Beaver Dam, Wis., pro rallies to win Cabela’s National Walleye Tour Championship

OSHKOSH, Wis. – With five major victories in the past four years, Korey Sprengel is arguably the hottest walleye pro in the game. But if the young 26-year-old lacked anything on his angling résumé, it was a championship victory in a pro-am event. Sprengel rectified that today and notched win No. 6 in impressive come-from-behind fashion at the 2014 Cabela’s National Walleye Tour Championship.

Sprengel trailed pro leader Mark Courts by 3 pounds heading into the final day of the tournament. While Courts is a Minnesota native, Sprengel resides in nearby Beaver Dam, Wis., and fishes Lake Winnebago often. Even so, he was puzzled after an extensive practice and didn’t know what to expect as the event unfolded.

“Going in to the tournament, I had no idea how it was going to go,” he said. “It’s basically my home body of water and I had to relearn it on the fly.”

Sprengel started each day on the south shore of the main lake, approximately 15 miles from Oshkosh. There he targeted rock humps in 6 to 7 feet of water that topped out at 2 to 3 feet.

“There was one main hump and then small isolated humps off the main one. It’s something that’s not on a chip; I found it using my Lowrance StructureScan. In practice, I was catching more largemouth bass there than walleyes. I really didn’t know what I had. Each morning I would put that Mercury Pro XS to the wood. It was strictly a morning deal and I had to get there as fast as I could.”

After arriving, Sprengel would pitch an 1/8-ounce jig with a purple and white PowerBait Rib Worm. He opted for plastic instead of live bait because it allowed him to be more efficient, which was critical in the snaggy cover. Tied to the jig was 10-pound Fireline in Flame Green.

“About the fifth cast this morning, I land a 23-incher. My co-angler catches one on the crankbait not long after that. Then I catch another one on the jig. We had those three fish in the first 30 minutes.

“An hour or so later we landed a 17-incher. We kept it, but I was really hoping I didn’t have to weigh that fish. At 11:30 a.m., I stuck another 22-incher for No. 5. Then I really had to think about what I was going to do.”

The previous two days Sprengel would run back up to Oshkosh and search for big ones in the Fox River. But both days he came up empty handed. Calling a late audible today, he instead decided to embark on a milk run along the south shore. He first hit a weed spot, and then another hump.

“On the third spot, I found some more protected weeds, some coontail in 3 or 4 feet of water. Then I basically started flipping that same jig. Ten minutes into it, I caught another 22- or 23-incher. I knew if there was one in there, there would be many in there. So I eventually stuck another 23-incher and we were done with seven fish at 1:30 p.m.”

Sprengel weighed four walleyes between 22 and 23 inches in length and his smallest fish was a 19-incher. Together they combined to weigh an astonishing 18.42 pounds, the heaviest stringer of the entire tournament.

“I 100 percent knew that was possible. I said there was going to be a 20-pound bag this week. I was so surprised we couldn’t catch anything big in practice. All the big ones were just eating shad in practice. But those weed fish, if they’re in there; they are there for one reason, to eat.”

Sprengel then reflected on his latest win, one that garnered him a new Ranger 621FS and over $15,000, a total prize package with bonuses of $84,424.

“I’ve never worked so hard in a fishing tournament in my life. I had to do all I could to keep an 1/8-ounce jig under control in those (windy) conditions. And I was only getting those 5 to 7 bites a day. When I landed that seventh one today, I took a nice boat ride back and when I got in the harbor I could have slept.”

Ell’s comeback comes up just short

Second-year pro Jacob Ell commented yesterday after weigh-in that you can’t lose fish in a major championship and expect to win. At the time, he didn’t know how prophetic that statement would be. After catching a huge 18.26-pound stringer today, Ell finished the tournament with 43.08 pounds. Despite weighing only 14 of the allowable 15 fish, Ell was within a half pound of victory.

“This morning was slow and then all of a sudden this afternoon we just started catching big fish,” the Bismarck, N.D., native recalled. “Coming back in I definitely thought I had a chance to win.”

Like Sprengel, Ell had an area all by himself. But unlike Sprengel, he fished the northeast side of the main lake, approximately 14 miles from takeoff.

“It’s where the deepest part of the lake comes to the shoreline, a rock shoreline. It’s a shelf that goes from 4 foot and then drops into 11 feet and then further drops into the basin. I would put the boat in 11 feet and run the baits in 8 to 10 feet.”

