Cabela’s MWC Heads West to Devils Lake
Category: Tournament
Jul 31st, 2008 by OutdoorsFIRST
Modified Jul 31st, 2008 at 12:00 AM
Minnetonka, MN — A small but robust field of competitors will duel for honors at the Cabela’s Masters Walleye Circuit (MWC)Devils Lake tournament, August 9 & 10, 2008. The tournament weigh-ins will be held Saturday and Sunday at Grahams IslandState Park at 4pm. A week out there are 29 teams signed up for the event – which means the winners will take home at least $8,200.
The payout is currently 1st – $8,200; 2nd – $3,600; 3rd – $1,980; 4th – $1,460; 5th – $1,000 for a total of $16,240. Plus, over $3,000 is planned in sponsor payout bonuses with up to $1,000 each from Ranger, Mercury and Toyota. Farm & City Insurance Services will award $250, NPAA $200 and Oxygenator $200 as well.
Minnesotans Carl Adams, Jr. (Blackduck) and Ryan Klein (Hines) captured the win last time the MWC was at Devils Lake in 2006 with a first place check of $11,780. “I haven’t been back to Devils Lake since that year,” shared Adams, as he was preparing to leave for North Dakota for pre-fishing. “But I’m really excited about going back. Devils Lake is one of my favorite lakes, you can fish any way you want as lots of different techniques are used, and you can catch a lot of fish. Ryan and I are due for another win!” he laughs.
But others will be giving Adams and Klein a run for their money. For example, pro angler and Devils Lake resident Johnnie Candle is paired up with Dennis Skurulsky of Waukesha, Wisconsin. They are going to give it everything they’ve got. “The fishery is in great shape and I predict a lot of fish will be caught,” shared Candle. “The challenge will be getting the big fish to move you to the top of the rank…but 5 fish baskets each day…everyone should be able to do that.”
In a no-cull tournament like this one, the key decisions will be made on which fish to keep…and what size to wait for. “There will be a lot of decision making and a little bit of a guessing game, too,” shared Joe Dobos, from Fargo, North Dakota. “The time on the water pre-fishing will help anglers know what to keep. There’s definitely a lot of fish out there, winning will take finding the bigger ones that you want for a tournament.”
Free to attend, on Saturday the MWC and NPAA will co-host a Youth & Family Fishing Clinic at the stage. Kids are invited to come down to watch the weigh-in and immediately following the anglers will host a clinic teaching the kids to rig up their very own fishing rod and reel. “Our sponsors have graciously donated funds so that we can bring rods, reels and tackle boxes for the kids,” shared Frank Pilney, NPAA #920 that has organized the clinics. “We teach the kids – and their parents – the basics with the hope that the whole family will learn to enjoy fishing.” Plus, kids can win a mountain bike, donated by Toyota, fully rigged to carry the new fishing equipment to the lake. This kid’s ultimate fishing machine will be awarded to one lucky winner in a random drawing immediately following the clinic.
The public is encouraged to watch the weigh-in each day at 4pm at Grahams Island State Park. There will be no fee for the public to enter the State Park during the weigh-in hours.
The season is nearing to a close with only the following remaining in the schedule:
August 9 & 10 Devils Lake out of Devils Lake, North Dakota
August 22 – 24 Lake Erie out of Dunkirk, New York
October 1-4, 2008 Lake Erie out of Dundee/Monroe, Michigan