Minnetonka, Minn. -- After a year's absence, the Masters Walleye Circuit (MWC) returns to Big Stone Lake at Ortonville, Minn., May 17-18. The Big Stone Lake Area Chamber of Commerce will host the Berkley Trilene/Ranger Boats titled event. Popular local angler and businessman, Sonny Arndt, will serve as assistant tournament director and train in Jim Foster as tournament director.
Teams will launch and weigh in at Ortonville's Lakeside Park. The 135 tournament teams will be competing for over $65,000 in prize money, with $18,000 going to the winners. Additionally, the highest-ranking team that drives a Ranger boat will be awarded $1,000 from the Ranger Cup tournament series promotion. The winning team using Cotton Cordell or Yum products, mentioned on stage, will be awarded $300 in products. Weigh-ins begin at 3 p.m. Saturday and 3 p.m. Sunday.
Veteran Illinois MWCers, Dave Daughenbaugh (McConnell) and Steve Lotz (Lena), captured top honors at the 2001 tourney with a two day total weight of 32.7 pounds. Their fish were caught from shallow, rocky points located along the lower half of the lake.
The team used a varied presentation of firetiger-colored Long A Bomber lures, 3/32 ounce chartreuse jigs tipped with leeches, and slip-bobber rig consisting of six pound test FireLine with a 2-1/2 foot mono snell, a split shot and a leech on a size four hook. They fished depths between three and six feet.
Big Stone Lake is the headwaters of the Minnesota River. It's located in west central Minnesota and borders Milbank, South Dakota. Though relatively shallow, having a maximum depth of only 16 feet, the lake has one of the largest per acre walleye populations in the state. Its 26-mile length encompasses nearly 13,000 surface acres and contains more than 30 fish species. Contributions from the MWC Conservation Fund have played a major role in maintaining the lake's quality fishery as well as funding shoreline improvements.
There is no set pattern to extracting walleyes from Big Stone. These golden- flanked beauties can be caught most anywhere on this great fish-producing body of water.
During a decade of MWC Big Stone tournaments, eventual winners have employed a myriad of techniques. A circuit favorite is trolling crankbaits from in-line planer boards. Some trollers prefer using leadcore line. Most of the trolling action takes place in the upper portion of the lake.
Bob "Kaz" Kaczkowski, MWC consultant and emcee, recalls the first Big Stone tournament: "The weigh-in crowd and anglers were dumbfounded when the winning team announced that they had been casting six inch, three-hook plastic worms amongst the large boulders scattered along the shoreline in the lower portion of the lake." This is a method normally used for bass.
Casting crankbaits onto the bank, then ripping them back into the water, has triggered many strikes from otherwise reluctant fish. This presentation also proved to be a Big Stone tournament winner.
Both livebait and artificial lure techniques work equally well, but past Big Stone tournament statistics indicate that the larger fish are caught on crankbaits.
Savvy anglers will use the double whammy approach, which works well on shoreline or island points and along weedlines. They'll set out slip-bobber rigs tipped with leeches, crawlers or minnows, then cast crankbaits around the rigs. Fish, which may follow and be reluctant to strike the lure, often cobble up the livebait offering.
Mother Nature seems to influence the bite on Big Stone more than any other tournament water. Cloudy/windy days are more productive than calm/bright days. Anglers new to the lake should proceed with caution because the lake is appropriately named. It contains an abundance of big stones.
A final Big Stone Lake tournament angling tip: If you see carp working or spawning in an area, don't bypass it. Their rolling antics dislodge edible prey, which attracts walleyes.
This season's qualifying tournaments and Championship will be featured on The Outdoor Channel television network, allowing teams to receive national media recognition.
Tournament coverage and related articles will also appear in the North American Fisherman magazine, the official publication of the MWC. All circuit events will be conducted from Cabela's state-of the-art, computerized mobile transport vehicle, which is specifically designed for tournament television coverage. Additionally, all MWC tournaments will serve as qualifying events to the 2004 Cabela's National Team Championship.
Tournament entry forms and other important tournament details can be found on the MWC website at www.masterswalleyecircuit.com, or by contacting the MWC, 12301 Whitewater Dr., Minnetonka, MN 55343 or phoning toll free, 877-893-7947.
In addition to Cabela's, MWC sponsors include Berkley Trilene, Ranger Boats, Lindy Legendary Tackle, Lowrance Electronics, Mercury Marine, North American Fishing Club, The Outdoor Channel, Progressive Insurance, Cotton Cordell, Panther Marine, Daiichi Hooks, Yum Lures, Optima Batteries, Walleye Assassin Lures, Lures Eyes and the National Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame. |
