CABELA’S MWC EAST CLOSER AUGUST 7 & 8 ON LAKE HURON
TOURNEY TO DECIDE DIVISION TEAM OF THE YEAR WINNERS
Minnetonka, MN-Lake Huron’s Saginaw Bay will be the setting for the
Cabela’s Masters Walleye Circuit east division third and final tournament of
the year. The Lowrance Electronics titled event takes place August 7 & 8
and will be headquartered at Hoyle’s Marina in Linwood, MI.
Kristine Houtman, Director of Events & Sponsorships for the MWC, states,
“The east division team of the year title is up for grabs. It’s a tight
race and won’t be decided until the last team weighs in. It’s going to be a
real shootout.”
Teams are awarded points according to their finish at each tournament. Alan
Baumgardner (Whitehall, MD) and Paul Kemery (Russell, PA) are tied for the
east division team of the year race with Pennsylvanians Ed Engler
(Salladasburg) and Tim Waltz (Williamsport) with 56 points. The top five
point-accumulating teams will share the division team of the year purse,
which is based on the total number of teams fishing a division. Currently,
176 teams are competing for $5,280 in east division team of the year prize
money.
Kemery, who serves on the MWC anglers advisory panel, commented, “My partner
and I are as nervous as cats going into this tournament. There’s a lot
riding on it-team of the year, the Challenge and qualification to next
year’s championship. Of course we’d like to win, and we’re glad the MWC
expanded this year. It’s given us eastern anglers the chance to compete and
match our skills with some of the best walleye sticks in the country. The
MWC is a first class operation.”
In addition to the east and central division team of the year races, a team
completing a division is eligible to take the $20,000 MWC Challenge by
fishing a fourth tournament. Challenge winners will be awarded $13,000 and
the overall MWC Team of the Year title. Second to fifth place Challenge
finishers will each receive $1,750. The top 20 percent of the Challenge
field along with the top ten percent from each division will qualify for the
no entry fee 2005 MWC World Walleye Championship with a payout of over
$100,000.
Nearly 150 teams representing nine states and Canada have already entered
the tournament. Jim Diedrich of Hoyle’s Marina will serve as tournament
director. He, his staff and the Saginaw Bay Area Convention & Visitors
Bureau will assist the MWC with tournament operations. Two flights of boats
will leave the launch site at 7:00 and 7:30 a.m. daily. The public is
invited to attend the weigh-ins, which begin at 3:00 p.m.
MWC sponsor, The Outdoor Channel, will televise the Saginaw Bay tournament,
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 MWC tournaments serve as
qualifying events to the 2005 Cabela’s National Team Championship. Each
team donates $15 to the MWC Conservation Fund which is used for fishery
related projects in tournament areas.
Tournament openings still exist. Further circuit information including
entry forms or website registration can be obtained at
http://www.masterswalleyecircuit.com, or by calling the MWC toll-free at
877-893-7947.
2004 Cabela’s MWC Remaining Schedule
MWC East
Linwood, MI, Saginaw Bay, August 7 – 8
MWC Central
Walker, MN, Leech Lake, September 18 – 19
MWC World Walleye Championship
Mississippi River, Prairie du Chien, WI, October 13 – 16, qualifying teams
from 2003
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