CARROLL & KLEIN WIN CABELA'S MWC OPENER ILLINOIS TEAM TOPS LOWRANCE SPRING VALLEY FIELD WITH 34.74 LBS. Minnetonka, MN -

Illinois anglers Ed Klein of Wayne and Randy Carroll of Oswego produced two impressive baskets of sauger to win the Cabela's Masters Walleye Circuit 2005 season opener, held March 19 & 20 at Spring Valley, IL Their ten fish MWC allowable limit, which totaled 34.74 pounds, was worth $28,512. It was their first circuit victory.

The winning team fished south of the tournament site of Barto Landing in the clam beds, using hot pink and blue minnow-tipped jigs. All but one of their fish came on stringer hooks. They used 6 lb. no-stretch line for sensitivity, and said the key was a subtle jig stroke 6-8 inches off the bottom. Steve Pennaz, emcee for the Cabela's MWC Central and Executive Director of the North American Fishing Club proclaimed, "The winners' basket today was the most impressive stringer of sauger I've ever seen in my lifetime." 2005 marked the 19th consecutive year the MWC held the season opener in this favored spot. Pennaz asked the duo why their fish were bigger, even though they used the same technique as many other anglers. Klein responded "We had some help from the man upstairs, but we also worked hard for this win, and it was a sweet victory at this point in our fishing career." Carroll quickly added "everything just went right for us today - everything! We sure smoked 'em!"

The Neshkoro, Wisconsin team of Chad Kropp and Larry Keller finished with 10 fish weighing 30.51 lbs. which was worth a hefty second place check totaling $13,200. They also fished in the same general area as the winners

 

Taking home $10,032 were MWC veterans Neil Hammargren and Doug Newhoff of Waterloo, Iowa. They finished third with 10 fish weighing 29.68 lbs; after an impressive 17.94 lb. basket on day one to grab the lead. They struggled a bit on Sunday, forcing them to bring in one smaller fish which they knew would cost them. They fished the Peru flats, along with the clam beds. Most of their fish on Sunday came later in the afternoon.

The top 35 teams shared the $107,014 cash purse. An additional $9,200 was paid in big fish prize money. Fourth place team Mark Meravy (Morris, IL) and John Broncato (Coal City, IL) took day two honors and $1,795 for their 4.40 pounder, while Gary Jacobson (Iron Mountain, MI) and Jerry Merritt (Niagra, WI) earned the same amount the first day with the largest fish of the tournament, a 4.55 pounder. Brothers Dan and Dean Krukow from Rochester, MN were the highest place finishing team in the Ranger Cup -- netting an additional $1000 bonus. A $300 bonus of Salmo Performance Lures was awarded to the top finishing team using Salmo's products in the tournament - Tom Hoinacki of Waupun, WI and Bill Reabe of Eau Claire, WI. Tournament teams donated $3,300 to the MWC Conservation Fund which will be used for fisheries related projects in the local Illinois River Valley area.

The tournament was hosted by the Spring Valley Walleye Club. Spectators viewed the weigh-ins, which will be featured on The Outdoor Channel television network on April 11th at 9pm CST, April 13th at 8:30am, and April 15th at 4:30pm. Tournament Statistics Number of teams: 220 Number of fish: 1377 Total cash and prizes: $117,214 Total weight: 2,955.80 lbs. Water temp: 42 degrees Big fish: 4.55 lbs. Water level: lower than normal Winning pattern: vertical jigging Water clarity: good Inside tip: stringer hooks Openings exist in most of the remaining 2005 MWC tournaments, but the Lake Winnebago tournament is full. Entry fee is $600 per team.

Further tournament information can be obtained at www.masterswalleyecircuit.com, or by calling the MWC toll-free at 877-893-7947. 2005 Cabela's

MWC Remaining Schedule

MWC Central Oshkosh, WI, Lake Winnebago, June 25 & 26

Menominee, MI, Bay of Green Bay, July 16 & 17

MWC East Trenton, MI, Detroit River & Lake Erie-OH Borders, April 23 & 24

Henderson Harbor, NY, Lake Ontario, May 21 & 22

Dunkirk, NY, Lake Erie, August 19-21

 

In addition to Cabela's, MWC sponsors include - Lowrance Electronics, Lindy Legendary Tackle, Mercury Marine, MotorGuide, Ranger Boats, The Outdoor Channel, North American Fishing Club, Salmo Performance Lures, Daiichi Hooks, Panther Marine, Aqua Innovations and Walleye Central.

