Cabela’s MWC World Walleye Championship Set For Devils Lake, North Dakota, Oct. 9-11

mwc30For Immediate Release –

Ponca City, Okla.—Sept. 26, 2014—North America’s top two-person walleye-fishing teams will clash on the High Plains paradise of Devils Lake, North Dakota, Oct. 9-11 at the Cabela’s Masters Walleye Circuit’s 2014 World Walleye Championship.

Along with a chance to claim the celebrated title of  “World Walleye Champions,” the event offers more than $100,000 in cash and prizes, plus sponsor contingencies including Ranger Cup, Berkley Baits, Lowrance Electronics, Optima True Blue and the Zippo Hot Hands Big Fish Award add thousands more to the total.

Teams qualified for the 2014 World Walleye Championship by earning points during the 2013 Cabela’s MWC season at 10 world-class destinations from Colorado’s Pueblo Reservoir to Lake Erie out of Huron, Ohio. Each spot in the field is by invitation-only, carries no entry fee, and is coveted among walleye tournament anglers.

Rich in fishing talent, the field is led by the 2013 Cabela’s MWC Team of the Year, Wisconsin’s Derek Navis, of Waupun, and Korey Sprengel, of Beaver Dam. Teams will compete three days for the largest total weight. They are allowed to bring their five best walleyes to the Cabela’s MWC stage each day, and under the Circuit’s catch-and-release format, the fish will be released back into Devils Lake.

Walleye fans of all ages are invited to watch the drama unfold live at the weigh-ins, which are free and open to the public. The festivities begin at 4 p.m. daily at Grahams Island State Park. Immediately following Friday’s weigh-in, the Cabela’s MWC, National Professional Anglers Association, Pure Fishing and Zippo Outdoor Brands will present a Youth & Family Fishing Clinic. The first 50 youths will receive rod-and-reel combos courtesy of the NPAA.

Adding to the excitement, on-the-water and weigh-in action will be filmed for national television airing on Federation Angler, on NBC Sports and the Pursuit Channel.

Under the umbrella of The Walleye Federation (TWF), the Cabela’s MWC is open to avid walleye anglers from all walks of life. The 2014 trail included 10 qualifiers spread across seven states. Teams showcased their skills—and sponsor products—at world-class venues such as the Illinois, Detroit and Mississippi rivers, Green Bay, Big Stone Lake, Kinzua Reservoir, and wind down the regular season on the fertile waters of Lake Erie.

Cabela’s, the World’s Foremost Outfitter for hunting, fishing and outdoor gear, is concluding its 12th season as title sponsor of the MWC. Official sponsors include: Berkley Gulp!, Lowe Equipment Attachments, Lowrance Electronics, Mercury Marine, MotorGuide, Ranger Boats, The Walleye Federation and Zippo Outdoor Brands. Associate sponsors include: Berkley Trilene, Church Tackle, Lindy Legendary Fishing Tackle, Optima Batteries, Rockstar Hitch Mounted Mud Flaps, T-H Marine and Sea Grant. For more information, visit masterswalleyecircuit.com, email info@masterswalleyecircuit.com, or call (580) 765-9031.

SWC Little Sturgeon Qualifier.

As we approached mid-July here in Wisconsin, everyone assumes we are going to be looking at several weeks of upper 80 degree temperatures and some days in the 90’s and water temps pushing upper 70’s on the surface.  That thought gets us Big Fish Walleye Chasers jacked up about finding fish hanging off the deep structures of the northern parts of Green Bay.  This strange year we are having has thrown us many curveballs so far on the water so why would we think that July 20th for our Tournament out of Little Sturgeon would be anything different.

The scuttlebutt among the ranks was that absolutely nothing was biting to the north and the water was still loaded with Baitfish and cooler temps.   There was a solid bite happening down to the south but we all had to contend with a southern boundary line and hope the active fish stayed north of that line.

Once the boats were checked in and the release was counted off almost everyone turned south around Henderson’s Point and headed for open water.

The one nice break we all caught was that the forecasted stronger south winds held off for the day until all the teams made it back to the weigh in site.

