Schine, Mikeska win at 2020 Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s National Team Championship on Lake Winnebago

Oshkosh, Wisc. —Sept 30, 2020—Weighing the tournament’s largest bag of fish on day-2 set Jason Schine (Antioch, IL) and Bradley Mikeska (Genoa City, WI) on a course to win nearly $101,000 in cash and prizes and the Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s National team Championship, September 24-26th on Wisconsin’s Lake Winnebago.

Presented by Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s and hosted by the Oshkosh CVB, the three-day championship showcased over 440 of North America’s finest walleye anglers competing in two-person teams that qualified for the event through local walleye tournaments organized by clubs and circuits sanctioned by The Walleye Federation.

After a sunny and calm day one, Schine and Mikeska found themselves with 6-12 and in 16th place. It was day two that set them apart from the rest of the field.

The second day of competition saw breezy conditions across the Lake Winnebago system that included the Fox and Wolf rivers and upper lakes of Poygan and Butt des Morts. Jason and Brad rode out the wind and waves on the main lake securing the events largest 5-fish weight of 10-04. With at total weight of 17-00 headed into the final day, the team had a near 3-pound advantage over 2nd place, Robert Claus (Green Bay, WI) and Jason Noworatzky (Fond Du Lac, WI).

Claus and Noworatzky had strong outings in both of the first two days of the tournament securing 14-04 after two days of fishing. Loaded with local knowledge of the waters and consistent weights, they once again gave no room for error at the final weigh-in, placing 9-01 on the scale for total weight of 23-05.

As Schine and Mikeska walked up to the stage for the final time they needed their basket of 5 fish to weigh at least 6-06. The team eclipsed the mark weighing 7-01 for a total weight of 24-01 and solidifying their names forever as National Team Champions.

For the hard-earned win, Schine and Mikeska took home over $100,995 in winnings, including the $25,000 first-place cash paycheck, a brand-new Mercury 250-powered Ranger 621 valued at $75,995 and the $250 Day Two Mercury Big Basket Award.

Robert Claus and Jason Noworatzky finished the weekend in second place with 23-05. They earned $10,000 cash for their efforts.

Rounding out the top five were:

3rd: Nicholas Kotowski and Zachariah Workman, 22-03, $8,000 cash, Ranger Cup Bonus Ranger 620/Mercury 250 $75,995, $250 Day One Ranger Big Basket

4th: Jesse Proffitt and Ron Turner, 20-04, $6,000 cash

5th: Josh and Don Wiesner, 20-03, $5,000 cash

 

The Bass Pro Shop and Cabela’s NTC offers a lucrative payback of more than 425% of entry fees. Teams shared $256,492 in cash and prizes, plus 50 custom Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s All-American rings, trophies, plaques and more.

Another $1,000 in Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s gift cards were awarded for big fish and big basket honors. Joseph Jennings and Marlon Trible took home Big Fish honors on day one with a 5-02 Winnebago walleye while as mentioned before Nicholas Kotowski and Zachariah Workman won for Big Basket. On day two as noted above winners Jason Schine and Bradley Mikeska had the Big Basket but bringing in a respectable 5-03 fish was Chantry Cunning and Aaron Rachel earning them the $250 Walleye Federation Big Fish award.

A total of 649 walleyes weighing 973-06 graced the scales in Oshkosh, WI at beautiful Menominee Park.

The 2020 event marked the 19th edition of the prestigious Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s NTC, which annually draws hundreds of avid walleye anglers from across the U.S. and Canada.

Adding to the excitement, weigh-ins were streamed live online at walleyefederation.com and facebook.com/thewalleyefederation. The action was also filmed for national television airing on “Americana Outdoors” and the Pursuit Channel. Dates and airtimes will be announced at walleyefederation.com.

Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s NTC sponsors include Cabela’s, Bass Pro Shops, Ranger Boats, Mercury and TWF.

Based in Ponca City, Oklahoma, The Walleye Federation manages the qualifying process and co-produces the event alongside the Bass Pro Shops Cabela’s Corporate Brand Partnership Team. Qualifying for the 2021 Bass Pro Shop and Cabela’s NTC is now under way. For details, visit walleyefederation.com, or call (580) 765-9031.

New Indiana Walleye Club and Tournament Series, Crossroads Walleye Trail, has its first ever event at Brookville Lake!

New Indiana Walleye Club and Tournament Series, Crossroads Walleye Trail, has its first ever event at Brookville Lake!

Brookville Lake – August 9, 2020 – Crossroads Walleye Trail (www.crossroadswalleye.com) embarked on their first ever Brookville Lake walleye tournament this past Sunday. The event drew 24 teams of walleye anglers from all over Indiana and Ohio, some traveling from as far away as the IN / IL border! However, it was Connorsville, IN father and son team Luke & Mark Isaacs that were crowned the champions of the August 9th event. Luke and Mark weighed in 3 of 5 walleye for 12.38lbs! They also won the “big fish” prize with a 5.51 Brookville Lake walleye! Luke & Mark made a clean sweep of the event and also earned a sidepot bid at the Bass Pro Shops / Cabela’s National Team Championship in 2021. Second place went to Rushville, IN brother team Mike & Bobby Chandler who brought in 6.88lbs. Third place was captured by Brookville, IN team Leroy Arvin & Matt Brennan. See the full results below.

Founded in 2019, Crossroads Walleye Trail, LLC (CWT) is a sanctioned club member of national organization The Walleye Federation. Wanting to build something fresh with a focus on its club members and state level walleye biology, CWT’s founding members set out to create a club that offers a new option to anglers throughout Indiana and the Midwest region. “We are dedicated to professionalism, great camaraderie, and exceptional competition,” says PR Director, Joey Buttram. The organization aims to help bridge the gap between area anglers and the Indiana Department of Natural Resources. In their first year this series has averaged 21 boats per event, and have registered over 70 members from 4 states to their club.