At times Ell would troll up to 3/4 of a mile, but there was a definitive sweet spot within that stretch. Once he got honed in, he would continue working that area at speeds of 1.8 to 2 mph.

“I was running three of my planer boards on the shore side. I was using No. 7 Berkley Flicker Shads. On cloudy, overcast days, Black Gold and Black Gold Sunset were the best colors. When the sun would come out, Purple Tiger was the bait to be running. Today I switched over to Purple Tiger at 12:30 p.m. and the area just caught fire.

“I made sure those crankbaits were smacking the bottom. I definitely lost plenty of lures out there. The key for me was that I had to be hitting bottom to trigger those bites.”

After a tough practice and rumors of a tough bite before the tournament, Ell was ecstatic with his 18-pound final day.

“I couldn’t have even fathomed that driving out here. But still, I came in one fish short. Losing by a half pound sucks, but you’ve got to get past that. It’s still an awesome feeling to go out there and prove that a body of water can put out some good fish this time of year. Having this second-place trophy with me is surreal.”

In addition to the trophy, Ell also takes home a Ranger boat, his a 620FS.

Courts falls to third

This morning before takeoff, Courts was aiming for a solid weight in the 12-pound range. With a 3-pound lead, he figured that would be enough to take home his second tour-level championship. He ended up catching 11.44 today, but it was nowhere near enough.

“He flat crushed them today,” Courts said of Sprengel. “I’ll tell you what, I have a lot of respect for Korey. I was feeling pretty decent when I came in. All in all I fished a really clean tournament. We had one good fish on this morning that got away, but we didn’t see what it was.”

Fishing the mouth of where the Fox River dumps into Lake Winnebago in Oshkosh, Courts again experienced a strong bite Saturday.

“They were biting today; we caught probably 15. The only lull we had was later in the afternoon.”

Courts termed his technique rod-lining.

“The first fish I caught of the tournament came from pitching a jig and everything I caught after that was from rod-lining. My go-to bait was either the No. 7 or No. 9 Rapala Original Floater in Purpledescent. Today it switched and the best color was orange. We were running a hand-line shank with a weight. The crankbaits were always within 6 to 8 inches of the bottom, which had a mix of clam beds and rock. The target depth was 13 or 14 feet. For speeds, we were trolling at 1.5 mph.”

Courts used both his Evinrude E-Tec 15 H.O. kicker and his bow-mounted Minn Kota Terrova to troll – making repeated passes over the same stretch of water. The kicker provided the bulk of the power and the trolling motor did the steering.

After a poor regular season, Courts came to Oshkosh with a chip on his shoulder. In the end, he finished the event third with a total weight of 39.69 pounds.

“I absolutely wouldn’t have done anything different; I wouldn’t have changed a thing. It was a good spot, a spot the tournament definitely could have been won on. Finishing third is a nice boost of energy to take me into the offseason with some momentum. When it comes down to it, there are a lot of guys that would have liked to have been in the place I was in.”

McQuoid retains fourth

Kevin McQuoid figured the 10 pounds he caught on day one would be about the pace he needed to stay in contention. But even after improving his weights significantly on days two and three, McQuoid remained in fourth place throughout, finishing the tournament with 36.09 pounds. Needless to say, he and others grossly underestimated Winnebago’s potential, even during the summer-fall transition.

“This was awesome; it’s been a special week,” said McQuoid after weighing in. “Yesterday we had two 23-inchers and today we had one 23.”

McQuoid shared the same 1/2-mile stretch of water at the mouth of the Fox River with Courts. He trolled his crankbaits over water 10 to 20 feet, some of it breakline and some of it basin.

“We were handlining with No. 7 and No. 9 Original Floaters. Today orange was the key. Yesterday it was a mix of colors and the first day orange was the best again.”

Grothe finishes fifth

Ross Grothe of Northfield, Minn., started the tournament Thursday with a solid 9.91-pound bag. From there he steadily improved, bringing in a five-fish limit worth 13.33 pounds today. For a three-day total of 34.26 pounds, Grothe finished fifth.

“The first thing you want to do here at the championship is make the top 10,” said the veteran pro. “And then once you’ve done that, you shoot for the moon. Today, I caught only one of the fish and netted four. My partner was on fire, but it’s a team effort.”

Grothe too trolled the same general area as Courts and McQuoid.

“We were using Floating Rapalas and pencil sinkers.”

