| | Mississippi River Water Levels are Dropping while Cabela’s MWC Optimism is Rising
Presented by Lowrance Electronics
 Minnetonka, MN – All eyes are on Pools 11, 12 & 13 of the Mississippi River for the last stop of the Cabela’s Masters Walleye Circuit qualifying season. The event, slated Saturday and Sunday September 8th and 9th, will be a dramatic event regardless of the water levels. The last stop will determine the new Team of the Year as well as Championship qualifiers for next year. The roster sits at 109 teams registered, making payout $16,900 for first place and $61,040 in total, paying down 19 places.
There’s plenty of additional money at stake as well. Add in $20,000 payout for the Team of the Year race and $8,640 for the Central Division Team of the Year payout. Plus $1,000 for the Ranger Cup and $1,000 for the Toyota Tundra bonus. That’s over $91,000 at stake. The anglers of the Cabela’s Masters Walleye Circuit are very ready for the season finale.
Scott Hausauer of Appleton, Wisconsin and Tony Larson of Gladstone, Michigan are in the lead for Team of the Year points. They are ready to get to Dubuque and put this one in the history books. “It is such a huge deal to be in this position, a great opportunity,” shared Hausauer, when asked about their lead position. “This is such a challenging circuit that it is really something to be proud of,” he continued. But they know they will have to work hard and boat ten fish to hold their own at Dubuque. “Tony and I have a strategy to be consistent with five fish per day. We hope that if we do that we have a real good shot at it.”
The top finishing team in Team of the Year points wins 65% of $20,000 – or $13,000 – and the honor of the title along with beautiful trophies and custom gold MWC Team of the Year rings. The teams in 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th place for points split the remaining 35% -- or $1750 each.
In addition to the overall Team of the Year honors, the Central Division will wrap up with its own awards. The top finishing team from the Central Division will receive 65% of the purse, which accumulates at $30 per team in the division. From the total of $8,640, the Central Division Team of the Year will earn $5,616 and the 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th place teams in points will each get $756. Trophies and recognition are also given to the Husband and Wife Team of the Year as well as the Father and Son (Family) Team of the Year. Currently Kevin & Karen McQuoid of Isle, Minnesota and Mark and Cathy De Deker of Larsen, Wisconsin are the top husband and wife teams. Jason and Bob Schine of Lake Villa, Illinois and Donald Olson of Andover, Minnesota and Michael Olson of Coon Rapids, Minnesota are at the top of the Father and Son group. Although a team further down can still make a big move with a nice finish at this event.
“The points are still really bunched up because of the 192-team tie for 5th place at Spring Valley this year,” shared Kristine Houtman, Director of the Cabela’s Masters Walleye Circuit. “Normally after two tournaments you’d see a lot more spacing – but because 192 teams received the same number of points – it really makes for an interesting finish.” Teams that do well in Dubuque will move up the points scale dramatically, and those that don’t will quickly drop down. There won’t be any “margins” that anyone can count on for this tournament. Everyone will be fishing hard for the cash payout – but also the Team of the Year and Championship honors.
The tournament weigh-in will be held at the Dubuque Greyhound Park and Casino on Greyhound Park Road on Saturday and Sunday afternoons, September 8th and 9th, from 3pm to 5pm. The public is invited. Anglers will trailer their boats to the parking lot of the casino and then weigh their fish on stage.
On Saturday, immediately following the weigh-in, the MWC/NPAA Youth and Family Fishing Clinic will be held for local families. Kids can receive cool fishing gear of their very own, including rods, reels and tackle boxes at the Clinic. The anglers will help teach the kids how to tie on their own tackle, including a slip-bobber. “I grew up dreaming over a bobber,” shared Frank Pilney, NPAA Angler #920, and host of the Youth and Family Fishing Clinic. “I know how wonderful it can be to enjoy fishing as a kid, and we want to reach out to the area youth of Dubuque and help them take up the sport of fishing.” Kids and their families are encouraged to watch the weigh-in on Saturday starting at 3 pm. When that is completed, at 4:45 or 5:00 we will begin the Youth Clinic. For children under 6th grade, at least one parent or guardian is required to attend with the child.
A conservation fund of $15 per boat, or $1635 will be channeled through the Mississippi Walleye Club for their work on fisheries habitat in the area. Shortly after the MWC tournament the club is planning on stocking over 4,500 4-inch fingerlings into pool 12. These funds will definitely help with that project. The Dubuque Area Chamber of Commerce and the Mississippi Walleye Club are hosting the event and will assist with tournament operations.
The flooding further up-river in Minnesota made National headlines in mid-August. That has everyone a bit nervous and dialing in the river’s hydro-measurements online to see the status of all the water downstream. Currently the river is at 12 feet and dropping steadily. “There’s real good fishing at these water levels and the clarity is improving, so we are hoping for a good bite for the tournament,” shared J.D. Knight of the Mississippi Walleye Club.
Only the World Walleye Championship remains for the 2007 season, scheduled October 3 – 6 at the Cabela’s store in Dundee, Michigan. The Cabela’s MWC World Walleye Championship is a no-fee, invitation-only tournament, paying out over $100,000 to the entire field of entries.
For more information please contact MWC headquarters at 877-893-7947 or by email at: events@masterswalleyecircuit.com.
Cabela’s is the title sponsor for the Masters Walleye Circuit. Official Sponsors are North American Fishing Club, MotorGuide, Toyota Trucks, Mercury Motors, Ranger Boats, Lowrance Electronics, and Versus (Vs.) television network. Associate sponsors are Tommy Docks, The Inhibitor, Food Source Lures, Ice Armor and Farm & City Insurance Services. |
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