–Presented by Zippo
JULY 19, 2012—MINNETONKA, MN—Last August, two solid baskets lifted Joe and John Giuliani to victory against more than 120 anglers from eight states and one Canadian province competing in the Cabela’s Masters Walleye Circuit’s East Division season finale on the St. Mary’s River.
In doing so, the brothers earned $11,250 for first place, plus another $2,500 in Sponsor Contingencies and Big Fish Pot earnings. And we’re headed back again next month to see who tops the field this time around! The team-format tournament is open to all anglers regardless of club or sponsor affiliation; join us August 24-26th as we visit the legendary St. Mary’s River at Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan.
A full field of 200 boats would yield more than $100,000 in cash payouts. Plus, sponsor contingencies from Cabela’s, Ranger Boats, Lowrance, Berkley, Okuma, U2/The Oxygenator and the Big Fish Pot add thousands more to the total. To top it off, weigh-ins and on-the-water action will be filmed for national airing on the NBC Sports Television Network as part of the Cabela’s MWC TV series.
Via the Circuit’s parent company, North American Media Group, tournament coverage also extends to North American Fisherman magazine—which serves more than 3 million readers, including 500,000 members of the North American Fishing Club—as well as 79,000 Fishing Club Facebook fans and a host of other media outlets. “This is a great chance to show the world the great fishing, community support and fantastic anglers the Sault Ste. Marie area has to offer,” MWC Director Dan Johnson adds.
The public is invited to the weigh-ins, which will be held at William Gregory Park in Sault Ste. Marie, starting at 3 p.m. (EST) daily. Plus, children 12 and under can enjoy a Youth & Family Fishing Clinic, held immediately after the Day One weigh-in. The Cabela’s MWC, National Professional Anglers Association, Pure Fishing and Zippo Outdoor Brands will present the clinic awarding the first 50 youths free rod and reel combos, and offer fishing lessons with the anglers. One lucky family also will win a Zippo Family Camping Pack valued at more than $100.
Walleyes were winners as well. The Cabela’s MWC will donate $15 per boat to walleye conservation, for its efforts to protect and enhance the local fishery. Since 1984, the Circuit and its sister trail, the Cabela’s North American Bass Circuit, have donated more than $300,000 to fisheries-enhancement projects in states where its tournaments are held.
This is set to be the eighth of nine Cabela’s MWC qualifying tournaments in 2012. Open to diehard anglers regardless of club or sponsor affiliation, the remaining schedule for 2012 includes Lake Oahe at Pierre, South Dakota, July 28-29; the St. Mary’s River at Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, August 24-26; and Cass Lake, Minnesota, out of Stony Point Resort, Sept. 14-16.
The Cabela’s MWC registration costs $650 per tournament per two-person team, and remains open through the Sunday prior to each event. Payouts are based on the number of teams fishing each event. Overall in 2011, the Circuit paid back more than 120 percent of entry fees in cash payouts, team of the year awards, sponsor contingencies and winnings in the no-entry-fee Cabela’s MWC World Walleye Championship. To register or for details, call (877) 893-7947 ext. 4; visit www.masterswalleyecircuit.com, or email events@masterswalleyecircuit.com.
Founded in 1984, the Cabela’s MWC is the oldest team tournament circuit in the walleye world. It has a rich history of intense competition on top destinations, plus youth outreach and a lasting legacy of conservation. 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!, Ranger Boats, Mercury Marine, MotorGuide, Lowrance, Zippo, NBC Sports Television Network and North American Fisherman. Associate Sponsors include: Berkley Trilene, Okuma, O2 Marine Technologies, Reflections, The Walleye Federation, Gemini Sport Marketing and RPM Outdoor Sports.