Rest of the best

Rounding out the top 10 pros at the 2014 Cabela’s National Walleye Tour Championship on Lake Winnebago:

6th: Ted Takasaki of Sioux Falls, S.D., 33.48
7th: Tommy Skarlis of Waukon, Iowa, 30.91
8th: Robert Cardenas of Gem Lake, Minn., 28.61
9th: Tom Keenan of Hatley, Wis., 27.37
10th: Jason Doyon of Sault Ste Marie, Ontario, 21.58

Kemos claims Angler of the Year

Tom Kemos of Oconomowoc, Wis., claimed the prestigious 2014 Lucas Oil Angler of the Year award after four events.

“It’s a huge deal for me,” Kemos said. “I’ve been close several times. I can still remember the fish I lost that cost me the title in years past. Going into this one, I was 19 points back, so I figured I was probably going to have to swing for the fence. After a rough opening day, I assumed it was over. To be able to finally pull it off, it’s awesome.”

Kemos wanted to thank his wife and his teammates and practice partners Gary and Chase Parsons and Keith Kavajecz.

“This is certainly one of the biggest titles I have,” said the 2006 PWT Championship winner. “To fish an entire season and be the top guy, it means a ton, both to me and to the great sponsors I have. I really see this season as the start of a new chapter for me.”

Cayemberg crowned co-angler champion

Craig Cayemberg was the fortunate co-angler to be along for the Korey Sprengel show Saturday. Cayemberg, a veteran co-angler, knew something special was under way after making the long run south and almost immediately picking up a game-changing fish.

“I haven’t hugged too many men in my life,” joked Cayemberg. “But when that big one bit within the first five minutes, that was the biggest man hug I’ve had in my life.”

That big fish was just the start of the 18.42-pound stringer. Combined with 9.91 from day one and 11.57 from day two, the Valders, Wis., resident finished the tournament with 39.90 pounds.

“I’ve really got to thank all my boaters first and foremost. The quality people you meet as a co-angler is second to none. This morning I was 4 1/2 pounds out of the lead. I didn’t really think that could be done.”

Cayemberg caught two of the seven keepers and one of the five that was weighed.

“I caught a 21-incher. I was the crankbait guy in the back. I was casting the No. 7 Flicker Shads (Firetiger). Winning really hasn’t sunk in it. I know I’m just a co-angler and it’s nothing like winning as a pro, but I work hard.”

OSHKOSH, Wis. – A record 165 boats commenced the 2019 National Walleye Tour season, presented by Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s, with unbridled optimism. That bliss, however, was short lived as Lake Winnebago, typically one of the premier fisheries in the Midwest, confounded the world’s best walleye anglers. Wet, cold, and dreary conditions put both the anglers and the fish in a funk. To adjust, a few astute pros went with the tried and true slip bobbering technique, including champion Zach Axtman.

Axtman, the second-year pro, refined his bobber skills on North Dakota’s Devils Lake, and those skills payed off in a big way. While some of the biggest sticks in the sport were struggling, Axtman finished early both days. On day one, he boxed his seventh keeper at 12:30 p.m., and today he was back in Oshkosh by 11:30 a.m.

“I’m from North Dakota,” chortled the Ranger pro. “That’s just what we do when the bite gets tough. When the water temp starts to drop, that’s the first bite that gets going. I wanted to make sure I had the bait in front of them for the longest period of time possible. I tried trolling for three days, but I could not get a consistent bite going.”

Axtman caught everything off one rock pile on the northwest side of the main lake. The pile was located approximately 200 yards off the bank and served as a rest area for postspawners that were returning from the river. On top, which was covered in medium-sized rock and gravel, it was 5 1/2 feet, and the sides dropped off to 7 to 10 feet.

“I only caught two fish off it in practice,” added Axtman. “I honestly didn’t think I could pull more than three fish off it per day. The area was so small; it was definitely a spot-on-the-spot deal. The more I fished, the more I realized what was on there. Today I could be more selective.”

Zach Axtman claimed the 2019 season opener on Lake Winnebago.His five weigh fish came in the following order: 20 1/2, 20 1/2, 20 1/2, 21 1/2, 20 3/4. In between, he boxed an 18- and a 19-incher. His official weight today was 13.90, which nearly emulated day one’s 13.50. He finished the tournament with a total of 10 walleyes weighing 27.40 pounds.

“I didn’t think I won. I was thinking I screwed up by keeping a fish and not giving myself a chance to find one truly big fish.”

