For Immediate Release For More Information Contact:
Kristine Houtman, 612-710-5584
Cabela’s Masters Walleye Circuit moves to Michigan’s Saginaw Bay for finale in East division –
presented by Lowrance Electronics
Minnetonka, MN – Next up, the finale of the Cabela’s MWC East Division on August 19th and 20th as the circuit heads to Hoyle’s Marina on Saginaw Bay. Will the Michigan team of David Kolb and Dan Byers be able to capture a third win in the East Division? The duo is definitely on a roll, and the next stop places them on home waters. With wins at Detroit River/Lake Erie in April, Henderson Harbor, New York, in May and a 3rd place finish in the Upper Peninsula Bays de Noc in June; Kolb and Byers are itching to get back in their Ranger Boat and dial in their Lowrance Electronics for the next event.
“We’re going to have to make the long run out of Hoyle’s – as the inner bay is full of one to three pound fish. We’ll be pushing right up to the boundaries in the hunt for big fish, which is what it will take for a win,” shared David Kolb. “It’s been a fun MWC season – I hope Dan and I can put another great tournament together.” Kolb and Byers plan a similar program to their previous successes, trolling spinners and crawler harnesses with in-line boards.
Kolb and Byers are poised in first place for Team of the Year points. Yet – there are no givens in competitive fishing, and there are a few teams that have eyed un-seating them. The Ohio/Michigan team of Jeff Manz and Greg Yarbrough are one team that is going to give it a shot. They, too, have been fishing really well in their first season with the Cabela’s MWC. Just one place out of the money at Spring Valley, the duo has gone on to cash a check at every event since. They finished in 4th place just behind Kolb and Byers at Bays de Noc, 9th place at Detroit River/Lake Erie and 3rd place at Henderson Harbor. “We will push ourselves and go on the hunt for big fish at Saginaw Bay. We need the win …and David and Dan need to falter a little bit. But… it could happen,” stated Jeff Manz of Vanderbilt, MI. “David and Dan have had a heckuva season, and if they win Team of the Year – they will certainly deserve it. But Greg and I will be back next year to try again if we don’t get it done this year.”
The Cabela’s MWC East Division has seen nice growth from new teams – like Kolb & Byers and Manz & Yarbrough. “We do wish there were more teams fishing not just this tournament but the whole MWC East schedule. I hope they come out for the season next year,” shared Manz. This sentiment was seconded my Dan Byers as well. “Michigan is the best walleye state in my opinion, and we have lots of great walleye fishermen. I just don’t know why the East division isn’t as big as the Central Division. I hope it keeps growing to get that way in the future” shared Byers.
“The Saginaw Bay fishery is in phenomenal condition,” offered Jim Diedrich of Hoyle’s Marina, the host location of the Cabela’s MWC tournament. “A lot of teams should be able to put a five-fish basket together each day. The question will be what kind of conditions we’ll get come tournament days for allowing teams to get to where they need to be for the big fish.” The public is invited to not only attend the weigh-ins on Saturday and Sunday afternoon, beginning at 2:30 pm, but also to attend a special Lowrance Electronics event at Hoyle’s.
Bruce “Doc” Samson, Lowrance pro-staffer, professional angler and former MWC Champion and Team of the Year, will host a free two-part seminar for MWC anglers and anyone in the general public that would like to attend. The FREE seminars will be held on Wednesday and Thursday evenings, August 16th and 17th. One night will cover the use of your Lowrance products for GPS; and the other night sonar. You will be amazed at how much your Lowrance units can assist you with your tournament strategy – but you have to know the in’s and out’s of the equipment thoroughly. The two-sessions are free both to anglers in the tournament as well as to the general public. The classes, held at the Hoyle’s Marina showroom, will begin at 5:30 pm and end at 8:15 pm; with a 15 minute break in between. Hoyle’s will have sandwiches available for a reasonable fee during the break. This seminar is brought to you by MWC sponsor, Lowrance Electronics. Nearly 90% of tournament anglers in the MWC rely on their Lowrance Electronics for their tournament edge.
Currently, 82 teams have signed up for the event, making the payout $39,519 as follows:
1st-$11,808
2nd-$5,511
3rd-$3,936
4th-$3,149
5th-$2,756
6th-$2,362
7th-$1,968
8th-$1,575
9th-$1,476
10th-$1,378
11th-$1,200
12th-$1,000
13th-$800
14th-$600
A few openings exist in the last MWC tournament of the season – Lake City, Minnesota. For more information go to http://www.masterswalleyecircuitcom or call the MWC office at 877-893-7947.
Remaining 2006 Schedule
Central Division
Sept 16/17 – Lake City, MN — Mississippi River
East Division
August 19/20 – Linwood, MI – Saginaw Bay
World Walleye Championship
October 4-7 – Prairie du Chien, WI – Mississippi River
Cabela’s is the title sponsor for the Masters Walleye Circuit. Official Sponsors are Lowrance Electronics, MotorGuide, Ranger Boats, Mercury Motors, Lindy Legendary Tackle, North American Fishing Club and Outdoor Life Network (OLN). Associate sponsors are Salmo Performance Lures, Panther Marine-Tech Products, Tommy Docks, The Inhibitor, Food Source Lures, Ice Armor, Pennzoil Marine, Farm and City Insurance Services and Walleye Central.
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