and knock off the dust that’s been collecting since last fall. It also serves as a chance to catch up with old friends and make new ones.

Although the Illinois River is known for its phenomenal sauger fishing, there are some big walleyes to be caught. During the March 2023 event last year at the Masters Walleye Circuit and other early events, anglers tied into some big pre-spawn walleyes pushing that 6 plus-pound envelope. It’s no secret at this event, that finding that one big walleye amongst all the quality size saugers can be the key to taking home a trophy and can also make up a lot of ground on day 2.

Beyond the thrill of competition, great payouts including a $10,000 guaranteed minimum first place prize at all 2024 MWC events, and angler camaraderie, this event also plays a vital role in supporting the state’s successful sauger stocking program. The Illinois Department of Natural Resources will once again collaborate with the Masters Walleye Circuits and its angler’s conservation efforts as it has for decades to collect sauger for the state hatchery stocking program as well as DNA samples and eggs, contributing to the conservation and enhancement of these resources.

Event specifics include a 7:30 am (CDT) take-off each day and live weigh-ins at the Spring Valley Boat Club at 3:30 pm (CDT) on March 22-23, 2024. Spectators are welcomed to witness the excitement in person weigh in are free and open to the public, or follow the action live online at masterswalleyecircuit.com or on the official Facebook page, facebook.com/MastersWalleyeCircuit

As part of the 2024 MWC season, anglers will vie for a coveted spot in the 2025 Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s World Walleye Championship in Alexandria, MN. 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. Those earning points in at least four qualifiers compete for “Team of the Year” honors, including a $10,000 sponsorship package and thousands more in cash and prizes to the top 10 teams in the final “best of 4” final standing each year.

While everyone is welcome and encouraged to come and fish all MWC events or just 1 that gets close to you, for a shot at a great payback and prizes, the NEW points structure for 2024 better protects those teams fishing 3 or more events. It is based in part on angler feedback received during previous seasons.  MWC Rule #14 now explains that MWC teams that register for the last two (2) events each year and have not fished any previous MWC events that season, can still fish and win BIG, but with only two possible scores from the last two events they cannot advance so points don’t matter to those anglers and so they will receive none. They do matter to MWC teams who have fished all year and are working on qualifying for the World Walleye Championship (WWC) or a Team of the Year (TOY) titles, their points at the last two events of the season will now be awarded based on their fishing abilities only against others on in same position. I.E. those fishing 3 or more events.

Each MWC event has a lucrative payout which is based on the number of teams entered into that event. New for 2024 is a GUARANTEED minimum $10,000 first place prize at every event. Overall payout is still 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 from Ranger Cup, Lowrance and Okuma will add thousands more for distribution among the field.

Under the umbrella of The Walleye Federation (TWF), the Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s Masters Walleye Circuit is North America’s longest-running and undisputed leader in team walleye tournaments and as an inductee into the freshwater fishing hall of fame, has set the standard for competitive walleye fishing for the past 40 years. The MWC is open to walleye anglers from all walks of life. The 2024 schedule includes seven qualifiers in six states, plus berths into the 2025 Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s MWC World Walleye Championship. Registration is now open for all events. Visit masterswalleyecircuit.com for full details.

Bass Pro Shops & Cabela’s are in their 23rd season as title sponsor of the Masters Walleye Circuit. Official sponsors include: Lowrance Electronics, Mercury Marine, and Ranger Boats. Associate sponsors include: The Walleye Federation, Church Tackle, FishLab, Okuma, and T-H Marine. For more information, email support@masterswalleyecircuit.com, or call (580) 765-9031.

 

Registration for the 2024 Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s Masters Walleye Circuit Opens January 5th

Registration for the 2024 Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s Masters Walleye Circuit Opens January 5th

NEW for 2024! Guaranteed Minimum Winning Payouts.

 

Ponca City, Oklahoma — Dec. 26, 2023 — As winter takes hold across the walleye world, anglers, and fans of the longest running national walleye circuit in North America, The Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s Masters Walleye Circuit (MWC) are looking forward to the 2024 series of events. The goal is not only to finish well at events in 2024 but to earn a berth into the 2025 World Walleye Championship and etch their names into the record books by winning the title of World Walleye Champions. The 2024 qualifying schedule was previously released and is also listed below as a reminder. Additionally, MWC is proud to announce it will be guaranteeing a minimum $10,000 first-place prize to the winners of each MWC qualifying event in the 2024 season!

Registration for the 41st season of MWC opens at 9:00 am (CST), January 5th. Anglers can sign up online at masterswalleyecircuit.com or by calling (580)765-9031.