Axtman’s bobber setup was a bare No. 4 red hook with medium-sized leeches. His main line was orange-colored 14-pound Berkley Fireline. On his leader, he used 6-pound Berkley 100% Fluorocarbon.

“My bobber bite was better with the northeast wind. That wind would blow it into the pile. I would just let it drift; I didn’t manipulate the bobber in any way. We did have to make sure the bobbers were out away from the boat. Otherwise, they wouldn’t hit it. They wanted it 6 inches off the bottom too. If you were any higher, they didn’t want it.”

After experimenting with crawlers in practice, Axtman noticed one of his fish spitting up several leeches.

“When I realized that, the light bulb went off. They were stopping there and feeding on leeches after dumping out of the river. The spot just reloaded. The next school would just come in. It was a matter of waiting for the right-sized school to come through. The key was having enough confidence in the spot to sit there and go through the fish.”

Pro Zach Axtman (left) and co-angler Michael Bertrand (right) proudly display their trophies.For claiming the 2019 season opener, the Rugby, N.D., native earned a Ranger 620FS with a 225-horsepower Mercury outboard, $15,000 cash, and another $3,719 in Anglers Advantage cash. His winning purse totaled $84,614.

“To be honest with you, it hasn’t sunk in it; I can’t believe it happened. My dad basically stopped being my partner in the MWC as a way to make me do this. To win the biggest tournament in NWT history, and beat out 165 anglers of this caliber, it’s a great feeling.”

Euting rallies to second, Gaines third

Local guide Tim Euting sat in third place after catching a 13.71-pound limit Thursday. Today, he caught another 11.46 to finish second with 25.17 pounds. Euting earned $28,840.

“Honestly, I’m super excited with second,” said Euting, who operates Get ‘em Hooked Guide Service. “I came in at 12:45 p.m. yesterday with my seven fish. Today, I had no fish in the box at 12:45. I hit the spots that I normally catch them on, but they weren’t eating. I went back several times, and they never worked.”

Euting eventually cobbled together a limit and then upgraded two times in the last hour of the day.

“I had to keep hopping around and grinding it out. I fished the same area of the lake; they just came on different spots today.”

The runner up focused on the west shore of the main lake and targeted shallow rock. The key depth was 6-7 feet. Euting estimated that he hit 15 different piles and nearly 30 spots altogether as some piles had multiple sweet spots.

“They come up to the rocks for food and for warmer water. I caught them mainly on a jig and a minnow. It was a 1/8-ounce jig with a fathead. I did catch two on crawlers, but it was mainly fatheads. I would give it a slow lift, and if I felt a bite, I’d give them time to suck it in and then set the hook.”

Euting tied his jigs to Berkley Fireline Crystal (white).

“You can feel everything with that line. Plus, you can visually see if it hits bottom, and you can see your bites.

“My only regret, and it’s not really a regret, is that my fish came in the wrong order on day one. I kept two 17s, and then 19s and 21s showed up. If I wouldn’t have kept those, I would have had two spares to play with. I couldn’t let a 21 go; I had to keep her.”

Lake Erie Charter Captain Randy Gaines fell one spot from second to third after catching a 10.96-pound limit. On day one, the Salem, Ohio, fisherman caught 14.18. His total weight for the tournament was 25.14. With an Anglers Advantage bonus, he cleared $22,613.

Gaines too spent the week on the main lake, fishing mainly the north and west shores.

“I ran the same spots I did yesterday,” said Gaines, who operates Nibble This Charters. “We caught a dozen fish today compared with only five yesterday, but I don’t know where the bigger fish went. I think my whole program, at least for the bigger fish, was based on really nasty weather.”

Gaines’ 1-2 punch was trolling and slip bobbering, both of which were done in shallow water.

“We were fishing shallow-water humps. I never weighed a fish in water that was over 4 feet.”

When he was trolling, Gaines would long line his No. 5 Flicker Shads, No. 4 Salmo Hornets, and No. 3 Phantom Lures Banshees so that they were crashing into the rocks. His bobber setup was a standard slip rig with a bare hook and leeches. Overall, trolling and bobbering produced an even split. Today, bobbering proved more effective.

“I tried to get the bait low and close to the bottom. I was continually putting action into it by jigging the bobber.

“I’m absolutely thrilled with third. Things came together really well.”

