mwc 2001

[minnow]

What's up with the mwc? there's only 18 teams from the championship field fishing atleast 5 tourneys this year. the keenans aren't even fishing 5 tournaments. i don't even think the world champions from 2000 are fishing 5 tournaments. i really need some comments on this. how many tourneys do you think will be filled this year? besides spring valley which fills every year. i don't think any will be filled. What's up! What's up!!!!

[Fuzzy]

IMHO - There appears to be a lot of 'shifting' in the tourney world this year as MWC and PWT numbers are off from previous years. The RCL seems to be absorbing a lot of competitors from other circuits. Plus there are more 'smaller' venue ciruits and tourneys thorughout the midwest that draw participation. Perhaps we are beginning to see a 'watering down' affect like in the NHL and NFL from expansion - too many events - not enough competitors. I dunno - just a hunch. Maybe some guys just don't want to take some time off.

[Eric Olson]

Minnow,
Glad to hear people are keeping tabs on us, Don't want to fade away you know. I think the situation is somewhat like what Fussy had said. So many tourneys... so little time. For Jason and I it was a very difficult decision.Time off is an issue and to be competitive you need to prefish, that takes time and mental preparation. We also felt strongly that we could have done very well on the MWC this year but it was time for us to make the jump to the RCL. We are however fishing the Oconto tourney of the MWC as well as some other smaller tourneys.
Keep in mind all the teams that will pick and choose which tourneys they fish on an individual basis. This will skew the early bird registration #'s down but will still allow big #'s to show at each tourney.
Fear not, the MWC is a great circuit and will have good #'s and will be run better than ever this and upcoming years. We all know many people that started in the MWC and are now in the top of the industry. Both on and off the water, class people that started as "donators" and worked hard to move to the elite status. I know Jason and I will miss the MWC and the comraderie you get fishing all the tourneys but the friendships will last forever. Remember, fishing is supposed to be fun, promote the fun!
Just my 2 cents,

Tight Lines
Big Fish
Eric Olson

[JWilson]

I view it as something similar to when the PWT was formed. The MWC lost a lot of names and bodies then too. The RCL did take its toll on the MWC but the circuit will rebound and be as strong as ever in the future. It is a great experience and a great way to wet the feet in competitive fishing. Besides how many other circuits out there do you think would love to have a guaranteed 60-65 boats in their tournaments?

[Maura Ries - MWC Event Manager]

Thank you for your interest in the Masters Walleye Circuit. We are really looking forward to another great year and an excting tournament season. Please be sure to keep checking the Offical MWC Web Page at Walleye Central for the latest accurate information on the 2001 MWC Circuit. The MWC is proud to be one of the oldest and still the strongest team wallye fishing circuits in the Upper Midwest. We thank the strong support of the anglers and local communities and look forward to continuing to grow the circuit.

The Wildlife Forever-Masters Walleye Circuit VIP early registration ended on January 31 with a total of 66 VIP teams signed up to fish 5 - 7 tournaments. "We had a very positive response to the two new tournament sites in Dubuque, IA and Lake Erie, OH. Many of the teams have signed up to fish in the new tournaments and over half a dozen teams have signed up to fish all seven tournaments," said Maura Ries, Event Manager of the MWC.

We are pleased to announce that many teams have returned to fish the MWC circuit, including the Father & Son Team of the Year - Tim & Jim Minnema and the Husband & Wife Team of the Year - Glenn & Carol Chenier.

We had an overwhelming response to the new registration on-line through Walleye Central and when I got to the office the morning of February 1 - I had over 75 on-line entries! This is a very exciting time," said Ries.

[Dave]

Does the word resession mean anything?
Dave

[Juls_WI]

Eric and Jason,

It's just not going to be the same without being able to see you two at the MWC events :-(. Good luck to both of you in the RCL!! ;-) Hope to see you at Lake Erie in April.

Juls

[Eric Olson]

Thanks Juls!!!!
We'll miss it too but we'll around!
Oconto in July is always fun!!!
you have to admit sittin' near the top after Saturday makes for
an interesting Sunday... doesn't it???
Good luck,
Kick Butt
Take Names,

EO

[white tail]

Does TOO MANY TOURNAMENTS on one circuit mean anything!!!!!!
7 tournaments!! How many teams have that kind of time??!
If you want to have a bunch of tournys at least split them into
east and west division with 3 or 4 tournys in each division!
Working people would have time for that! 98% of the teams are just that working people with limited amount of time.

What do you think MWC??

