The Cabela’s Masters Walleye Circuit (MWC) returns to scenic Allegheny Reservoir for a regular-season qualifying tournament presented by Zippo Outdoors June 19 and 20.
The MWC’s decision to return to Willow Bay was based not only on the skill level necessary to hook the Allegheny Reservoir’s high quality walleye, but also because of the immense support and enthusiasm of the Bradford community for last year’s tournament.
Launching from Willow Bay Boat Ramp, the event offers two-person teams a variety of fishing options on the river-run impoundment, which is home to Pennsylvania’s state record walleye— a 17-pound, 9-ounce behemoth.
Boats will launch at 7 a.m. both days and weigh-ins will start at 3:30 p.m. each day at the Richard E. and Ruth McDowell Sport and Fitness Center at Pitt-Bradford. Two-person teams will be allowed to weigh five walleyes measuring 15 inches and over each day, and the team with the heaviest two-day total weight will be crowned the winners.
The tournament weigh-ins are open to the public; bleachers will be set up in the parking lot to accommodate spectators and lawn chairs are permitted.
MWC officials say there was an impressive public turnout for the weigh-ins and a really high number of local team entries into the tournament, and they hope that it will be even easier this year for angling fans to come out to the weigh-in since it will be so conveniently close to downtown Bradford.
Last year’s first place team at the Allegheny tournament, Chuck Sabatose and Frank Mausser, both from Pennsylvania, took home $9,500 in cash. In all, the Cabela’s MWC awarded $39,360 in cash and prizes at the 2014 Kinzua Tournament.
This year, participating anglers will also be treated to a steak and chicken dinner sponsored by Zippo immediately following the mandatory rules meeting.
“A variety of presentations from jigging the trees to pulling crankbaits or spinner rigs should all take fish,” says circuit veteran and Zippo Outdoors pro-staffer Doug Yohe.
Indeed, a number of different approaches held water at last season’s Kinzua MWC tournament. In the end, Pennsylvania’s Chuck Sabatose and Frank Mausser racked up an impressive 20-pound two-day total to claim top honors by trolling Berkley Flicker Shads on leadcore line at speeds of 1.7 to 2.2 mph over rock piles and stump patches in depths of 16 to 36 feet.
Zippo and W.R. Case and Sons Cutlery Co. are continuing their combined sponsorship of the nationally recognized walleye fishing team of Bradford-based Doug Yohe and Charlie Brant again this year. The longtime team will be competing in a new 2015 Ranger boat, customized with a Zippo and Case-themed wrap.
Besides a shot at great fishing and the thrill of competition, the Cabela’s MWC offers lucrative payouts. In 2014 the Circuit rewarded anglers with a total payback of more than 127 percent. Payouts are based on the number of teams entered in each event. Plus, the MWC Big Fish Pot and sponsor bonuses from Ranger, Lowrance, Abu Garcia, Zippo Outdoor Brands and Okuma add thousands more to the total.
As an added incentive, the first-place team will win a $1,000 Cabela’s National Team Championship Prize Package including paid NTC entry, travel stipend, team jerseys and plaques. And new for 2015, the creation of an option pot adds even more chances to cash in. At the recent Big Stone Lake qualifier, for example, tournament champions Dan Sunne and Jim Hartman added $2,800 in option pot cash to their total winnings.
Adding to the excitement, all Cabela’s MWC tournaments are designated as “State Championship Qualifying Events.” Teams from the state where the event is held are eligible, along with teams from a state not hosting an MWC event in 2015 (provided at least 10 teams from their state are competing in the event). Besides bragging rights, state champions will earn a $1,000 prize package including custom trophies, decals, a berth in the Cabela’s NTC, and a spot on the MWC website’s Wall of Fame.
As a bonus to budding tournament fans, the Cabela’s MWC, National Professional Anglers Association, Pure Fishing and Zippo Outdoor Brands will present a Youth & Family Fishing Clinic immediately after the day-one weigh-in. The first 50 youths will receive rod and reel combos courtesy of the NPAA.
In addition to their youth outreach and fisheries conservation mission, which has given over $300,000 to fisheries conservation projects in tournament states, MWC tournaments awards thousands of dollars in prizes to anglers, including a $200 Zippo contingency prize for the biggest fish caught at each tournament.
Under the umbrella of The Walleye Federation (TWF), the Cabela’s MWC is open to avid walleye anglers from all walks of life. Deadline to register for the tournament is Monday.
For more information, visit masterswalleyecircuit.com or email info@masterswalleyecircuit.com, or call 580-765-9031.
