Rieger, Papalia Win Cabela's Masters Walleye Circuit Kinzua Qualifier
Presented by Zippo Outdoors
Bradford,
Penn.-June 20, 2015-Pennsylvania's Ryan Rieger and Joe Papalia sacked a
two-day, 10-fish limit weighing 15 pounds, 6 ounces to win the Cabela's
Masters Walleye Circuit's Kinzua Reservoir qualifying tournament
presented by Zippo Outdoors June 19-20.
Because
all 2015 Cabela's MWC tournaments are designated as "State Championship
Qualifying Events," Rieger and Papalia also earned the title of
Pennsylvania State Walleye Champions. Besides Keystone bragging rights,
they claimed a $1,000 prize package including custom trophies, custom
State Champions rings by Tight Lines Jewelry, a berth in the Cabela's
NTC, decals and a spot on the MWC website's Wall of Fame.
Rieger
and Papalia primarily pulled slow death-style nightcrawler rigs along
the tops and edges of offshore humps in 10 to 23 feet of water on day
one for a 7-pound, 1-ounce total. They added Berkley Flicker Shads to
the program on day two and put 8 pounds, 5 ounces in the basket.
"This
is the greatest thing ever," grinned Papalia after the weigh-in. "It
was a grind because inconsistent weather made the bite challenging, but
all of our efforts paid off."
Rounding out the top five were:
2nd: Mike Maholic, Scott Hotelling, 13-09, $3,800 cash
3rd: Dewayne Cawley, Steve Colley, 13-03 $2,500 cash plus $1,680 from the option pot
4th: Dan Johnson, Larry Rhoads, 11-11, $2,000 cash
5th: Glenn and Matthew Boser, 11-11, $1,600 cash
Big-fish
honors and the $200 Zippo Hot Hand Award went to Terry Zampogna and
Toney Avenali for a 6-pound, 7-ounce walleye. In 7th place, Jesse and
Dylan Nussbaum collected the $500 Lowrance Electronics contingency. In
all, the Cabela's MWC awarded a payback of $33,540 in cash and prizes.
"It's
an amazing feeling," Rieger, of Belle Vernon, said of his first MWC
victory. The win was worth over $13,000 to the pair including, $7,400 in
cash along with the $1,000 Ranger Cup contingency and $200 Okuma bonus.
He and Papalia, of Warren, also pocketed $2,520 in cash from the option
pot, and a $1,000 Cabela's National Team Championship Prize Package,
including paid entry into the 2016 NTC, travel stipend, team jerseys and
plaques.
Weigh-ins were held at the Richard E. & Ruth
McDowell Sport & Fitness Center Arena. The 47-team field brought a
total of 210 walleyes weighing 300 pounds, 14 ounces to the scales
during the event, including 18 five-fish daily limits. The Cabela's MWC,
National Professional Anglers Association, Pure Fishing and Zippo
Outdoor Brands presented a Youth & Family Fishing Clinic immediately
after the day-one weigh-in, with participating youths receiving
rod-and-reel combos courtesy of the NPAA.
Under the umbrella of
The Walleye Federation (TWF), the Cabela's MWC is open to avid walleye
anglers from all walks of life. The 2015 schedule spans nine states and
includes 11 regular-season qualifiers plus the 2015 World Walleye
Championship.
Cabela's, the World's Foremost Outfitter for
hunting, fishing and outdoor gear, is in its 14th season as title
sponsor of the MWC. Official sponsors include: Berkley Gulp!, Abu
Garcia, Lowe Equipment Attachments, Lowrance Electronics, Mercury
Marine, Ranger Boats, The Walleye Federation and Zippo Outdoor Brands.
Associate sponsors include: Yellow Bird Fishing Products, Okuma, T-H
Marine and Tight Lines Jewelry. For more information, visit masterswalleyecircuit.com or call (580) 765-9031.
This week is MWC Lake Petenwell! For a fact sheet CLICK HERE
NEXT is MWC event at Escanaba! should be a great event! get signed up today!
Fact Sheet for MWC Escanaba CLICK HERE |
