Minnetonka, Minn. - After a four-month break, Masters Walleye Circuit (MWC) teams have their game faces back on and are ready to duke it out in a battle between the best of the best walleye anglers in the country. Lake Michigan's Bays de Noc will serve as competition waters for the Cabela's MWC North American Fishing Club/Lindy Legendary Tackle team walleye tournament scheduled for Sept. 13-14 at Escanaba/Gladstone, Mich. Located in the scenic Upper Peninsula of the wolverine state, Little and Big Bays de Noc have earned a well-deserved reputation as one of the country's top walleye fisheries. Double-digit size fish are often caught, especially during the late summer and fall seasons. A key element to this prolific walleye fishery is the stocking program, began in 1989 and jointly supported by the MWC Conservation Fund and the Bay de Noc Great Lakes Sport Fishermen Club. To date, millions of walleye fingerlings have been released from the club's rearing ponds into the Bays.
Over a ton of walleyes, 2,353.21 lbs., were caught at last year's Bays de Noc event. The heaviest fish came in at 10.01 lbs. The circuit record, caught in July of 2000 from adjoining Green Bay at Oconto, Wis., tipped the scale at 12.34 lbs. It very well may have been one of the MWC's stocked fish.
Jim and Tim Minnema of Wis., the reigning Cabela's MWC Father & Son Team of the Year, took first place honors in 2002 with a ten fish limit totaling 46.38 lbs., pocketing a nifty $20,000 for their angling skills. They'll be back to defend their title but will face stiff competition from a veteran field, headed by hometown favorites, Glenn and Carol Chenier, a husband and wife team from Gladstone who have notched two victories, 1996 and 2001, on the Bays. The Cheniers also lead the current Cabela's MWC Team of the Year race with 190 points. According to Carol, "We've won the MWC Husband & Wife Team of the Year award four times, but winning the regular Team of the Year title would really be great. We could do it all this year with a win at the Championship."
A close second with 188 points are the 2001 MWC World Walleye Champions, Bert Wilson of Gladstone and partner Don Solis of Perronville, Mich. In third place with 185 points are Kim Spigarelli, Rapid River, Mich., and Bob Lauridsen, Oconomowoc, Wis. The eventual 2003 Team of the Year winners will be awarded $6,000. Teams will be competing for a cash payment in excess of $100,000, based upon a full 200-team field. The top 35 teams will share the prize money, with $25,000 going to the victors.
2003 marks the 15th consecutive year that the MWC has competed on the Bays de Noc. The tournament will be co-hosted by the Delta County, Mich. Chamber of Commerce (www.deltami.org or tel. 906-786-2192) and the Bay de Noc Great Lakes Sport Fishermen Club. Escanaba radio station MIX 106FM will also host a MWC team appreciation dinner at the Delft Club prior to the tournament. The MIX will also conduct live broadcasts from the weigh-in site at Gladstone. Boats will launch from the Gladstone and Kipling ramps. Tournament fishing hours will be from 7:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Sat., Sept. 13th, and 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Sun., Sept. 14th. Teams may weigh five fish per day. Only two fish over 23 inches will be allowed per team each day.
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, Flambeau, MotorGuide, Panther Marine, Daiichi Hooks, Yum Lures, Optima Batteries, Lure Eyes, Walleye Assassin Lures and the National Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame
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