“It is the industry leading sponsors that partner with MWC that enable us to guarantee payouts like this and to pay back more than 100% entry fees every season in support of MWC anglers.” Stated Kelly Gohman, VP of Sales and Marketing. “Sponsors partners of MWC, and The Walleye Federation (TWF) help provide walleye anglers nationwide a platform to fish, have fun and win big. We are excited to provide stability to MWC Teams in 2024 with the announcement of guaranteed minimums to win a MWC event.”

The Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s Masters Walleye Circuit strives to put competitors on the best waters at the best times available to us when the schedule is being built. Teams will battle it out for hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash and prizes across all qualifying events throughout 2024.  MWC entry fees and TWF membership have not increased in well over a decade and will remain the same for 2024. Each qualifying event has a $650 per team entry fee, and the annual TWF membership is still only $40 per person and includes several perks and benefits.

Here is the 2024 schedule that awaits anglers who wish to try their hands at winning with MWC.

March 22-23, Spring Valley, IL (Illinois River)

April 26-27, Chamberlain, SD (Missouri River)

May 31/June 1, Oshkosh, WI (Lake Winnebago)

June 28-29, Au Gres, MI (Lake Huron)

July 12-13, Geneva, OH (Lake Erie)

August 9-10, Webster, SD (Bitter Lake)

September 13-14 Cass Lake, MN (Cass Lake)

2025 World Walleye Championship – Alexandria, MN (Le Homme Dieu Chain)

MWC will once again offer “Premier Team” status for those teams that sign up for at least (3) events at once, prior to fishing their first event of the year. Premier Team status is our way of saying “Thank You” for the commitment to fishing the Masters Walleye Circuit and comes with multiple benefits such as the use of a pre-designated substitute, delayed billing and more. Teams earning points in at least four qualifiers compete for “Team of The Year” honors, including a $10,000 sponsorship package. NTC spots and thousands more in cash and prizes are awarded and divided by the top ten teams in the TOY race. All teams may fish as many events as they wish during a season and their three (3) best scores are counted toward earning a coveted invitation to the 2025 Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s World Walleye Championship.

Each MWC qualifying event has a lucrative payout which is based on the number of teams entered and is awarded to 20% of the field. As stated, the winner’s prize at all of 2024 events will not be less than $10,000 guaranteed, providing more inspiration to find a partner, sign up and join the fun. Additionally, the big-fish pot, option-pot and sponsor bonuses will add thousands more among the field at each event.

Then in October of 2025, top teams from the 2024 MWC season, “The Toughest Anglers on Planet Earth” will travel to Alexandria, Minnesota. Hosted by Explore Alexandria, the qualified anglers will test their skills during the 2025 World Walleye Championship on the Le Homme Dieu Chain of Lakes, and although we are more than a year away, anticipation for this event is strong. Teams will compete for a chance to take home the coveted titles and trophy of the World Walleye Championship along with their share of a prize purse that should easily exceed $100,000! We encourage you to #ExploreAlex at www.explorealex.com.

Under the umbrella of The Walleye Federation (TWF), the Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s Masters Walleye Circuit is North America’s longest running and undisputed leader in team walleye tournaments and as an inductee into the freshwater fishing hall of fame, has set the standard for competitive walleye fishing for the past 40 years. The MWC is open to walleye anglers from all walks of life. The 2024 schedule includes seven qualifiers in six states, plus berths into the 2025 Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s MWC World Walleye Championship.

Bass Pro Shops & Cabela’s – Are in their 23rd season as title sponsor of the Masters Walleye Circuit. Official sponsors include: Lowrance Electronics, Mercury Marine, Ranger Boats, Dakota Lithium Batteries, and The Walleye Federation. Associate sponsors include Church Tackle, FishLab, Okuma, and T-H Marine. For more information, email support@masterswalleyecircuit.com , or call (580) 765-9031.

 

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2023 Masters Walleye Circuit Team of the Year Race Comes to a Finish Presented by Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s

2023 Masters Walleye Circuit Team of the Year Race Comes to a Finish

 Presented by Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s

Ponca City, Oklahoma – Nov. 1, 2023 – Seasoned walleye pros Sam Cappelli (Poland, OH) and Tony Karrick (Elgin, IL) came to fish the very first Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s Masters Walleye Circuit (MWC) event in March of 2023 in Spring Valley, IL in hopes that they could get a good start to their tournament season and learn something new away from their home waters of Lake Erie and the rest of the Great Lakes. Little did they know on their drive over in March that they would come away from that tournament as victors and start a new challenge with traveling across the country and chasing points while competing against the “Toughest Anglers on Planet Earth” in search of that coveted Team of the Year (TOY) trophy and the title of 2023 MWC TOY champions.

