Mississippi River Water Levels are Dropping while Cabela’s
MWC Optimism is Rising
Presented by Lowrance Electronics
Minnetonka, MN – All eyes are on Pools 11, 12 &
13 of the Mississippi River for the last stop of the Cabela’s
Masters Walleye Circuit qualifying season. The event, slated
Saturday and Sunday September 8th and 9th, will be a dramatic
event regardless of the water levels. The last stop will determine
the new Team of the Year as well as Championship qualifiers
for next year. The roster sits at 109 teams registered, making
payout $16,900 for first place and $61,040 in total, paying
down 19 places.
There’s plenty of additional money at stake as well.
Add in $20,000 payout for the Team of the Year race and $8,640
for the Central Division Team of the Year payout. Plus $1,000
for the Ranger Cup and $1,000 for the Toyota Tundra bonus. That’s
over $91,000 at stake. The anglers of the Cabela’s Masters
Walleye Circuit are very ready for the season finale.
Scott Hausauer of Appleton, Wisconsin and Tony Larson of Gladstone,
Michigan are in the lead for Team of the Year points. They are
ready to get to Dubuque and put this one in the history books.
“It is such a huge deal to be in this position, a great
opportunity,” shared Hausauer, when asked about their
lead position. “This is such a challenging circuit that
it is really something to be proud of,” he continued.
But they know they will have to work hard and boat ten fish
to hold their own at Dubuque. “Tony and I have a strategy
to be consistent with five fish per day. We hope that if we
do that we have a real good shot at it.”
The top finishing team in Team of the Year points wins 65%
of $20,000 – or $13,000 – and the honor of the title
along with beautiful trophies and custom gold MWC Team of the
Year rings. The teams in 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th place for points
split the remaining 35% -- or $1750 each.
In addition to the overall Team of the Year honors, the Central
Division will wrap up with its own awards. The top finishing
team from the Central Division will receive 65% of the purse,
which accumulates at $30 per team in the division. From the
total of $8,640, the Central Division Team of the Year will
earn $5,616 and the 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th place teams in points
will each get $756. Trophies and recognition are also given
to the Husband and Wife Team of the Year as well as the Father
and Son (Family) Team of the Year. Currently Kevin & Karen
McQuoid of Isle, Minnesota and Mark and Cathy De Deker of Larsen,
Wisconsin are the top husband and wife teams. Jason and Bob
Schine of Lake Villa, Illinois and Donald Olson of Andover,
Minnesota and Michael Olson of Coon Rapids, Minnesota are at
the top of the Father and Son group. Although a team further
down can still make a big move with a nice finish at this event.
“The points are still really bunched up because of the
192-team tie for 5th place at Spring Valley this year,”
shared Kristine Houtman, Director of the Cabela’s Masters
Walleye Circuit. “Normally after two tournaments you’d
see a lot more spacing – but because 192 teams received
the same number of points – it really makes for an interesting
finish.” Teams that do well in Dubuque will move up the
points scale dramatically, and those that don’t will quickly
drop down. There won’t be any “margins” that
anyone can count on for this tournament. Everyone will be fishing
hard for the cash payout – but also the Team of the Year
and Championship honors.
The tournament weigh-in will be held at the Dubuque Greyhound
Park and Casino on Greyhound Park Road on Saturday and Sunday
afternoons, September 8th and 9th, from 3pm to 5pm. The public
is invited. Anglers will trailer their boats to the parking
lot of the casino and then weigh their fish on stage.
On Saturday, immediately following the weigh-in, the MWC/NPAA
Youth and Family Fishing Clinic will be held for local families.
Kids can receive cool fishing gear of their very own, including
rods, reels and tackle boxes at the Clinic. The anglers will
help teach the kids how to tie on their own tackle, including
a slip-bobber. “I grew up dreaming over a bobber,”
shared Frank Pilney, NPAA Angler #920, and host of the Youth
and Family Fishing Clinic. “I know how wonderful it can
be to enjoy fishing as a kid, and we want to reach out to the
area youth of Dubuque and help them take up the sport of fishing.”
Kids and their families are encouraged to watch the weigh-in
on Saturday starting at 3 pm. When that is completed, at 4:45
or 5:00 we will begin the Youth Clinic. For children under 6th
grade, at least one parent or guardian is required to attend
with the child.
A conservation fund of $15 per boat, or $1635 will be channeled
through the Mississippi Walleye Club for their work on fisheries
habitat in the area. Shortly after the MWC tournament the club
is planning on stocking over 4,500 4-inch fingerlings into pool
12. These funds will definitely help with that project. The
Dubuque Area Chamber of Commerce and the Mississippi Walleye
Club are hosting the event and will assist with tournament operations.
The flooding further up-river in Minnesota made National headlines
in mid-August. That has everyone a bit nervous and dialing in
the river’s hydro-measurements online to see the status
of all the water downstream. Currently the river is at 12 feet
and dropping steadily. “There’s real good fishing
at these water levels and the clarity is improving, so we are
hoping for a good bite for the tournament,” shared J.D.
Knight of the Mississippi Walleye Club.
Only the World Walleye Championship remains for the 2007 season,
scheduled October 3 – 6 at the Cabela’s store in
Dundee, Michigan. The Cabela’s MWC World Walleye Championship
is a no-fee, invitation-only tournament, paying out over $100,000
to the entire field of entries.
For more information please contact MWC headquarters at 877-893-7947
or by email at: events@masterswalleyecircuit.com.
Cabela’s is the title sponsor for the Masters Walleye
Circuit. Official Sponsors are North American Fishing Club,
MotorGuide, Toyota Trucks, Mercury Motors, Ranger Boats, Lowrance
Electronics, 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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