1: Randy Carroll of Oswego, IL & Ed Klein of Wayne, IL (10) 34.74 lbs. -- $28,512 [220 division points & 0.45 Challenge Points] 2: Larry Keller of Neshkoro, WI & Chad Kropp of Neshkoro, WI (10) 30.51 lbs. -- $13,200 [219 division points & 0.9 Challenge Points] 3: Neil Hammargren of Waterloo, IA & Doug Newhoff of Waterloo, IA (10) 29.68 lbs. -- $10,032 [218 division points & 1.36 Challenge Points] 4: Mark Meravy of Shorewood, IL & John Broncato of Coal City, IL (10) 29.35 lbs. -- $7,920 [217 division points & 1.81 Challenge Points] 5: Gary Gray of Oshkosh, WI & Glenn Wangerin of Escanaba, MI (10) 29.04 lbs. -- $5,808 [216 division points & 2.27 Challenge Points] 6: Tom Giachetto of Ladd, IL & Tom Giachetto, Sr. of Ladd, IL (10) 28.96 lbs. -- $4,856 [215 division points & 2.72 Challenge Points] 7: Ron Gazvoda of Lakewood, CO & Thomas Nordyke of Newport, MI (9) 28.17 lbs. -- $3,696 [214 division points & 3.18 Challenge Points] 8: Brian Ernat of Seatonville, IL & Jerry Ernat of Princeton, IL (10) 27.77 lbs. -- $3,168 [213 division points & 3.63 Challenge Points] 9: Dan Krukow of Rochester, MN & Dean Krukow of Rochester, MN (10) 27.64 lbs. -- $2,640 + $1,000 Ranger Cup [212 division points & 4.09 Challenge Points] 10: Wayne Butz of Oneida, WI & Don Frederick of Appleton, WI (10) 26.57 lbs. -- $2,112 [211 division points & 4.54 Challenge Points] 11: George Gahagan of Sheboygan, WI & Russell Gahagan of Chilton, WI (10) 25.95 lbs. -- $1,478 [210 division points & 5 Challenge Points] 12: Steve Tauscher of Holmen, WI & Scott Strangstalien of LaCrosse, WI (9) 25.87 lbs. -- $1,478 [209 division points & 5.45 Challenge Points] 13: Keith Daniels of Fond du Lac, WI & Greg Jaroch of Fond du Lac, WI (10) 24.81 lbs. -- $1,478 [208 division points & 5.9 Challenge Points] 13: Edward Mucha of Shabbona, IL & Dennis Pieper of South Elgin, IL (10) 24.81 lbs. -- $1,478 [208 division points & 5.9 Challenge Points] 15: John Dalzot of Spring Valley, IL & Gary Dalzot of Spring Valley, IL (10) 24.76 lbs. -- $1,478 [206 division points & 6.81 Challenge Points] 16: Rich Stadler of Oshkosh, WI & Mark O'Brien of Appleton, WI (10) 24.64 lbs. -- $1,160 [205 division points & 7.27 Challenge Points] 17: David McCarty of Pelican Lake, WI & Jon VandeBrink of Markesan, WI (9) 24.63 lbs. -- $1,160 [204 division points & 7.72 Challenge Points] 18: Gary Merkel of Arlington, IL & Bruce Merkel of Spring Valley, IL (10) 24.24 lbs. -- $1,160 [203 division points & 8.18 Challenge Points] 19: Doug Hoster of Seneca, IL & Marc Hoster of Seneca, IL (10) 23.95 lbs. -- $1,160 [202 division points & 8.63 Challenge Points] 20: Keith Walters of Gering, NE & Rob McMullen of Bailey, CO (10) 23.77 lbs. -- $1,160 [201 division points & 9.09 Challenge Points] 21: Jim LaPine of Fond du Lac, WI & Jake LaPine of Fond du Lac, WI (9) 23.76 lbs. -- $792 [200 division points & 9.54 Challenge Points] 22: Tommy Skarlis of Walker, MN & Chad Kinkade of Waverly, IA (10) 23.61 lbs. -- $792 [199 division points & 10 Challenge Points] 23: Paul Myrdahl of Inver Grove Heights, MN & Brian Myrdahl of Inver Grove Heights, MN (10) 23.39 lbs. -- $792 [198 division points & 10.45 Challenge Points] 24: Jay Janny of Eagle, WI & Chief Papineau of Escanaba, MI (10) 22.91 lbs. -- $792 [197 division points & 10.9 Challenge Points] 24: Dave Swietek of Peru, IL & Chris DeArcos of Ladd, IL (10) 22.91 lbs. -- $792 [197 division points & 10.9 Challenge Points] 26: Scott Doucette of Bureau, IL & Mike Doucette Jr of Bureau, IL (9) 22.29 lbs. -- $792 [195 division points & 11.81 Challenge Points] 27: Dan Sislo of Medford, WI & Brian Sislo of Marinette, WI (10) 22.23 lbs. -- $792 [194 division points & 12.27 Challenge Points] 28: Jim Melton of Wyoming, IL & Joe Tonozzi of Dalzell, IL (10) 22.08 lbs. -- $792 [193 division points & 12.72 Challenge Points] 29: Don Kohl of Suamico, WI & Tom Zag of Rudolph, WI (10) 22.06 lbs. -- $792 [192 division points & 13.18 Challenge Points] 30: Kevin Dahl of Muskego, WI & Steve Stack of Muskego, WI (10) 22.05 lbs. -- $792 [191 division points & 13.63 Challenge Points] 31: Mike Fortier of Franklin, WI & Bruce Kolinski of West Allis, WI (9) 21.82 lbs. -- $792 [190 division points & 14.09 Challenge Points] 32: Tom Hoinacki of Waupun, WI & Bill Reabe of Eau Claire, WI (10) 21.5 lbs. -- $792 [189 division points & 14.54 Challenge Points] 33: Jim Schommer of Fond du Lac, WI & Robert Schommer of Eden, WI (8) 21.42 lbs. -- $792 [188 division points & 15 Challenge Points] 34: Dennis Robinson of Tomahawk, WI & Jay Walsh of Chicago, IL (9) 21.28 lbs. -- $792 [187 division points & 15.45 Challenge Points] 35: Dick Ajster of Ladd, IL & Frank Rathbun of Lasalle, IL (9) 21.08 lbs. -- $792 [186 division points & 15.9 Challenge Points]

 

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