MWC 2004 Schedule minus Red Wing & Big Stone…!

Cabela’s MWC Announces 2004 Season

New Eastern Division Established and “MWC Challenge” Created

Minnetonka, MN- Cabela’s Masters Walleye Circuit, the premier organization in competitive team walleye fishing, will expand its reach to more anglers in more states for the 2004 tournament season, with the addition of a new East Division. Teams will compete in a new two division format; MWC Central Division and MWC East Division.

“Anglers in Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York and surrounding states have been asking for this for some time.” stated Director Kristine Houtman. “The new division and Challenge format is a great addition to the Cabela’s MWC trail because it not only offers new opportunities for eastern anglers, it also benefits long-time MWC competitors who have fished the circuit for years.”

Each of the Central and Eastern divisions will feature three events on some of the nation’s most renown walleye waters, with tournament purses of $100,000 each, based on a full field of 200 team. Anglers will compete for the coveted Team of the Year title in each division, plus those who finish in the top 10 percent, overall, in each division will earn a spot in the prestigious Cabela’s MWC World Walleye Championship and the chance to win its $25,000 first-place prize.

In addition, anglers who take the MWC Challenge by fishing all three events in their division, plus any one of the three events in the other division, will have an additional chance to make the Championship roster. The top 20 percent of MWC Challenge competitors will go to the Big Show. Plus, $20,000 for MWC Team of the Year pays out to the top team in the MWC Challenge, an added incentive to fish a fourth tournament.

“The communities hosting MWC in 2004 are very excited for the opportunity and will roll out the red carpet for MWC anglers,” stated Houtman. “The quality of the fisheries in each and every site is so strong; we really expect a great year for tournament competition.” MWC views expansion as an opportunity to grow team walleye fishing to national stature, stating that it’s a natural progression.

2004 MWC Central Division:

March 27 & 28: Illinois River, Spring Valley, IL June 26 & 27: Lake Winnebago, Oshkosh, WI September 18 & 19: Leech Lake, Walker, MN

2004 MWC Eastern Division:

May 22 & 23: Lake Ontario, Henderson Harbor, NY July 17 & 18: Lake Chautauqua, Jamestown, NY August 7 & 8: Saginaw Bay, Linwood, MI

2004 Cabela’s MWC World Walleye Championship* October 13-16: Mississippi River, Prairie du Chien, WI.

*for 2003 season qualifiers

Purchased by the North American Fishing Club (NAFC) in 2001, which then partnered with mail-order and retail sporting goods giant Cabela’s, the MWC has set the standard for professional walleye tournaments. It features the nation’s top walleye anglers and sports the most lucrative payouts in professional team fishing. Team entry fee is $600. Also, a portion of every entry fee is specifically designated for walleye conservation for fisheries improvements.

MWC brochures containing the 2004 schedule, entry forms and rules are available by calling toll free (877) 893-7947, by e-mail at [email protected] or via the Internet at http://www.masterswalleyecircuit.com.

It’s a sad day that they dropped 2 of the best fisheries from their circuit.

And added Leech? I was surprised with that move. But what do I know?! Having less traffic on the river in the late summer won’t be bad but all the attention to a great fishery wasn’t all bad either. IF the RCL goes too it’ll be lonely around the river in September, that’s for sure.

My guess would be that they got tired of all the local guys taking the checks. Alot of local tournament fisherman on pool 4. Thanks, Bill

What it came down to was they felt that the Lake City tournament did not have the “draw” to fill the full field of 200 boats. This was also the case with the Big Stone Tourney. They feel confident that Leech and Lake Winnebago will fill besides Spring Valley (good luck). I tried the old trick of saying “look at how many anglers participate in the MWC from that fish somewhere on the Old Miss, whether in Minnesota, Iowa etc.” but it did not work. Really a sad day for a lot of us whom participated so long in the MWC. I think you will see a LOT of changes with the veterans next year. Oh well, good things never last I guess.

Bill Cadwell wrote:

“My guess would be that they got tired of all the local guys taking the checks. Alot of local tournament fisherman on pool 4.”