Cappelli and Karrick fished a total of five regular season events. They finished 1st in Spring Valley, 10th in Monroe, 13th in Lorain, 2nd in Oconto, and 46th in Cass Lake. Combined, they totaled 614 points from their top four finishes in the 2023 MWC season.

“We didn’t know what to expect coming into the season. Tony lives in Illinois and we thought that this would be a good time to knock the dust off and get a jump-start on the season. We never dreamed we’d win the first tournament of the season, let alone go on to win Team of the Year against some of the best walleye teams in the country.” said Cappelli.

Cappelli and Karrick are no strangers to competitive walleye fishing. The duo also competes in multiple other Walleye Federation (TWF) events on the Great Lakes each year and can be seen on various social media outlets with big walleyes during almost every month of the year out on Lake Erie and on other waters around the Midwest.

Teams fishing at least four MWC qualifiers compete for Team of the Year awards. The top prize is a $10,000 MWC Living the Dream package that includes paid entry fees into four 2024 MWC tournaments, lodging, cash stipends and more. Cappelli and Karrick also earned a berth in the 2024 Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s MWC World Walleye Championship in Alpena, MI on Lake Huron. The next four finishers in the Team of the Year Race each received a paid entry in the Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s National Team Championship (NTC); plus, teams fishing second through 10th divided up $10,000 in cash and Bass Pro Shops gift cards.

Rounding out the rest of the top five teams:

2nd: Adam Hume and Mike Karner 610 points

3rd: Wayne Butz and Joseph Sommers 606 points

4th: Peter Mart and Dave Lester 579 points

5th: Tom and Scott Albrecht 565 points

Under the umbrella of The Walleye Federation (TWF), the Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s Masters Walleye Circuit is North America’s longest running and undisputed leader in team walleye tournaments and as an inductee into the freshwater fishing hall of fame, has set the standard for competitive walleye fishing for the past 39 years and has directly donated hundreds of thousands and helped raise millions of dollars to support walleye & conservation programs nationwide. The MWC is open to walleye anglers from all walks of life and always pays back more than 100% of entry fees in cash and prizes each season. The 2024 schedule has been announced and includes seven qualifiers in six states, including events at Spring Valley, IL. Chamberlin, SD, Oshkosh, WI, Au Gres, MI, Geneva, OH, and Cass Lake, MN, plus a berth into the 2025 Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s MWC World Walleye Championship, make plans now to fish the MWC in 2024!

Bass Pro Shops & Cabela’s – The World’s Foremost Outfitters, are in their 22nd season as the title sponsor of the Masters Walleye Circuit. Official sponsors include: Lowrance Electronics, Mercury Marine, Ranger Boats, and Dakota Lithium Batteries. Associate sponsors include: The Walleye Federation, Church Tackle, FishLab, Okuma, Power-Pole and T-H Marine. For more information, or to sign-up visit the MWC website at www.masterswalleyecircuit.com or call the national office at 580-765-9031 or email support@masterswalleyecircuit.com.

2023 Masters Walleye Circuit World Walleye Championship Winners Crowned on Lake Sharpe Presented by Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s

2023 Masters Walleye Circuit World Walleye Championship Winners Crowned on Lake Sharpe Presented by Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s

Pierre, South Dakota – October 8th, 2023 – Just like it has for the last 40 years, the 2023 Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s Masters Walleye Circuit (MWC) season ended with a contest to see who would take home the most coveted and longest running titles and trophies in the walleye world and have their name forever engraved into the history books as World Walleye Champions.  There was money and prizes up for grabs as well and lots of it totaling a staggering $115,622, all 50 individual anglers would earn a prize check, they only question left to decide was how much.

The grand finale, unfolded on the picturesque shores of Lake Sharpe, Pierre, South Dakota. Limited to only the top 25 best of the best teams in competitive walleye fishing, all 25 teams were trying to put their names into the record books by securing the win.

Leading up to the championship, participants were greeted by beautiful weather and gentle breezes. However, mother nature had other plans as the tournament kickoff neared. A formidable cold front descended from the north ushering in winds that would test the mettle of even the most seasoned anglers. Gusts in excess of 30 mph, coupled with steadily plummeting temperatures, characterized the first two days of the event. Undaunted by the elements, the “Toughest Anglers on Planet Earth” embarked on a three-day quest to showcase their prowess on Lake Sharpe. While a cold front typically causes walleyes to slow their feeding, the fall season presents a unique opportunity as these fish senses the impending, harsh winter and they embarked on a feeding frenzy for many of the anglers.

