Klepacki, Miller Win 14th Annual Cabela’s National Team Championship

Klepacki, Miller Win 14th Annual Cabela’s National Team Championship

Junction City, Kansas—May 30, 2015—Illinois’ Ed Klepacki and Jim Miller put together a three-day total weight of 43 pounds, 9 ounces to top the 185-team field battling on Kansas’ Milford Lake in the 2015 Cabela’s National Team Championship.

NTC winners

“This is incredible—it’s the greatest feeling in the world!” said Klepacki, of Wonder Lake. “It’s unbelievable,” added Miller, of Angle Side, seconds after claiming the crown in an exciting finish that saw them weigh in last and slip past the hard charging second-place finishers, Nebraskans Scott Willis, of Shelton, and Ben Seim, of Kearney, who brought in 42 pounds, 7 ounces.

For their efforts, Klepacki and Miller collected $30,000 in cash plus a $68,000 Evinrude E-Tec powered 620 Ranger boat.

A three-day event held May 28-30, the Cabela’s NTC is widely regarded as the pinnacle of grassroots walleye tournaments. It is comprised of two-person teams that qualified through competition in local tournaments organized by walleye clubs sanctioned by The Walleye Federation.

The full field competed on the first two days. Each team was allowed to bring their best five fish to the scale each day. Competition was intense, as only the top 25 teams would advance to the final round on day three.

Klepacki and Miller rode a crankbait trolling pattern to victory lane, but they didn’t start out in pole position. On day one, they brought three fish weighing a total of 11 pounds, 10 ounces to the scale to land in a respectable 11th place. Though they trailed day one leaders Bill Kunze and Greg Belgum, both of Kearney, Nebraska, by more than 12 pounds, they remained optimistic and determined to finish strong.

“We were trolling an old railroad bed, keying mainly on an 8- to 12-foot ledge,” Miller reported. “Our top baits were 2¾-inch Berkley Flicker Shads in Cabela’s exclusive colors of Reverse Cougar and Chartreuse Growler,” added Klepacki. While long-lining their baits behind the boat, the pair experimented with trolling speeds from 1.2 to 3 mph. Klepacki noted that slower speeds produced their biggest fish.

On day two, they tallied a monster 5-fish basket weighing 24 pounds, 2 ounces to rocket up the leaderboard, while Kunze and Belgum faltered with just one fish for 3 pounds, 3 ounces. “Everything fell into place,” said Miller.

But there would be no coasting to victory, as a punishing weather system put their fish in a funk headed into day three. “It was tough,” Miller added. Indeed, they put just two keepers in the livewell, and were doubtful their catch would be enough to take the crown.

“I honestly didn’t think we had enough to win it,” Klepacki confided. But when the scale settled a final time in front of a roaring crowd gathered at Milford Lake Marina, he and Miller’s 7-pound, 13-ounce day three weight pushed them over the top.

In second place, Willis and Seim pocketed $12,500 in cash. They also brought home a brand-new Evinrude E-Tec powered 620 Ranger boat valued at $68,000 for finishing first in the Ranger Cup contingency program.

Rounding out the top five were:

3rd: Lorin Skipper and Justin Skipper, 33-15, $10,000 cash
4th: Bill Kunze and Greg Belgum, 29-15, $8,000 cash
5th: Jason Lemke and Scott Knouf, 29-12, $7,000 cash

Along with the two Evinrude E-Tec powered Ranger 620 boats valued at $136,000, the Cabela’s NTC paid out $121,000 in cash to the top 50 teams, and $14,600 in Cabela’s gift cards to the remainder of the field. In addition, the top 25 teams earned the title of “Cabela’s All-Americans” and received commemorative rings marking their achievement.

top 25 NTC

Another $1,000 in Cabela’s gift cards were awarded for big fish and big basket honors. On day one, the $250 GEICO Big Basket Award went to Bill Kunze and Greg Belgum for their 23-pound, 15-ounce catch. Shane Sparby and Evan Schatz earned the day one $250 Evinrude Big Fish Award for their 7.14-pound walleye. On day two, Klepacki and Miller won the $250 Ranger Boats Big Basket Award for their 24-pound, 2-ounce limit, while Paul Horwath and Bill Chesslo collected the $250 Pepsi Big Fish Award for a 7.13-pound walleye.

A total of 432 walleyes weighing 1,319 pounds, 6 ounces crossed the scale during the catch-and-release format championship. Adding to the excitement, the event was streamed live on the internet at cabelas.com/ntc and was also filmed for national television, to air in early August on “Americana Outdoors” on NBC Sports, the Pursuit Channel and other regional networks. Exact dates and airtimes will be announced at walleyefederation.com.

A Kid’s Fishing Clinic was held immediately following the day one weigh-in; youngsters got to meet NTC competitors and received free rod-and-reel combos courtesy of Cabela’s and The Walleye Federation.

