Cabela’s Masters Walleye Circuit Heads to Big Stone Lake
on Minnesota/South Dakota Border for Exhibition Tournament
Minnetonka, MN -- The Cabela’s Masters Walleye Circuit
will travel to Ortonville, Minnesota for an exhibition tournament
on Big Stone Lake, slated August 18th and 19th of 2007. While
the tournament roster is down in numbers, the town is expected
to burst at the seams with attendees. The weekend is also the
annual Cornfest Days which traditionally draws over 10,000 visitors
to the community. Thousands will watch the weigh-ins by the
lake on Saturday and Sunday afternoon, beginning at 4 o’clock
next to the boat launch. The Cabela’s MWC stage will host
other Cornfest festivities as well.
“Unfortunately, the roster size is down for this event,
just twenty one teams,” shared Kristine Houtman, director
of the MWC. “Last year we tried our first West exhibition
tournament at Devils Lake and had just over 60 teams. We had
hoped to be somewhere in that ball park for this event, but
it hasn’t quite panned out.” The exhibition format
means that the tournament is a stand-alone event, and not part
of the Central Division which averages between 160 and 200 boats
per tournament each year.
By having an exhibition tournament, MWC officials can see what
kind of interest there is in a future division of three stops.
The 2008 schedule has been announced with another West Division
exhibition tournament back to Devils Lake in August. “We
hope the anglers that want to see an MWC tournament in their
neck of the woods step up to show us their interest,”
added Houtman.
Payout for a 21-boat field will be $7,184 for 1st place, $3,094
for 2nd place and $1,482 for 3rd place for the Big Stone Lake
event. Some teams have picked up this tournament for points
as much as for the cash prize. For example, Terry Mayhall and
Tony Dowiatt of Wisconsin placed 5th at Spring Valley this year
and went on to capture 4th place at Green Bay. That means they
have a great shot at Team of the Year come September at Dubuque
– however, all candidates for that honor must pick up
a fourth tournament. And the exhibition tournament qualifies.
“Terry and I have done well in past MWC seasons –
but we’re really within striking distance for Team of
the Year honors,” shared Tony Dowiatt, who fishes with
best friend Terry Mayhall. Mayhall and Dowiatt hold the Cabela’s
MWC Circuit record big fish at 12.65 pounds from 2006 on Lake
Erie. “With a twenty-plus year history of cranking out
quality Teams of the Year – the honor being within our
reach is one any fisherman would work hard to achieve.”
“Once we got within striking distance we knew we needed
to give it a shot,” added Mayhall. “You’d
be filled with coulda’s and shoulda’s if you didn’t
give it a try!”
The MWC along with the NPAA will sponsor a Youth & Family
Fishing Clinic at Ortonville on Saturday, August 18th –
immediately following the weigh-in. The weigh-in will begin
at about 4 o’clock and the clinic should start between
4:30 and 5:00. The public is invited to come watch the weigh-ins
and stay for the clinic. Sponsors such as Cabela’s, Lowrance
Electronics, North American Fishing Club and Ranger Boats have
donated rods and reels so that a lucky number of kids will get
their own to take home with them. Toyota has donated three bikes
that will be rigged up with rod holders for the kids to win
in a drawing, too.
Parents are encouraged to attend with young children (under
6th grade) as the anglers will instruct them on tying on real
hooks and/or jigs to their lines. Basic slip bobber fishing
is encouraged as many of the MWC anglers grew up dreaming over
a bobber – and want to pass that on to the next generation
as well.
A conservation fund of $15 per boat, totaling $315 will be
awarded to the Big Stone Lake Walleye Club.
Openings exist in future MWC tournaments. The remaining schedule
is:
MWC Central
Sept 8 & 9 – Dubuque, IA – Mississippi River
MWC West (Exhibition Tournament)
August 18 & 19 –Ortonville, MN – Big Stone
Lake
World Walleye Championship (invitation only)
Oct 4-6 -- Dundee, MI -- Detroit River and Lake Erie
For more information contact circuit headquarters by email
at: events@masterswalleyecircuit.com or toll-free by phone at
877-893-7947.
Cabela’s is the title sponsor for the Masters Walleye
Circuit. Official Sponsors are MotorGuide, Toyota Trucks, Mercury
Motors, Ranger Boats, Lowrance Electronics, North American Fishing
Club and Versus (Vs.) television network. Associate sponsors
are Tommy Docks, The Inhibitor, Food Source Lures, Ice Armor
and Farm & City Insurance Services.
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