Bitter Lake Welcomes The Master’s Walleye Circuit for it’s 5th Qualifier of 2026 Season
Presented by: Nitro Boats
Ponca City, Oklahoma – August 10, 2026 – After a great event in Sault Ste Marie, MI, the Masters Walleye Circuit aims it sights at a lake with drastically different scenery both above and below the waterline. Heading to Bitter Lake in Webster, SD, teams will be adapting techniques to fish the 18,000-acre lake that consists mostly of very fertile flooded farmland. On August 21-22, teams will be bringing their best 5 fish each day to the stage to try and earn the coveted Champion’s Trophy.
This will once again be a no-cull event, with a slot limit of 5 fish over 15”, with each angler being able to bring 1 fish over 20” in their bag. Strategies will be tested, as there are rarely easy decisions on tournament day. No culling/high grading means that some teams will wait to box a 20” + fish until they are certain it is the right one, and others will be happy to weigh the first they catch. We won’t know how it all shakes out, until the end of weigh-in on day 2.
Tournament days will start each day with a 7:00 am (Central Time) take-off at Bitter Lake Access (East), given safe light conditions, and live weigh-ins beginning at 3:30 pm (Central Time) on Friday and Saturday, August 21-22, 2026, which will be held at 476 US-12 E Webster, SD just next to Boomers Outback Motel. Spectators are encouraged 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 Bitter Lake closes on Monday, August 17th, 2026. Teams that are interested in signing up should visit:
Updated points for the WWC are posted on the website and can be found HERE. These will be updated the week following each of the remaining events. For teams competing for the Team of The Year “Living the Dream” title and the rewards that come with it, points can be found HERE.
As part of the 2026 MWC season, anglers can compete for a coveted spot in the 2026 World Walleye Championship held in Devil’s Lake North Dakota. The 2026 WWC will be a one-time Dual Event with qualifying teams from 2025 and 2026, with a combined pot and, new to 2026 – a Brand-New Nitro ZV20 Powered By Mercury as the top prize. 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. MWC’s “Living the Dream” team, using points from four qualifiers throughout the regular season, will earn a sponsorship package valued up to $10,000 which includes a spot to compete in the National Team Championship and up to four, paid-in-full, MWC events.
Each MWC event has a lucrative payout which is based on the number of teams entered into that event. Overall payout is 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 will add thousands more for distribution among the field.
Under the umbrella of The Walleye Federation (TWF), the Masters Walleye Circuit (MWC) is North America’s longest running and undisputed leader in team walleye tournaments since 1984 and as an inductee into the freshwater fishing hall of fame. MWC has set the standard for competitive walleye fishing for 42 years. The 2026 schedule includes six qualifiers in five states, plus berths into the 2026 MWC World Walleye Championship presented by Nitro boats in Devils Lake, North Dakota. Stay tuned for more 2026 announcements at:
Masters Walleye Circuit Official Level Sponsors: Mercury Marine, Lowrance Electronics, and Nitro Boats. Associate Sponsors: TH Marine, Airsafe Hitch Products, National Professional Anglers Association, and The Walleye Federation.