[gonfishn95 NPAA #273]

I have fished the MWC over the years and I liked it when they had it with pick your best 5 nothing has changed. You can still fish just 5 and fish the championship, The only difference is if you and your partner have a bad tournament you have the option of going to another. Now you have the option of fishing when you want a little more.
I looked at the list for Spring Valley and I see names that have not fished all 5 in previous years and I see a lot of new names. I know of some who are only entering 1 at a time because they wish to fish other sites.
As far as too many tournaments it shows the sport is growing it took a lot of years for walleye fishing to start getting the recognition it deserves. $$$$$$$
Consider this there are tournaments for every price range and dates.
Just because the MWC and WILDLIFE FOREVER have merged and there are some new people things will keep right on going, I feel they will make mistakes and will grow. I was with BEV & KAZ A LOT over the years and as it grew the 2 of them had a lot to do. Now we have a bigger support with the way it is setup.
Now if you wish you can fish as many as you want. Seems to me I could go fish a tournament every weekend somewhere If I wanted.
So as I read somewhere "SHUT UP AND FISH"
STRAIGHT AHEAD.
Larry Dawson NPAA #273

[Steve Baugnet]

Larry i believe if you had the time you would fish a tournament every weekend, but you would run out of quarters.

[gonfishn95]

hey Steve I have enough quarters and time, but not the desire.
Maybe I will later. E-mail me and we will talk privately.
Larry

[eyeguy]

east & west divisions would cut down on distance,travel time an
expenses. plus you could fish one side or both. sounds good to me.

[Algore]

What recession, we handed you the best economy in over a decade when we looted, er left the White House. But now look, GW has been in office 4 weeks and homless numbers are at their highest in 10 years and there is a recession coming. By the way, do you know anyone looking for a guy who will do ANYTHING for money? I am looking for a university or corporation to run. Maybe teach or hit the public lecture tour? Even leser items like manage a chain of Taco Bells, or even counter help? I can warsh cars, clean your house, clean dorm rooms, do odd jobs around the house. Heck I am one heck of a lawn cutter guy and weed puller! Just send me your requirements and I will custom tailor a resume to fit the qualifications of the job. Tipper will work for food, too!

[Slip_Bobber]

Soap box time. In 1987 my wife and I fished our first MWC tourney. The second day after weighing our fish I came back to the beached boat and found my wife in the next boat talking to a gray bearded gentleman. I stood there with my mouth wide open. The man she had momentarily befriended was none other than Gary Roach. From that time on I new this was a group I would like to spend some time with. Over the years I have fished with several partners and have had enough great experiences to write a very long book. My point is , the MWC does need good leadership to keep it strong but the fisherman and women are what the MWC is all about!!! I have fished many other circuits and still think the MWC is one of the best run, most enjoyable, and competitive circuits there is. Other circuits are out and I will fish a couple of them but I am fishing the MWC this year ( at least 5) and can't wait to get started!!

Have fun,
Michael Meyer Jr NPAA #67

[eyeguy]

Hey SLIP-Bobber
I AGREE THE MWC IS ONE OF THE BEST CIRCUITS THERE IS TO FISH!
I THINK THE NUMBER OF TOURNAMENTS IN ONE DIVISION IS A LITTLE
TO MUCH FOR MOST TEAMS TO HANDLE AND STILL BE COMPETITIVE.
IF THERE WERE TWO DIVISIONS (EAST AND WEST} MORE TEAMS WOULD
HAVE THE TIME AND MONEY ETC. TO COMPETE AN STILL BE COMPETITIVE. IF YOU COULD FISH 3 OR 4 TOURNAMENTS INSTEAD OF 5 TO 7 AN HAVE
A GOOD CHANCE OF MAKING THE CHAMPIONSHIP,YOU WOULD HAVE MORE TEAMS ABLE TO FISH. MORE TEAMS THAT CAN FISH MEANS BIGGER AND BETTER!! RIGHT???
MWC FISHERMAN WHAT DO YOU THINK??

[Raybob]

Bump Up

[Bayside]

Payout is one issue the MWC payout of 78% doesn't compare with the 130%+ payouts of the PWT and RCL! Plus there isn't a $35 conservation fee taken off the top.

[bump]

another bump up

[Eyefish]

I agree with both Slip-Bobber and eyeguy, the MWC is a great circuit. I also have had the chance to rub shoulders with some of the countrys best competition walleye fisherman while fishing on this circuit.
My partner and myself fished all 5 tournaments last year and qualified for the championship 2001. I used all of my time off that I am allowed from my day job which gave me three days off for every tournament. This is not enough for a big money walleye tournament, (but what is?.)My partner had 4 days off for each tournament.) It seems that the new MWC management is trying to jam to many tournaments into one season to generate more money It is hard enough being able to compete with limited time and budget in 5 tournaments let alone 7 tournaments. Few people have enough time or money. Spread things out to far and it will end up dilluting the fishermen too tournaments that are much more locally accesable and affordable.

[Pete W]

You can expect to see two divisions in 2002 with 5 sites per. It was just too big a jump to double the number of tournaments in one year and ensure everything went smooth.