Exciting Start to 2006 Season for Cabela’s MWC
Category: Tournament
Feb 28th, 2006 by OutdoorsFIRST
Modified Feb 28th, 2006 at 12:00 AM
Minnetonka, MN – The Cabela’s Masters Walleye Circuit (MWC) is off to an extremely strong start in 2006. Early bird registration has shown continued growth, with 171 teams signing up for at least one full division, representing a 12% increase from the previous year. While the Central Division remains in high demand, most of the substantial growth comes in 2006 from the MWC East division. In 2005, 14 teams were early birds in the East, but now boasts 29 teams in 2006. This doubling is a strong sign that the new division is gaining momentum and a stronghold in the geographic region. A record number of teams, 71, signed up for a fourth tournament in 2006 – their MWC Challenge tournament. A whopping 711 tournament slots have been grabbed in the first month. MWC Anglers have organized to lead a Kids Fishing Clinic on Friday evenings at all the tournaments. Kids will need to register at the location of the Rules Meeting, beginning at the designated rules meeting time. When the MWC meeting is over, the kids will use the space (auditorium, gym, etc) for seminars about fishing from the professional anglers in town for the tournament. Registration is free. Prizes will be awarded during the evening. 6th grade or older may attend by themselves, however parents are always welcome. 5th grade or younger must attend with a parent or guardian. 2006 ScheduleIn its 20th consecutive year in 2006, the Cabela’s MWC is heading back to the Illinois River out of Spring Valley, Illinois. Tournament dates are March 25th and 26th. Barto Landing will host the weigh-in festivities, with tournament operations supported by the Spring Valley Walleye Club. This tournament will be televised for a special MWC show on Outdoor Life Network (OLN). The Cabela’s MWC tournament at Spring Valley is presented by MotorGuide. MotorGuide will award two new trolling motors to the top finishing MotorGuide team. The second tournament of the season will launch the MWC East division, out of Trenton, Michigan, April 22nd and 23rd. Weather permitting; we’ll fish both the Detroit River and part of Lake Erie. However, if the weather is anything like last year with torrential rains, cold temperatures and snow, we’ll be forced to River only boundaries. The Downriver Walleye Federation will assist with tournament operations out of Elizabeth Park. The Cabela’s MWC tournament at Detroit River and Lake Erie is presented by Ranger Boats.Next, we’ll head northeast to Lake Ontario, to a small town called Henderson Harbor. The red carpet gets rolled out for the anglers upon arrival in this upstate area of New York, not only by the Chamber of Commerce and the folks in the community, but the lake itself seems to give everyone a show! The last two years have showcased this phenomenal fishery with 7.5 and 7.75 pound average weight per fish from this tournament! The Outdoor Life Network television crew from MWC headquarters will be onsite filming for a special TV show that will air shortly after the tournament. The May 20th and 21st Cabela’s MWC tournament at Henderson Harbor will be presented by Outdoor Life Network (OLN).June 24th and 25th we’ll head to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan for the second stop in the MWC Central division on Bays de Noc. Tournament weigh-in festivities will be held at the Gladstone Community Park. The Great Lakes Sports Fisherman, Bays de Noc Convention and Visitors Bureau, Delta County Chamber of Commerce and both City offices of Gladstone and Escanaba will be hosting the event. The Cabela’s MWC Bays de Noc tournament will be presented by Mercury Motors. On July 15 & 16 we’ll move west to some new territory, dipping the proverbial “toe into the water” for a future West Division. This exhibition tournament does not carry division points; however, circuit anglers can use the tournament for Challenge tournament points. The Spirit Lake Resort and Casino will host the tournament on Devil’s Lake, South Dakota. North American Fishing Club will sponsor this tournament. Fun in the summer continues into August, with the final stop for the MWC East on Saginaw Bay in Michigan on the 19th and 20th. The tournament site will be Hoyle’s Marina in Linwood. Presenting sponsor, Lowrance Electronics will host a GPS and Sonar instructional class by Bruce “Doc” Samson for all MWCers on Wednesday and Thursday evening during pre-fishing. The seminar, presented by Lowrance Electronics, will be held in the showroom of Hoyle’s Marina. The Minnesota based Frontenac Sportsman’s Club will host the final stop of the 2006 Cabela’s MWC qualifying season on Lake Pepin and the Mississippi River, September 16th and 17th. Team of the Year and Championship points will be solidified for the entire circuit at that time, and the OLN camera crew for MWC will film a television show. Ted Takasaki, professional angler and President of Lindy Legendary Tackle, will be on stage for the awards after the tournament as presenting sponsor.The Cabela’s Masters Walleye Circuit World Walleye Championship will be held October 4-7 out of Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin, on the Mississippi River, Pools 9 and 10. Drawing a field of 60 teams that qualified the previous year, the World Walleye Championship is the premier of Championships in team fishing. The Cabela’s store, just north of Prairie du Chien will serve as tournament headquarters and weigh-in site. The World Walleye