Cabela’s Masters Walleye Circuit World Walleye Championship
coming up on Lake Erie -- presented by Cabela’s
Dundee, MI – The Cabela’s Masters Walleye Circuit
will host a three-day competition for the 2007 World Walleye
Championship on Lake Erie and the Detroit River beginning October
4th. A field of 59 teams qualified during the 2006 season and
earned the honor to compete for the title – World Walleye
Champions. A title that many dream of … and few attain.
Don Solis of Perronville, MI and Bert Wilson of Gladstone,
MI are first cousins that began team tournament fishing 18 years
ago. They learned the ropes in the beginning and eventually
grew in the number of tournaments they fished. Success inched
along. Then in 2001 they made a leap from behind to win the
World Walleye Championship in the MWC, held that year on the
Mississippi River. They know first hand what the honor is all
about. “It’s everybody’s dream – and
when it happens it is so emotional it is unreal,” shared
Solis. “Our whole family was proud of what we accomplished
that year.”
And they will go after it again in 2007. Solis and Wilson are
one of the 59 teams competing for their share of the $100,000+
purse that will be handed out at the Cabela’s store in
Dundee, Michigan. First place pays out $25,000 cash –
and all teams share some portion of the payout. There is no
entry fee for the Championship. A complete roster is attached
in PDF form.
Each team will be allowed to bring in 5 fish per team per day
over the three day tournament. If weather permits they will
have all of the Detroit River and many, MANY miles of Lake Erie
to work. Kristine Houtman, Director of the Masters Walleye Circuit
knows how often Lake Erie can blow up. “We are pleased
that we have the river to work with in case we can’t get
out on the lake on our tournament days,” shared Houtman.
“That way we’re still fishing and not playing Scrabble
waiting for a new day.” These boundaries create an opportunity
for some really nice big fish – as the anglers should
be able to locate the schools that are moving further West as
the weather cools. The tournament will be held as a catch and
release tournament.
“The circuit records could be broken – for largest
fish as well as record single day basket or cumulative weight,”
shared Houtman. “Weather permitting, it should be an impressive
bite and make for an incredible weigh-in.” The weigh-ins
will be held at the Cabela’s store parking lot in Dundee
from 4pm to 5pm each afternoon. The public is invited free of
charge.
In the evenings several events are planned to assist with the
Salvation Army’s Radiothon serving One Child Now. Cabela’s
along with 106.7 The Fox will assist the Salvation Army in raising
funds to help provide kids with new winter coats, backpacks
and school supplies, after school programming and access to
summer camp. On Wednesday, October 3rd at 7pm Pat Dailey, known
as the “Jimmy Buffet of the Great Lakes” will be
live and in concert. Thursday evening, October 4th, Steve Iott
will host a family-friendly comedy act from the stage. Five
dollar donations for One Child Now will be accepted at the gate
both nights. On Friday evening the talented guitarist and blues
artist Josh Boyd will perform live at 7pm. Ten dollar donations
are requested for One Child Now at the gate for the Friday evening
performance.
Throughout the day on Friday and Saturday 106.7 The Fox will
host a Radiothon for the benefit of Salvation Army’s One
Child Now. "The One Child Now Radiothon is an outstanding
opportunity for the local community to impact young lives in
a radical way, one at a time. Each donation brings one child
closer to a transformed life of wholesome, family-oriented outdoor
activities, that they would not be able to engage in otherwise,"
said Captain Monty Wandling, Eastern Michigan Divisional Youth
Secretary.
One Child Now is a program of The Salvation Army Outdoors (TSAO).
TSAO is an initiative designed to engage today's youth and their
families in outdoor activities such as hunting, target shooting,
archery, aquatic stewardship, boating, hiking and camping. Each
donation at the One Child Now Radiothon helps supply children
in need with a new coat, a backpack with school supplies, after-school
programming, and a summer camp experience. Educating and aiding
youth in this capacity builds self esteem, helps prevent childhood
obesity and teaches positive life skills.
And there are activities during the Championship weekend for
young kids and families, too. On Friday afternoon, immediately
following the weigh-in (approximately 5:30 pm) the MWC anglers
will teach kids how to fish with their very own rod and reel.
Parents are encouraged to attend with young children for safety
sake, as real hooks or jigs are used in getting rigged up for
fishing. Fifty lucky kids will go home with their very own rod
and reel along with a tackle box of essential tackle items for
slip bobber fishing. Plus, Toyota has donated a bike for a give
away – fully rigged with rod holders to take the new gear
to the lake or river fishing. On Saturday a Kids Fishing Derby
will be held from 9am to 2pm. There’s a lot to do during
Championship week for the whole family.
On Wednesday a Pro/Am is held for sponsors and local dignitaries
to fish with the Championship teams. It is a fun-fishing day
with a $50 Cabela’s gift card at stake for each of the
top ten finishers. It is a great way for the community to merge
in with the tournament anglers and for everyone to have a good
time on the water before the official event begins.
The title sponsor of the Masters Walleye Circuit is Cabela’s
– the World’s Foremost Outfitter. Official sponsors
are Toyota Trucks, Ranger Boats, Mercury Motors, Lowrance Electronics,
MotorGuide, North American Fishing Club and Versus (Vs.) television
network. Official sponsors include Tommy Docks, Ice Armor, Food
Source Lures, the Inhibitor and Farm & City Insurance Services.
For more information on the World Walleye Championship visit
the MWC website at www.masterswalleyecircuit.com or call headquarters
toll free at 877-893-7947. While onsite please use Kristine
Houtman’s Cell at 612.710.5584.
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