Saginaw Bay for the 4th Stop of the 2024 Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s Masters Walleye Circuit Season

Saginaw Bay for the 4th Stop of the 2024 Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s Masters Walleye Circuit Season

Presented by: Lowrance

 

Ponca City, Oklahoma – June 7th, 2024 – The landing spot for the 4th stop of the 2024 Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s Masters Walleye Circuit (MWC) is Au Gres, MI on the north shores of Lake Huron and the clear waters of Saginaw Bay. Lake Huron is the second largest of the great lakes and offers up a target rich environment for anglers hunting for trophy walleyes at this event presented by Lowrance.

Lake Huron and the waters of Saginaw Bay are teaming with massive amounts of walleyes just waiting to be caught by savvy tournament fishermen coming from across the country. The walleye population is so large in Saginaw Bay that the Michigan DNR raised the daily bag limits for walleyes from six fish to a generous bag of eight walleyes per person. These fish aren’t just your run of the mill 2-3 lb. walleyes found on most inland lakes around the country. Anglers competing in this event have a shot at landing fish over 10 lbs. every time they reach for the net. Although trolling is the most popular way to catch these fish, over the years, forward-facing sonar units like the Lowrance Active-Target have become a staple in the fishing industry with fishermen using them to target both suspended and structure hugging walleyes. It’s anyone’s game at this stop in Au Gres.

 

MWC Tournament Pro and former World Walleye Champion, Adam Hume, had this to say about the fishery on Saginaw Bay, “The sheer number of walleyes that are available to anglers is astounding on Saginaw Bay and just keeps increasing every year. There will be no shortage of fish no matter what direction teams go. Casting, jigging, or trolling. In June, everything comes into play out here.”

 

Event specifics include a 7:00 am (CDT) take-off each day and live weigh-ins both at the Au Gres Boat access on Harbor Road in Au Gres, MI at 3:15 pm (CDT) on June 28th and 29th, 2024. Spectators are welcomed to join in person as the weigh-in is free and open to the public, or follow the action live online at masterswalleyecircuit.com or on the official Facebook page, facebook.com/MastersWalleyeCircuit

 

Registration for this tournament on Lake Huron out of Au Gres, Michigan closes on June 24th, 2024. Teams that are interested in signing up should visit www.masterswalleyecircuit.com/registration or call the Federation National Office at (580) 765-9031.

 

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 one 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 powered by Dakota Lithium 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, Dakota Lithium, 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 in Alexandria, MN. 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, Lew’s Fishing, Dakota Lithium, and Ranger Boats. Associate sponsors include: The Walleye Federation, Church Tackle, FishLab, Okuma, Salmo Java, and T-H Marine. For more information, email support@masterswalleyecircuit.com, or call (580) 765-9031.

Winnebago Locals Gordon and Carl Rose, Win MWC in Oshkosh

Oshkosh, Wisc. — June 1st, 2024 — The 2024 Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s Masters Walleye Circuit just finished up its third event of the season.  Many of the 146 anglers at Lake Winnebago are starting their run in points for Team of the Year and spot in the 2025 World Walleye Championship (WWC). Fond du Lac, Wisconsin residents Gordon and Carl Rose made a stand for a potential run to WWC in 2025 at the event on Lake Winnebago, Presented by Mercury Marine.

This tournament saw many teams from the state of Wisconsin with a lot of combined knowledge about the Winnebago system. Gordon and Carl spent a week preparing for what turned out to be an awesome finale. When weigh-in came around, the duo from Fond du Lac had risen above the field and secured a big win on their home waters.

Gordon and Carl had put together a solid program that consisted of trolling small crank baits on the southern half of the lake. On day one, they had almost the entire spot to themselves. On the morning of day two, there were two other walleye tournaments that had also taken off on Saturday morning and a lot of those boats had also found the same fish. With heavy pressure, the fish in their spot had shut down and the team had to make a move. After a little searching they found a spot with absolutely no boats around them with hungry fish. Short trolling passes through the schools of walleyes proved to be the ticket to winning. Gordon and Carl put together a combined two day total weight of 34-03 lbs.With that weight, the duo locked up the win with $11,450 in cash and prizes that included a $1000 Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s NTC prize package, two Okuma fishing reels and of course, the trophies, for a grand total of almost $12,000.

Rounding out the top-five remaining teams:

2nd: Ryan Mereness and Justin Heider 32-14, $5,400 cash and $1,000 Lowrance Bonus

3rd:  Tom and Scott Albrecht 30-04, $3,650 cash and $3,500 option pot

4th:  Joe Schnieder and Mike Maas 29-11, $2,600 cash

5th: Brett and Alex Wilkens 29-09, $2,150 cash

The teams caught 591 fish weighing a total of 1403-13 lbs. during the event. The Big Fish of the event was 5-14 lbs caught by Joe Schnieder and Mike Maas.

The Dakota Lithium come back award went to Craig Hable and Mathew Stobbe. They had a place change of 63rd to 25th. A jump of 38 places. For that comeback they were awarded a set of three (3) Dakota Lithium Batteries and chargers worth almost $5,000.

KODAK Digital Still Camera

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, Lew’s Fishing, Dakota Lithium, 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.

