NPAA News BLAST: Masters Walleye Circuit 2023 Schedule Released
Category: article
Aug 12th, 2022 by Keith Worrall
Modified Aug 12th, 2022 at 9:52 AM
The Bass Pro Shops / Cabela’s Masters Walleye Circuit (MWC) recently unveiled its 2023 schedule to industry companies at ICAST in Orlando, FL. The MWC is the longest running National Walleye Circuit of any kind and targets high-stakes, team-format qualifying events on seven of the nation’s top walleye destinations, while following our mission statement of focusing on the “Best Walleye Waters At The Best Times, For The Toughest Anglers On Planet Earth.” Entry fees for the 2023 season will remain unchanged as they have been for more than 12 years.
As the 2023 Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s Masters Walleye Circuit will enter its 39th year, teams will have seven qualifying events to choose from to vie for a chance to qualify for the longest running circuit championship in all of walleye fishing. Top point-accumulating teams on the 2023 circuit fishing three or more events will qualify for the 2024 Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s MWC World Walleye Championship, September 26-28, 2024 at Alpena, MI.
“We try to gain input from the anglers each year to build out an exciting schedule that anglers would want to fish, and hold them in communities that welcome the anglers.” Tournament Director Jeff Kelm said, “We also try to move the World Walleye Championship across the county from east to west and back again to better serve anglers and to test their skills to see who can earn the title of World Walleye Champions.”
The 2023 Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s Masters Walleye Circuit tournament schedule will look like this, pending permit approvals from various state agencies:
March 17-18, Spring Valley, IL. (Illinois River)
April 21-22, Monroe, MI (Lake Erie/Detroit River)
May 5-6, Redwing, MN (Mississippi River)
June 16-17, Lake Erie, OH (Cleveland Area)
July 21-22, Oconto, WI (Bay of Green Bay)
August 25-26, Wagner, SD (Lake Francis Case)
September 15-16, Cass Lake, MN (Cass Lake)
2023 WWC October 5-7, Pierre, SD (Lake Sharpe) (2022 Season Qualifiers)
2024 WWC -Alpena, MI. September 26-28 (2023 Season Qualifiers)
The Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s Masters Walleye Circuit’s lucrative payouts, based on the number of teams entered in each event, provide even more inspiration to join the fun. In addition, the MWC big-fish pot, option pot payouts and sponsor bonuses including Ranger Cup, Lowrance Electronics, Okuma, and T-H Marine Atlas Awards add thousands more to the total. As a result, winners have a chance at pocketing $10,000 or more in extra awards based on these bonus programs in cash and prizes. Plus, the first-place team at each event wins a $1,000 Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s National Team Championship Prize Package including paid NTC entry, travel stipend, team jerseys and plaques. The MWC always pays back considerably more than 100% in cash and prizes every year.
Teams fishing at least four qualifying events in 2023 will compete for “Team of the Year” awards including a $10,000 “MWC Living the Dream” sponsorship package and thousands more in cash, Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s gift cards and paid tournament entries.
Under the umbrella of The Walleye Federation (TWF), the Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s Masters Walleye Circuit is North America’s longest-running and undisputed leader in team walleye tournaments and as an inductee into the freshwater fishing hall of fame, has set the standard for competitive walleye fishing for 38 years, since 1984. MWC events are open to avid walleye anglers from all walks of life. Registration for the 2023 events will open in January 3, 2023 online at masterswalleyecircuit.com.
Bass Pro Shops & Cabela’s – The World’s Foremost Outfitters, are in their 21st season as title sponsor of the Masters Walleye Circuit. Official sponsors include: Lowe Equipment Attachments, Lowrance Electronics, Mercury Marine, Ranger Boats and The Walleye Federation. Associate sponsors include: Church Tackle, Okuma, Power-Pole, Fish Labs and T-H Marine. For more information, email [email protected], or call (580) 765-9031.