MWC Returns to Big Stone Lake
Berkley Trilene/Ranger Boats MWC Tourney May 17-18, Ortonville, Minn.
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 rigs
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 <http://www.masterswalleyecircuit.com/>
http://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.
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