Masters Walleye Circuit Comes to Wisconsin’s Famed Lake Winnebago

Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s Masters Walleye Circuit Comes to Wisconsin’s Famed Lake Winnebago

Presented by Mercury Marine

Ponca City, Oklahoma – The third stop on the Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s Masters Walleye Circuit (MWC) heads to the middle of walleye country on Lake Winnebago in Oshkosh, WI. On May 31st and June 1st, teams of anglers will meet up at one of the top tournament destinations in the country. Lake Winnebago has been a host to every major walleye circuit in the country over the past four decades. Anglers every year ask to come back and the MWC was obliged to fulfill that request and give anglers a shot at glory during this stop of the season, presented by Mercury Marine

Whenever the question arises, “What is one of the best fishing destinations in the walleye world?”, Lake Winnebago in Wisconsin almost always makes its way into the conversation. And for good reason, too. Lake Winnebago, the Fox and Wolf Rivers and upper lakes are home to millions of walleyes. Lake Winnebago itself is over 50 miles long and the rest of the system opens another 70-plus miles of water for teams to pick apart. Each section of the “Bago” system creates opportunities for anglers to fish however they want. Although trolling the upper-lakes is popular during this time of year, emergent weed growth on the south end of the main lake can also hold big numbers of fish as well.

MWC winner from Spring Valley, Ross Hertensteiner had this to share about the upcoming tournament on Lake Winnebago. “We’re really excited to get out and learn Winnebago. My father, John, has fished Lake Winnebago a lot over the years. It sounds like there is a lot of techniques that will come into play. Pitching jigs, slip bobbers and trolling. All these things to do with a variety of lakes and rivers to pick apart. This should be a fun tournament!”

Event specifics include a 7:00 am (CDT) take-off each day and live weigh-ins both at Menominee Park in Oshkosh, WI at 3:15 pm (CDT) on May 31st and June 1st, 2024. Spectators are welcomed to join in person as the weigh-in is 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 the GUARANTEED minimum $10,000 first place prize powered by Dakota Lithium 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, Dakota Lithium 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, Lew’s Fishing, Dakota Lithium, 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.

Rost and Danforth Lead From Start to Finish on Missouri River

Rost and Danforth Lead From Start to Finish on Missouri River

Presented by: Ranger Boats

 

Chamberlain/Oacoma, SD – April 28, 2024 – Lake Francis Case on the Missouri River is known as a very “fishy” place to hold a tournament and there was no disappointment during this event. On the first day of the 2nd stop on the Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s Masters Walleye Circuit (MWC) all 76 teams brought fish across the scales to set the stage for what would be an exciting finale on the second day of competition for this tournament, presented by Ranger Boats.

The purse that anglers were vying for totaled $67,753. The eventual first-place team of Corey Rost and Ryan Danforth, South Dakota natives, held a commanding lead of over 3 lbs. with a day-1 total of 15-12. The next three teams on the leader board were also from South Dakota that were looking to overtake the leaders on day-two.

The walleyes on Lake Francis Case were in post spawn patterns and that meant there were fish scattered throughout the entire system. Some teams made the trek over 30 miles south of the Chamberlain/Oacoma area while others chose to head up river in search of a few bigger fish holding closer to the dam after the spawn. South Dakota regulations allow only one fish over the 20-inch mark each day per angler and those big fish are what pushed the top teams into the lead. Finding numbers of walleyes was never an issue. Getting those “overs” into the boat was what proved challenging for some.

The day-one leaders came to the scales towards the end of the weigh-in on day two. Anticipation and nervousness showed on their faces as they listened and watched the final few teams weigh their fish, wondering if they had enough to hold their place at the top. When Rost and Danforth came to the stage as the last team, a little bit of doubt could be seen in their body language. The second-place team from day one of Shawn and Scott Kuhnert weighed another solid bag coming in at 10-02 lbs. earlier for a two-day total of 23-03 lbs. When Corey and Ryan came up to the scale, the team from Madison and Sioux Falls, SD only needed a little over 7 lbs. to win. When the scales locked, their emotions turned to happiness and disbelief as the scale read 7-10 lbs. The weight gave them a three-ounce lead over second place and solidified a 1st place win on Francis Case with a two-day total of 23-06 lbs. With their win, the team won a total of over $20,000 of cash and prizes that included $10,600 cash, a $8,000 Ranger Cup Bonus, $1,000 NTC prize package and two (2) Okuma reels worth $200.

Rost and Danforth had this to say right before and after they weighed their catch, “I don’t know. We weighed our fish in the boat before we came up to the scales and we didn’t think we had it. Sitting in the bump sink and waiting to weigh-in felt like an eternity. At first, we just wanted it to be over. We thought, there’s no way we were going to win with the weight we have today. This is just unreal and we’re happy it all turned out like this.”

Let’s take a look at how the rest of the top 5 finished:

2nd Shawn and Scott Kuhnert 23-03 lbs. $5,600 cash plus $3,850 option pot

3rd Matt Surrell and Ryan Long 22-04 lbs. $3,750 cash plus $2,800 option pot

4th Tony Herting and Mike Maurer 22-03 lbs. $2,600 cash

5th Brian Dahl and Brennan Lockwood 21-14 lbs. $2,150 cash plus $2,060 option pot

There was a total of 152 anglers from 10 states that competed in the Francis Case event. The largest bag weighed was from the first-place team of Rost and Danforth weighing in at 15-12 lbs. The largest fish also came from the winning team on day-one and weighed 7-02 lbs. There was a total of 663 fish caught with an overall total of 1237-09 lbs.

Arrowwood Resort and Conference Center and Cedar Shore hosted the rules meeting and weigh-in and was the perfect venue to hold this event. The next stop for the MWC brings anglers to the inland largest body of water in Wisconsin, that has been home to some of the largest fields of competitive anglers in tournament walleye fishing, Lake Winnebago in Oshkosh, WI. To find out more information or to register your team for the May 31st – June 1st event, go to www.masterswalleyecircuit.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. 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, Ranger Boats, and Lews Fishing. 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.