Some teams reported bountiful catches during the tournament, a few boasting over 50 walleyes each day, size was the problem. On the tournament’s first day, the Premier team of Kaiden Dorris (Huron, SD) and Mark Schoning (Colorado Springs, CO) distinguished themselves, amassing a commendable bag of 12-15 lbs. to seize the lead.

Day two, tested the resilience of the competitors. By day’s end, another team of contenders merged. Premier team, Tom Sieburg (Yutan, NE) and Curtis McCormick (Gurley, NE), ascended to the top of the leaderboard on day two, with an impressive 16-09 lbs. which was the heftiest sack of the tournament.

The final day greeted anglers with serene winds and comfortable temperatures, providing ideal conditions for the ultimate showdown. Sieburg and McCormick started the day from Down’s Marina and was able to maintaining their lead, clinching the championship.

Tom Sieburg shared his insights on their strategy, stating, “During most of practice, we concentrated our efforts further downriver. After day one, when we fell short on weight, we ventured upriver, near the dam, in search of bigger fish. Although we hadn’t practiced much in that area, the changing weather conditions called for a change in tactics. We employed lead-core trolling with big stick baits in depths of up to 30 feet, keeping our baits within five feet of the bottom. We caught a lot of fish on day two, but day three brought a completely different challenge, we on caught about seven fish all day. Thankfully, they were the right fish!”

As the scales settled, the Nebraska duo secured their place in Masters Walleye Circuit history, emerging victorious with a three-day total of 36-01 lbs. The win, commemorating the 40th anniversary of the circuit, forever etched their titles of World Walleye Champions and a prize package worth $20,949. The haul included $16,000 in cash, two Custom WWC Rings, two Okuma reels, and a Lowrance Ghost Trolling motor valued at $3,749, in addition to Championship Trophies.

Here is how the rest of the top five World Walleye Championship teams finished:

2nd Place: Jason Stahl and Jeremy Roe with 32-14 lbs., $8,000 cash and a Power Pole Pro II worth $1,800.

3rd Place: Corey Rost and Ryan Danforth with 32-14 lbs., $5,000 cash and a Lowrance Elite TI 7 worth $900.

4th Place: Mike Dorris and Douglas McDonough with 30-01 lbs., $3,000 cash.

5th Place: Kevin Dahl and Travis Pisarek with 28-08 lbs., $2,750 cash.

The Dakota Lithium Come-Back award celebrated the 5th place team of Kevin Dahl and Travis Pisarek, who moved up on the final day with a weight change of 9-11 lbs. This achievement garnered them three (3) Dakota Lithium 135ah deep cycle/marine starting/trolling motor batteries along with chargers, valued at $4,296.

Throughout the championship on Lake Sharpe, participating teams showcased their skills, collectively reeling in a total of 333 fish over three days, weighing an impressive 574-02 lbs. The Sieburg and McCormick duo clinched both the largest sack of the tournament at 16-09 lbs. and the largest individual fish, weighing in at 7-13 lbs.

Under the umbrella of The Walleye Federation (TWF), the Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s Masters Walleye Circuit is North America’s longest-running and undisputed leader in team walleye tournaments and as an inductee into the freshwater fishing hall of fame, has set the standard for competitive walleye fishing for the past 39 years and has directly donated hundreds of thousands and helped raise millions of dollars to support walleye & conservation programs nationwide. The MWC is open to walleye anglers from all walks of life and always pays back more than 100% of entry fees in cash and prizes each season. The 2024 schedule is announced and includes seven qualifiers in six states, including events at Spring Valley, IL. Chamberlin, SD, Oshkosh, WI, Au Gres, MI, Geneva, OH, and Cass Lake, MN, plus a berth into the 2025 Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s MWC World Walleye Championship, make plans now to fish the MWC in 2024!

Bass Pro Shops & Cabela’s – The World’s Foremost Outfitters, are in their 22nd season as the title sponsor of the Masters Walleye Circuit. Official sponsors include: Lowrance Electronics, Mercury Marine, Ranger Boats, and Dakota Lithium Batteries. Associate sponsors include: The Walleye Federation, Church Tackle, FishLab, Okuma, Power-Pole and T-H Marine. For more information, or to sign-up visit the MWC website at www.masterswalleyecircuit.com or call the national office at 580-765-9031 or email support@masterswalleyecircuit.com.