Larson fourth, Fredericks fifth

Rounding out the top five are South Dakota pros Thomas Larson and Jarrod Fredericks. Larson, the Estelline, S.D., native, was steady both days, catching a 13.14-pound limit on day one and an 11.30-pound limit on day two. Larson finished the tournament fourth with 24.44 pounds.

Fredericks, also from Estelline, S.D., managed similar weights. On day one, he caught 12.48 pounds, and today he brought in 11.28 pounds. With a two-day total of 23.76, Fredericks took fifth.

Rest of the best

Rounding out the top 10 pros at the 2019 National Walleye Tour event on Lake Winnebago:

6th: Tom Keenan of Hatley, Wis., 23.58
7th: Max Wilson of Campbellsport, Wis., 22.34
8th: JR Carter of Mandan, N.D., 21.65
9th: Jeremy Schreiner of Pepin, Wis., 21.17
10th: Kurt Grable of Oshkosh, Wis., 20.97

Bertrand crowned Co-angler champion

Michael Bertrand claimed top honors in the Co-angler Division with a two-day total weight of 23.44 pounds. Fishing with Fredericks on day one, Bertrand boated 12.48 pounds. Today Bertrand was paired with Gaines, and the two combined for 10.96. On both days, Bertrand caught most of his fish slip bobbering.

“I don’t know what to say; I’m just blown away,” said Bertrand, the Fergus, Ontario, native. “This has been a long time coming.

“Prefishing was tough. There were some days that definitely were not fun. This makes it all worth it.”

Bertrand will return to Ontario with a first-place purse of $6,000, plus another $1,425 in Anglers Advantage cash.

Up next

The next National Walleye Tour event is scheduled for May 30-31 on Green Bay in Marinette, Wis.

OSHKOSH, Wis. – For the second consecutive season, Wisconsin’s Lake Winnebago will host the season-opening event on the most lucrative tournament trail in competitive walleye fishing, the National Walleye Tour presented by Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s. Winnebago hosted the 2018 season opener when flood conditions along the Mississippi River forced a change in venue. This year’s opener was again slated for Red Wing, until a record 39 inches of snow fell during February, prompting officials to preemptively move the tournament due to flooding. The dates of the event, May 2-3, remain unchanged. While the Fox and Wolf rivers are high themselves, both are fishable and are producing impressive catches.

“The state of the fishery is strong,” said NWT Championship winner Max Wilson, who lives in nearby Lomira, Wis., and cut his teeth on the Winnebago system. “I think Winnebago is on the upswing; there’s certainly no shortage of walleyes. The good news is the abundance of shad is back to normal. We’re at the point where there’s enough bait where the walleyes are well fed, but they’re not overloaded. They’re hungry and willing to bite; it should be stellar.”

“The thing that really excites me about the change is having two tournaments in Wisconsin,” said Berkley pro Korey Sprengel, who won last year’s opener on Winnebago. “I really think this could be a record-setting year in terms of participation. We could possibly have 150 boats. That excites me more than fishing Winnebago itself. I’m super excited we’re going there, but I’ve also lost a lot of sleep. It’s not a fishery where anything is a given. Last year, I literally had no time to think about it. This year, I’m kind of freaking out. It is not an easy body of water to fish.”

The main lake recently iced out, which means the major wave of spawning is imminent.

“The Wolf is ripping pretty good,” added Wilson, the Triton-Mercury pro. “The water is up in the trees. The Fox is also high. It takes patience and heavier weights, but they’re eating; the bite is strong. By May, 95 percent of the fish will be spawned out and will be heading back towards the lake.”

“The major difference between this year and last year is that the water is already high this year,” Sprengel explained. “Last year we got like 8 inches of rain during practice, which made it high right before the tournament. But the water was already warm when it got high. This year it’s already high, which means it should take longer to warm up. The high, cold water will probably slow the migration. The water will also be clearer than it usually is.”

Wilson said that the walleyes head upstream to spawn along river edges and in the marshes. Once they’re finished, they head back down towards the main lake. While Wilson is confident that the peak spawn will be complete, he’s unsure exactly how far the walleyes will have migrated back.

“It can be won in the main lake; there are a lot of consistent bags that can be had,” he said. “But the kicker fish are harder to come by. There will be a lot of check cashing in the main lake. Most of the kickers come from the rivers and upper lakes. The river is a natural pinch-point for bigger fish. They like to sit there and rest.”