The 2015 Milford Lake event marked the 14th edition of the Cabela’s NTC. Sponsors included Ranger Boats, Evinrude, Geico, Power-Pole and Pepsi. The Walleye Federation, based in Ponca City, Oklahoma, managed and produced the event, including the qualifying process. For details on this year’s festivities or the 2016 championship, visit walleyefederation.com, or call (580) 765-9031

For final results CLICK HERE

For the photo galleries CLICK HERE

LIVE Video of each days weigh ins CLICK HERE

2015 Cabelas NTC LIVE from Milford Lake and Junction City, Kansas Day 3 – TOP 25

 

new-cabelas-ntc-blue-letters

Live Leaderboard CLICK HERE

 

LIVE streaming Video CLICK HERE

 

2015 NTC Milford Day 1 Results

Day 2 Results! CLICK HERE

Day 2 Photo galleries CLICK HERE

14th Annual Cabela’s National Team Championship Set For Kansas’ Milford Lake May 27-30

14th Annual Cabela’s National Team Championship
Set For Kansas’ Milford Lake May 27-30new-cabelas-ntc-blue-letters

Ponca City, Okla.—May 19, 2015—Walleye warriors from across North America will converge on Milford Lake, Kansas, May 27-30 to battle for top honors and high-stakes payouts in the 2015 Cabela’s National Team Championship.

Widely regarded as the walleye world’s premier grassroots championship, the Cabela’s NTC is comprised of teams that qualified through competition in local tournaments organized by walleye clubs sanctioned by The Walleye Federation.

The 2015 event on Milford Lake marks the 14th edition of the prestigious championship; 185 two-person teams will vie for ultimate bragging rights and more than $274,000 in cash and prizes. First prize is $30,000 in cash plus a $68,000 Evinrude E-Tec powered 620 Ranger boat. A second Ranger and E-Tec combo will be awarded through the Ranger Cup contingency, meaning the victors could take home more than $160,000 in cash and prizes.

In all, the Cabela’s NTC pays out $121,000 in cash to the top 50 teams, $14,600 in Cabela’s gift cards to the remainder of the field, and $1,000 in Cabela’s gift cards for big fish and big basket awards. In addition, the top 25 teams earn the title of “Cabela’s All-Americans” and received commemorative rings marking their achievement.

The entire field will compete the first two days on the 16,000-acre reservoir. Each team will be allowed to bring their best five fish to the scale each day. Competition will be fierce, as only the top 25 teams advance to the final round on day three.

Walleye fans are invited to cheer on their favorite teams when they take off from Milford Lake Marina each morning at 7 a.m., then watch the action unfold in person at the weigh-ins, which begin at 3 p.m. daily. Adding to the excitement, the event will be streamed live on the internet at cabelas.com/ntc and also filmed for national television, to air in early August on “Americana Outdoors” on NBC Sports, the Pursuit Channel and other regional networks. Exact dates and airtimes will be announced at walleyefederation.com.

A Kid’s Fishing Clinic will be held immediately following the day one weigh-in; youngsters will get to meet NTC competitors and the first 100 kids will receive free rod-and-reel combos courtesy of Cabela’s and The Walleye Federation.

Cabela’s NTC sponsors include Ranger Boats, Evinrude, Geico, Power-Pole and Pepsi. The Walleye Federation, based in Ponca City, Oklahoma, manages and produces the event, including the qualifying process. For details, visit walleyefederation.com, or call (580) 765-9031.

Big Bite At Berlin

The morning rains didn’t intimidate the 31 boat field in Walleye Madness Tournaments 2nd event at Berlin Lake. Participants were spread out throughout the lake using many different techniques to catch their five best walleye to bring up to the scales.

berlinFirst Place was captured by the team Sam Cappelli and Ted Jackson. Sam and Ted hauled a nice 18.05# bag. Sam and Ted also collected $150 Mercury Contingency Bonus with being the highest finishing boat equipped with a Mercury. Chris Durkin and Anthony Naples who brought 17.55# to the scales just edged out Nate Arnold and Bret Berkey who were right behind for a 3rd place finish with a 17.50# bag.
Durkin and Naples picked up the Lund Contingency worth $150 with being the highest finishing Lund Boat. Marion Erb and Robert Burkholder grabbed 4th place with a strong 16.90# bag. James Dean and Jeff Metzger rounded off the top 5. The $200 Buckeye Sports Center Big Fish Bonus went to the team of Ryan Cecil and Brock Stence with a monster 7.05# walleye.

Many teams reported catching their fish with jig and worm/minnow combos. Working the shorelines on both north and south ends of the lake. Pitching up into the willows in 1-8 foot of water seemed to hold the bigger fish. Teams trolling targeted suspended fish in 30-50 feet of water using #5 flicker shads. Trolling speeds up to 2.7 mph.

Walleye Madness Tournaments are sponsored by Buckeye Sports Center, Lund Boats and Mercury Marine. The series offers no-membership fee required 100% payout tournaments, plus $500 per event in sponsor bonuses. Cabela’s National Team Championship qualifying is provided by the series affiliation with the national organization The Walleye Federation.

Next up for Walleye Madness is our June 6th Lake Erie Cleveland event out of  Wildwood Park.

For more information contact:
Greg Bentz
Tournament Director-Walleye Madness Tornaments
(440) 390-8054
Info@walleyemadness.net
Walleyemadness.net