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| Lampen and Russel Win MWC Mercury Marine Walleye Tourney |
Oshkosh, WI - Fishing in only their second tournament, the rookie Michigan team of Doug Lampen (Allegan) and Jeff Russell (Grand Haven) bested a veteran laden field of 220 teams to win the Cabela's Masters Walleye Circuit Mercury Marine tourney held June 26-27 on Wisconsin's Lake Winnebago at Oshkosh. After weighing an impressive first day five fish limit of 17.91 lbs., which put them in second place, they added five more walleyes and 13.58 lbs. the final day to eek out the victory. They collected $28, 512 for their first MWC win.
"I didn�t think we had enough to win it because we only caught five fish today and one was just over the 15 inch limit, but it held up. Man, this is great, just great," beamed a jubilant Russell. He continued, "The competition level in the MWC is fierce. This feels real good to get one of these under our belts this soon."
The pair fished the Long Point area of the lake located near Miller's Bay and within site of tournament headquarters, Menominee Park. They trolled various colored Lindy Hatchet nightcrawler spinner rigs from in-line planer boards set 20 to 25 feet from the sides of the boat. A one-ounce sinker was added to the 20-foot leaders to keep the rigs just ticking the 18-foot depths.
Lampen added, "We ran the boat at 1 to 2 mph pretty much in straight line passes. Most of the fish, especially the bigger ones, came on the inside boards. We went through about 30 dozen crawlers."
Very close second place finishers were Wisconsinites, Wayne Butz (Oneida) and Don Frederick (Appleton) with ten fish weighing 31.21 lbs. worth $13,200. They also trolled the Long Point area but opted for crankbaits. The majority of their fish came on a silver/green colored Wally Diver with a red bill. Some walleyes were also caught on perch colored Storm Junior Thunder Sticks.
Third place went to Scott Dufrane (Little Chute, WI) and Jessie Vangrinsuen (Kimberly, WI). Their ten fish limit weighed in at 25.74 lbs., earning them $10,032. They trolled a combination of crawler rigs and crankbaits, stating that they didn't have any particular spot on the lake. Said Dufrane, "We were just running and gunning."
The top 35 teams shared the $107,014 cash purse. An additional $7,524 was paid in big fish prize money. Two Wisconsin teams took big fish honors on both tournament days. Randy Blasczyk (DePere) and Mark Piper (Green Bay) took day one honors and $1,505 for their 6.25 lb.walleye, while Jim Swiggum and Tracy Virnoche, both from Manitowoc, earned the same amount the second day with the largest fish of the tournament, a 7.76 pounder. Second place finishers, Wayne Butz and Don Frederick won an additional $1,000 for the highest finishing Ranger Boat owner in the Ranger Cup series. Tournament teams donated $3,300 to the MWC Conservation Fund which will be used for fishery related projects in states where MWC tournaments are held.
The tournament was hosted by the Oshkosh Convention and Visitors Bureau, assisted by the Lighthouse Anglers Fishing Club from Fond du Lac, WI. Hundreds of spectators viewed the weigh-ins, which will be featured on the Outdoor Channel television network.
Tournament Statistics
Number of teams: 220
Number of fish: 1,038
Total cash and prizes: $115,538
Total weight: 2,236.59 lbs.
Water temp: 65 to 70 degrees
Big fish: 7.76 lbs.
Water level: Above normal
Winning pattern: Trolling spinner rigs
Water clarity: To ten feet
Inside tip: Lindy Hatchet blades
Openings exist in the remaining 2004 MWC tournaments. Entry fee is $600 per team. Further tournament information can be obtained at www.masterswalleyecircuit.com, or by calling the MWC toll-free at 877-893-7947.