Wilson and Sprengel both agree that trolling on Poygan, Winneconne, and Butte des Morts will be common. Other popular techniques include live-bait rigs in the rivers, casting crankbaits to specific structure, and pulling flies. Last year, local pro Russell Gahagan pulled flies with pencil weights in the Fox River en route to a second-place finish.

“There’s a million different ways to catch them,” said the 22-year-old Wilson. “The thing about Winnebago is understanding the timing. There are definite bite windows, especially in the upper lakes. Those fish will make you wait all day sometimes. It’s notorious for turning on in the afternoon. To get the winning bag, you’re going to have to piece a few different patterns together, just like Sprengel did last year.”

“Casting both the Berkley Cutter and Digger is going to come into play again,” Sprengel predicted. “That’s how I like to fish though. I’d rather go to a specific area and pinpoint a fish. Time is everything in these tournaments; the more efficient you can be, the better you will do. I’d rather not randomly fish a roaming school.”

Anglers are permitted to keep seven walleyes each day and weigh their best five. Culling or upgrading is not permitted.

“I think 27 or 28 pounds will get you to the top 10,” predicted Wilson. “You’re going to see a lot of 10- and 12-pound bags. It’s just a matter of where those bigger fish are setting up. Guys will have to put in long practice days to figure out those bigger fish. Thirty-three to 35 pounds will probably win it. A few guys will have a monstrous day, but then they need to back it up. That (Fox) river can be so hero or zero with changing winds and current.”

“I’m thinking around 15 or 16 pounds will put you in contention,” concluded Sprengel. “You might not win, but you’ll be right there. It’s going to be tight because it’s pretty easy to catch 10 to 12 pounds. You just don’t know where your big bite is going to come from. Last year, everything just happened right for me.”

Anglers will take off each day at 7 a.m. Central time from Miller’s Bay/Menominee Park. The daily weigh-ins will also take place at Miller’s Bay/Menominee Park, beginning at 3 p.m. The full field fishes each day with the winner in each division being determined by the heaviest cumulative weight.

The National Walleye Tour consists of three regular-season events and a year-end championship. Each regular season event is a two-day, pro-am tournament and delivers over a 100 percent payback. Pros compete against other pros, and co-anglers compete against other co-anglers.

Registration is ongoing for the Lake Winnebago event. The deadline for guaranteed entry (by signing up with a pro or co-angler) is April 15. Registration can be taken over the phone or online by visiting www.nationalwalleyetour.com/tournaments/register/. For more information on rules and tournament payouts, visit www.nationalwalleyetour.com.

Professional walleye circuit gearing up for the third tournament of the 2016 season
NEW SMYRNA BEACH, Fla. (June 10, 2016) – Competitive walleye anglers will converge on Green Bay, June 23-24, at Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, for the third tournament of the 2016 Cabela’s National Walleye Tour. The tournament circuit features a pro-am style format and guarantees over 100 percent payback.

The Sturgeon Bay event begins Wednesday, June 22, with tournament registration from 2-4 p.m. at The Lodge at Leatham Smith (1640 Memorial Drive, Sturgeon Bay, WI 54235) with a mandatory pre-tournament meeting set to start at 5:00 p.m. Pro and co-angler pairings will be announced at the pre-tournament meeting.

Anglers will launch Thursday and Friday mornings at 7 a.m. from the The Lodge at Leatham Smith and return to the boat launch for weigh-ins at 3 p.m.

The last day for anglers to register for the NWT Sandusky event is Monday, June 20. To register, please go online and click on register. All anglers that register online will be entered in to a drawing for a $100 Cabela’s gift card.

During each day of competition, Triton Boats and Mercury Marine are offering free demo rides in the acclaimed 216 Fishhunter. The demo rides will take off from the boat launch.

The National Professional Anglers Association (NPAA) will also host a “Future Angler” program for children after Friday’s weigh-in, approximately at 5:30 p.m., featuring an educational seminar and training for youth from top-notch NPAA members. The youth-orientated event will include a free rod/reel combo or “Future Pro” t-shirt for the first 150 children who attend the educational program.

Anglers who are participating in any of the numerous contingency prize programs are encouraged to submit all pertinent information at registration to remain eligible for any potential bonus money.

Each NWT tournament features over 100 percent payback. A fully rigged Ranger Boat, plus cash, is guaranteed for first place at each event – a total value of $61,000. Anglers that fish all three regular-season events, in addition to the top points leaders, will qualify for the three-day, entry-fee championship.
The tournament circuit also includes unprecedented television and media coverage, allowing a national audience to watch the action unfold from each event throughout the season. Airing on multiple networks, the National Walleye Tour will be seen on FOX Sports, and Pursuit Channel, as well as the NBC Sports Network.