CWT has completed its regular season leading up to the August 9th Brookville event with tournaments at Prairie Creek Reservoir – Muncie, IN on May 31st, Winona Lake – Warsaw, IN on June 14th, and Summit Lake – New Castle, IN on July 19th. You can visit their website at crossroadswalleye.com to see those results.

The next CWT event is their 2-day championship at Brookville Lake on October 10th & 11th, which is an invitational only event. The championship will have a live weigh in on Facebook, but the series encourages interested parties to come be a part of the festivities. Weigh times and more information can be found on their website.

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you are interested in joining CWT or learning more about their organization, please send a message to crossroadswalleyetrail@gmail.com, or visit their website at crossroadswalleye.com

Contact Info: Crossroads Walleye Trail, LLC, Attn: Joey Buttram, PR Director, 317.691.3470, crossroadswalleyetrail@gmail.com, www.crossroadswalleye.com 

Nebraska Walleye Association, McConaughy Reservoir Open, Lemoyne, NE

Nebraska Walleye Association

McConaughy Reservoir Open

Lemoyne, NE July 18-19, 2020

McConaughy came with its own challenges as the weather was projected to be extremely hot, but overall, the heat stayed away, and some great fishing occurred. The trees were hungry as well as they ate a lot of bait the past weekend. I think they are sponsored by a lot of bait shops and do a great job helping them out.

A total of 137 walleye were caught for a total weight of 465.21 lbs. for this tournament. On Saturday, Marie Wadas and Curt Baker landed a nice fish of 7.17 lbs. to win the big fish prize. Sunday’s big fish was 8.55 lbs. caught by Randy Stamp and Tom Sammons.

For this tournament we paid five positions. In fifth place, Rick and Richard Waldron had 31.81 lbs. with 8 fish. Fourth place team Jim Knaggs and Chris Colindres had 33.54 lbs. with ten fish. Third place team Adam Miller and Timothy Bartz had 34.86 lbs. with nine fish. Second place team Jeff Shilousky and Jeremy Palacz had 36.72 lbs. with ten fish. Winning the tournament was Damon Allbee and his wife Julie. They caught ten fish for a total weight of 39.07 lbs.!

A lot of the fish were caught on the west end of the lake across from Sandy point near Cedar View. Number 4 Salmo hornets were highly effective as well as flicker shads. A few of the fish were also caught pulling spinners through the trees at approximately two miles per hour.

Thanks for all the help at the scale and the anglers for helping abide by the extra rules in place because of the covid requirements. We would not be able to do this without your help.

Tournament Directors Nate Stender D.C. Dave Nadgwick

Nebraska Walleye Association, Calamus Reservoir Open, Burwell, NE

Nebraska Walleye Association

Calamus Reservoir Open

Burwell, NE 6/13-14/2020

After all the covid cancellations, the Nebraska Walleye Association is finally back on track. Calamus was a huge success with 45 teams entered on Saturday and 40 on Sunday. In all, 92 walleyes weighing in at 175.65 lbs. were caught on Saturday. Sunday’s catch was more challenging as only 44 fish were caught bringing 79.86 lbs. of walleye across the scale. Weather wise, it was very windy but at least rain and storms stayed away allowing the tournament to move forward.

Saturday was won by Mike Woerth and Chad Boettcher weighing five fish for 12.88 lbs. They both received a check for $1004.00 Second place team Adam Miller and Timothy Bartz

with 11.24 lbs. receiving a check for $488 each. Third place team was Brad Harrington and Jake Bosak weighing 11.16 lbs. and winning $430.00 each. Fourth place team won $287.00 each consisting of Ron Green and Andy Moberly with a basket of 10.77 lbs. Fifth place team Brian Tibbetts and Tanner Tibbets had 9.93 lbs. and won $230.00 each. Sixty place team Mike and Bryan Archer won $201.00 each and a basket of 9.49 lbs. Seventh place team Todd and Eric Belgum had 8.55 bls and won $143.00 each. Eight place team Rick and Richard Waldron won $86.00 each with a basket of 8.39 lbs. Jeff Man and Greg Cassel won the big fish pot with a Walleye weighing 5.90 lbs.

Sunday was won by Adam Miller and Timothy Bartz with four fish weighing 13lbs11 oz. They also won the big fish pot with a walleye weighing 5.58 lbs. They won $893.00 each for first place. Second place team Damon Shada and Justin Weaver had 7.80 lbs. of walleye and won $434.00 each. Third place team Mike Woerth and Chad Boettcher won $383.00 each
with a basket of 6.79 lbs. Fourth place team Tom Sammons and Randy Stamp won $255.00

with 5.36 lbs. Fifth place team Terry Zimmerman and Travis Sanger won $204.00 with 4.38 lbs. Sixth place team Brad Harrington and Jake Bosak won $179.00 each with a basket of 4.05 bls. Seventh place team Robert Martinez and Robert Coufal won $128.00 with a basket of 3.47 lbs. Eight place team Neil Wegner and Dylan Wieser won $77 each with a basket of 3.10 lbs.

A lot of the fish were caught on the west end of the lake on Saturday using crank baits. Success was also found along the buoy line using a jig and half night crawler. The lake has a lot of 13-14-inch walleye as several were caught by the anglers. White bass and wipers were also plentiful and gave everyone some excitement thinking they had a monster on only to feel the head shake leading to the angler’s heads to shake.

Thanks for all the help at the scale and the anglers for helping abide by the extra rules in place because of the covid requirements. We would not be able to do this without your help.

Tournament Directors Nate Stender D.C. Dave Nadgwick