As the SWC has proven many times in the past we all can catch fish no matter what the conditions and this day was no exception with only a couple teams not weighing any fish.  Teams shared reports of fish being caught on both cranks and harnesses as they weighed in their fish. Continue reading

Fishing is Fun! In Nebraska holds final tournaments

NE walleye

The Nebraska Walleye Association Kids Fishing Clinics Charity, Inc. sponsored four tournaments in 2014.  The first two were held at the Lewis & Clark Reservoir near Crofton, NE. on May 3 & 4.  The last were held at Merritt Reservoir near Valentine, NE. on July 26 & 27.

Two totally different types of fisheries and a change from late spring to summer patterns presented challenges for the tournament teams and on all days the winning teams used different presentations to overcome that.  At Lewis & Clark the team of Jason Hettler and Brandon Shada had a two day total of 27.23 pounds.  At Merritt the team of Mike Means and Chad Warriner had a two day total of 34.63 pounds.

The top three team finishers after this four tournament format are: Mike Means/Chad Warriner, Russ Glassoff/Rich McShane, and Chuck Pavelka/Will Pavelka.  Congratulations to these teams and they will be offered the opportunity to fish in the 2015 NTC at Milford Lake.

This organization is a 501 (c) (3) public charity that promotes fishing education and conservation in Nebraska to over 2000 youth annually.  Fishing is Fun! is the catch phrase used to conduct 15-20 kids fishing clinics across the state.  Each participant receives hands on fishing instruction from state certified volunteers and is given a free rod/reel/tackle box combination to take fishing.  The only entry required to fish in these tournaments is to volunteer at the kids fishing clinic held at the tournament site. At the Lewis & Clark Crofton Clinic 45 kids learned how to fish and one of them Eli Anderson 3 years old won a youth lifetime Nebraska hunting/fishing permit courtesy of the Fishing is Fun! kids’ charity.  At the Merritt Reservoir the kid’s charity partnered with the Nebraska Game & Parks, The Bass Federation, and the Nebraska Walleye Association to sponsor a Family Fishing Event. This allowed families to come and enjoy the sport of fishing as all equipment, bait, and instruction was available free of charge. The Nebraska State HS Bass Fishing Championship and the Nebraska Walleye Association State Championship were both going on during this weekend which provided a unique opportunity and backdrop for this event.

Crofton Fishing is Fun!

Lucky Eli Anderson

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A big thanks to all who make: Fishing is Fun! in Nebraska.

Merritt Open and State Championship

 

The Nebraska Walleye Association held its last qualifying tournament and state championship of the 2014 season at Merritt Reservoir near Valentine Nebraska on July 26 and 27.  The tournament was held in conjunction with The Bass Federation’s high school state championship on Saturday June 26.  Rules meeting for the event were held at Beed’s Landing on Friday night June 25.  The rules meeting for this weekend included a fish fry, sides and cold beverages for all the participants provided for by the NWA tournament division.

27 teams participated at the tournament on Saturday June 26.  The weather was very stable and the bite for the entire field was very good.  The 1st place team on Saturday was Green and Anderson with a weight of 25.73 lbs, 2nd place went to the father/son team of Hankla’s with a weight of 23.53 lbs. and rounding out the top three were the team of Smutny/Smutny with 23 lbs.  Congratulations to these top teams.

Saturday was the last qualifying point’s tournament for the NWA.  This year’s Top Gun winners were the team of Brandon Shada and Jason Hettler.  Jason and Brandon had a fantastic year and barely beat out the father son team of Rick Smutny and Dalton Smutny.  Congratulations, goes out to these fine men.

The second day of the tournament is the NWA’s state championship.   Sunday brought cooler conditions and a slower bite.  The top team on Sunday was the father son team of Rowland/Rowland, who participated in the bass tournament on Saturday.  2nd place honors went to Chad Warriner and Lane Werner.  Round out the top team were the team of Hankla and Hankla.  Congratulations, goes out to these fine teams.

The first tournament for the 2015 season for the NWA will be held October 5, 2014 at Harlan Reservoir.  Saturday, October 4, at The Beach Bar and Grill will be the rules meeting.

The NWA had a very fun year fishing around the state and nation together but we did have some serious bump in the road.  Two very good friends of the NWA lost their lives this year.  Big prayer for Rick Hesse and Austin Olivier as you both will be missed but never forgotten.  God Bless you two.

DAY 1 RESULTS

DAY 2 RESULTS

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