For more details, anglers are encouraged to call 612-424-0708 or 501-317-7548 or check out the new website at www.nationalwalleyetour.com. From here, site visitors can register for events, view the contingency programs and TV schedule and learn more about what’s in-store for 2016.

2016 NWT scheduled events:
June 23-24 – Green Bay (Sturgeon Bay, Wis.)

Championship – Aug. 3-5 – Lake Oahe (Mobridge, S.D.)

Pro walleye tour scheduled to kick off 2016 season in April

NEW SMYRNA BEACH, Fla. (March 10, 2016) – The Cabela’s National Walleye Tour (NWT) today announced Raymarine, a world leader in high-performance marine electronics, as an official sponsor for 2016. The agreement marks yet another strong addition to the popular pro walleye tour, which kicks off April 21-22 on Lake Erie.

“We’re fortunate to work with and promote some of the strongest brands in the industry,” said NWT Tournament Director Anthony Wright. “Raymarine is a perfect example of that. We’re excited to have the support of such a well-respected company with a rich history in tournament fishing and look forward to building our relationship for years to come.”

Raymarine, a division of FLIR Systems, Inc., is a world leader in high-performance marine electronics for recreational boaters and enthusiast anglers. Raymarine products are engineered to deliver the best in visual navigation information. With a legacy of marine navigation technology spanning over 80 years, Raymarine products are renowned for their ease-of-use, rugged design, and reliability.

“We are excited for the opportunity to connect with more anglers through our partnership with the National Walleye Tour,” said Grégoire Outters Vice President and General Manager for Raymarine and FLIR Maritime. “As we continue to deliver new navigation and sonar solutions for anglers, the NWT is the perfect way to showcase our latest innovations.”

The Cabela’s NWT will begin the 2016 season April 21 on Lake Erie and will include a total of three qualifying events, plus a year-end championship. Official registration for all events will begin in January, both online and by phone. The NWT website offers numerous details on the circuit, including official rules, tournament structure, payout and incentives.

All NWT events will deliver 100 percent payback. A fully rigged Ranger Boat, plus cash, is guaranteed for first place at each event – a minimum total value of $57,000. Multiple contingency programs are available for even higher payout. Anglers that fish all three regular-season events, in addition to the top points leaders, will qualify for the three-day, entry-fee championship.
The Cabela’s National Walleye Tour also includes unmatched television and media coverage, allowing a national audience to watch the action unfold from each event throughout the season. Airing on multiple networks, the NWT will be seen on the Pursuit Channel, NBC Sports Network, Fox Sports Net North, Comcast Chicago and the World Fishing Network.
For more details, anglers are encouraged to call 612-424-0708 or visit the website at www.nationalwalleyetour.com. Information on Raymarine’s marine electronics for anglers can be found at www.raymarine.com
2016 NWT scheduled events:

April 21-22 – Lake Erie (Sandusky, Ohio)
May 26-27 – Lake Winnebago (Oshkosh, Wis.)
June 23-24 – Green Bay (Sturgeon Bay, Wis.)
Championship – August 3-5 – Lake Oahe (Mobridge, S.D.)

About Cabela’s National Walleye Tour
Cabela’s National Walleye Tour events are made possible through the sponsorship and continued support of these well-respected brands: Cabela’s, Ranger Boats, Lucas Oil, Evinrude, RAM, Mercury, Motor Guide, Jimmy John’s, Minn Kota, Triton Boats, Power-Pole, Amphibia, Arctic Ice, Stratos Boats, Lowrance, Protect the Harvest, BoatU.S., General Tire, SuperClean, Raymarine, Valley Fashions, T-H Marine, Atlas, G-Juice, Powertex Group.
About Raymarine:
Raymarine, a world leader in marine electronics, develops and manufactures the most comprehensive range of electronic equipment for the recreational boating and light commercial marine markets. Designed for high performance and ease of use, the award-winning products are available through a global network of dealers and distributors. The Raymarine product lines include radar, autopilots, GPS, instruments, fishfinders, communications, and integrated systems. Raymarine is a division of FLIR Systems, a world leader in thermal imaging. For more information about Raymarine please go to www.raymarine.com.