Championship is a no-fee Championship with over $100,000 in purse paid out. $25,000 to the winners and all places are paid out. “The MWC really knows how to do the Championship right” shared Jim Trow, partner of Scott Aydelotte, crowned World Walleye Champs last fall. “The size of the field, the extras for the anglers and the presentation of the tournament weigh-in are first class all the way. It makes it very special.”Sponsor PromotionsReturning in 2006 will be the $1000 Ranger Cup bonus for all qualifying tournaments and the World Walleye Championship. “We are excited to continue the tradition with the MWC for the last few years in awarding the top finishing Ranger owner, registered in the Ranger Cup series, a bonus of $1000” stated Steve Smith, Director of Marketing with Ranger Boats. Ranger Boats is very committed to tournament anglers, and commits to having technical support at the majority of tournaments during the season. Tommy Docks, a new sponsor that came on board with MWC last fall, is offering a $500 Tommy Docks Comeback award. “$500 awards a team that didn’t do well on the first day, yet put together a great second day to make a big leap in the standings” shared Corey Suthers, President of Tommy Docks. “It gives teams something to fish for if day one got off to a rocky start.” Lindy Legendary Tackle will offer a $200 cash bonus plus two Lindy Drift Control products for all tournaments plus the Championship in 2006. Teams must sign up to be eligible, and commit to using a Drift Control (or any brand of drift sock) during the tournament. The highest finishing team signed up for the Lindy Cash Bonus will win the cash and product award. “Using a drift sock, whether it is our brand or another, is a great way to manage boat control speed” stated Ted Takasaki, professional angler and President of Lindy. “Tournament anglers know the key to success may often be the speed at which bait is presented. Drift socks can be a competitive edge and advantage to anglers.” MotorGuide will be awarding two new MotorGuide trolling motors to the top finishing MotorGuide team at Spring Valley 2006. Eligible teams must sign up for the award no later than the Rules Meeting on Friday.Title sponsor, Cabela’s, will bring on a new promotion for the anglers and the fans that attend tournament weigh-ins. Game pieces will be printed which will allow the fans and the anglers a scratch-off chance to win gift cards and shopping sprees at Cabela’s. More details on this promotion in the weeks ahead.A new sponsor this year, The Inhibitor, which makes rust prevention chips used in tackle boxes and storage units, will pay $100 at each tournament for the team with the lowest weight of the tournament. This Inhibitor Tough Times Award recognizes that sometimes things don’t quite work out – but acknowledges the hard work “hanging in there” for the rest of the tournament. The positive — $100 for not posting a zero!Another new sponsor with the MWC, Food Source Lures, is showcasing their 100% food-based baits by offering up a Food Source Lures Food & Cash promotion. Anglers and fans can win food and cash with this promotion during the tournament. “We want to draw attention to the fact that fish, just like people, prefer real food over plastic” stated Ed Rogers, President of Food Source Lures. “This should be a fun promotion that really sets our product apart from other baits. And gives the anglers and fans a chance to win.” Marinetech is offering a $100 cash bonus for each of the qualifying tournaments, plus $100 and two new T-4 Electro-Steer and wireless steering systems for the Championship. Teams must enter with a Panther Trim-N-Tilt, T-4, Electro-Steer or Detwiler jack plate on their tournament rigged boat to be eligible. Panther and Detwiler are wholly owned subsidiaries of Marinetech Products Inc.Pennzoil Marine is on board in 2006 as a new sponsor with the MWC. Pennzoil Marine will be coordinating a promotion with the MWC, but the details are still being worked out with the parent corporation, Shell. Stay tuned for more details.Salmo Performance Lures is offering a free hat to MWC anglers with a purchase, plus free shipping. And, if a team wins an MWC event using a Salmo crank bait, Salmo will pay $500 in product to the winning team.Ice Armor, a new sponsor in 2006, makes cold weather rain gear second to none. A drawing will be held at each rules meeting for one lucky team to win a new set of the custom-blue high performance outerwear. If the lucky team that is drawn wins the tournament – an extra bonus of $1000 will be paid by Ice Armor. Walleye Central will continue to provide live leaderboard coverage as well as the official “timer” boat for the MWC tournaments. North American Fishing Club has donated 500 mini-tackle boxes, complete with jigs and baits, as a hand-out for the NPAA Kids Fishing Clinics, noted above, that will be held on Friday evenings at each qualifying tournament.Cabela’s is the title sponsor for the Masters Walleye Circuit. Official Sponsors are Ranger Boats, Mercury Motors, MotorGuide, Lindy Legendary Tackle, Lowrance Electronics, North American Fishing Club and Outdoor Life Network (OLN). Associate sponsors are Salmo Performance Lures, Panther Marine-Tech Products, Tommy Docks, The Inhibitor, Food Source Lures, Ice Armor, Pennzoil Marine and Walleye Central.For more information contact Cabela’s MWC Club headquarters by email at: [email protected] or toll-free by phone at 877-893-7947. More information is available on the MWC website at: www.masterswalleyecircuit.com