I disagree. A lot of those same anglers “Took Checks” at other stops on the circuit as well as “Team of the Year” titles. Pool 4 is a true “Proving Ground” for some of the best sticks out there. And if you are going to have a tourney, don’t you want the best to show up?

jimsiewert wrote:

“They feel confident that Leech and Lake Winnebago will fill besides Spring Valley (good luck).”

Jim, I agree. Good luck on filling out at Leech. I’m surprised ANY Minnesota in-land water was chosen. One line per angler will not go over well with many MWC vets. Bago…..well there is a lake that don’t see many tourneys….not. As I see it, Pepin has as good a chance to fill as Bago. All depends on what happenes with the tourneys on the 2-3 weekends before I guess. Certainly not “Fresh” tourney waters.

Jon J.

Thats too bad to see these great waters go. My bet Red Wing will be back on the map in the years to come. I agree that Leech will be a tough sell. And yes Bago will sell just fine. I too will miss fishing the Red Wing event. This system offers such a diverse nature of the fish. Where else can you have this size of a system and have so many different patterns going at any one given time?
I know I will probably get drilled for this one….but why Leech?

I won’t drill you Steve. I wonder the same thing. However, I’m sure many of the locals to Leech probably feel the same way we do about the river. It’s such a huge body of water, I’m sure there are multiple types of bites going on at any given time. Having said that, I’ve never been on Leech. I understand it’s a very shallow lake for it’s size, so it would surprise me if the lake could offer the diversity of the river. Of course this all comes from a guy who can’t seem to catch fish without a little moving water. These dang MN lakes have beat me down this summer. I’m really looking forward to getting back on the river in September.

John

Unfortunately it comes down to filling tournaments, not the fishing usually. I think Leech and Winnebago will each be popular locations. Only time will tell. I would imagine that Red Wing will be on the schedule again in the future. I though that SD would probably get one of the events. It seems the way it is now they have an East Central Division not a Central Division.

I think they also need to consider increasing the entry fee again. Just my thoughts.

I think they will be back someday. Its too good of a fishery. Jon, I have heard alot of anglers gripe about too many good locals on pool 4 and they do take alot of the checks. They complain its too hard to beat all the good locals here. But that just shows how good a fishery it is or their wouldn’t be that many good tourney and reg. anglers living in this area. Alot of people have moved to Lake City and Red Wing and commute to Rochester or the Twin Cities for their job. Why, they want to be near a great fishery. Some circuits like going two years to a place then change locations for two years and then come back. Mixes it up some. Learn different bodies of water that way too. And like Jon said: the best show up here. Why, because its one of the best fisheries around. Why else would the major Circuits hold so many tournaments here? Thanks, Bill

reply to Bill…I agree that Red Wing/Mississippi is an awesome fishery, but the reasons that the MWC/RCL will be taking a break from this body of water is due to other reasons than ‘locals taking home the checks’. The MWC is not returnning immediately is so that other bodies of water can be used for tournys. The reason that for the RCL is that the RCL sets up a two year agreement with each location to hold their tournys. The RCL was in Red Wing last year, and they will be here again in October. Bodies of water, such has Red Wing, cannot hold 220 boat tournys in my opinion. It is too much pressure in such tight places. Bodies of water that are the size of Bago or Lake Erie can hold tournys of this nature, year after year.I believe the mwc is going to fill the tournys next year,but agree with Jon that,none of the sites are new water.Good luck to everyone fishing next year.

???? The RCL fishes both pools 3-4. Jamie you dont think that is enough water for a 220 boat tournament?

Again,this is just my opion.AS for pool three at this time of year I believe there is 3 maybe 4 spots that good limits can be pulled if the wing dams are not going.AS last year we watched 70-90 boats head to bufflo slough.Spots on spots here if your lucky enough to get a good boat number you have a good chance.AS for pool 4 alot more fishy water but you loose valuable time locking down.Anyone that knows me knows that Iam not one for fishing in crowds(Right J)and being a 4 time Rcl championship qualifier I believe there is better spots to hold a championship of this size,and mark my words there will be over 220 boats this year.Good luck.