2004 Cabela's MWC Remaining Schedule
MWC Central
Walker, MN, Leech Lake, September 18�19
MWC East
Jamestown, NY, Lake Chautauqua, July 17�18
Linwood, MI, Saginaw Bay, August 7�8
In addition to Cabela's, MWC sponsors include�Lindy Legendary Tackle, Lowrance Electronics, Mercury Marine, North American Fishing Club, Ranger Boats, Smithwick Lures, Cotton Cordell, The Outdoor Channel, MotorGuide, Daiichi Hooks, Panther Marine, Lure Eyes, Xtreme Sports and Walleye Central.Com. |
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| Cabelas MWC Headed to Wisconsin's Lake Winnebago Mercury Marine Team Walleye Tourney June 26-27 |
Minnetonka, MN-The Cabela's Masters Walleye Circuit (MWC) is returning to Wisconsin's prolific walleye producer, Lake Winnebago, for the second stop of the sold-out Central Division. The Oshkosh Convention and Visitors Bureau is hosting the Mercury Marine titled event June 26-27 in Menominee Park located on Miller's Bay. According to Kristine Houtman, MWC Director, "We're thrilled with the angler's enthusiastic endorsement to this stop on the circuit schedule. There's a full 200-team field, which means they'll be competing for more than $100,000 in prize money. We pay 35 places with over $28,000 going to the winners. "There are also daily big fish pot cash prizes, and the highest placing registered Ranger boat owner will be awarded $1,000 from the Ranger Cup tournament incentive program.
Teams earn points according to their tournament finish, which determines qualification for the $100,000 no entry fee MWC World Walleye Championship. Cash awards will be given to the overall MWC Team of the Year; as well as the top five positions for the MWC Central Division, MWC East Division, and the MWC Challenge. Currently, over $34,000 has accumulated in year-end payout with $20,000 in the Challenge, $9180 in MWC Central and $4050 in MWC East. That's a fantastic payback considering the membership fee is just $30 per person and the entry fee $600 per team."
Local DNR fisheries biologist Kendall Kamke states heavy spring rains have filled the entire Lake Winnebago system to capacity, but the high water will not affect fishing conditions. He expects a good bite come tournament time. Heading the field will be the reigning MWC Team of the year, Glenn and Carol Chenier of Gladstone, MI. They believe the majority of teams will opt to troll crankbaits over the reefs and mud flats. Two top walleye producers are Cotton Cordell's Grappler and Smithwick's Mr. Walleye Rogue. Bright colored lures usually work best. Lindy and Thill slip bobber rigs tipped with leeches or crawlers are also good choices when fishing the reefs or rocky shoreline areas. Lindy Rattlin' Max Gap jigs featuring Daiichi Bleeding Bait hooks account for their share of shore and weedline relating walleyes.
Tournament boundaries include Lake Winnebago and the Fox River to the Hwy. 41 bridge. Teams are allowed to weigh five fish per day, measuring 15 inches or better.
There will be two daily flights of boats leaving the launch site at 7 and & 7:30 a.m., returning for weigh-ins at 3 and 4 p.m. Tournament standings and photos will appear as they happen on the www.walleyecentral.com live leaderboard. The public is encouraged to attend the weigh-ins each afternoon.
The tourney headquarters will be based from the Cabela's state-of-the-art, computerized mobile transport vehicle, which is specifically designed for tournament promotions. Follow up coverage and related articles will appear in the North American Fisherman magazine, the official publication of the Cabela's MWC. Further tournament and circuit information including entry forms or registration details can be obtained at www.masterswalleyecircuit.com, or by calling the MWC toll free at 877-893-7947, the Oshkosh CVB, toll free 877-303-9200 or 920-303-9200, www.oshkoshcvb.org and at www.walleyecentral.com.
In addition to Cabela's, MWC sponsors include- Mercury Marine, Ranger Boats, Lindy Legendary Tackle, Lowrance Electronics, North American Fishing Club, Smithwick Lures, Cotton Cordell, The Outdoor Channel, MotorGuide, Daiichi Hooks, Panther Marine, Lure Eyes, Xtreme Sports and Walleye Central. |
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