MWC Returns to Big Stone Lake
Berkley Trilene/Ranger Boats MWC Tourney May 17-18, Ortonville,
Minn.
Minnetonka, Minn. -- After
a year's absence, the Masters Walleye Circuit (MWC) returns to Big
Stone Lake at Ortonville, Minn., May 17-18. The Big Stone Lake
Area Chamber of Commerce will host the Berkley Trilene/Ranger
Boats titled event. Popular local angler and businessman, Sonny
Arndt, will serve as assistant tournament director and train in
Jim Foster as tournament director.
Teams will launch and
weigh in at Ortonville's Lakeside Park. The 135 tournament teams
will be competing for over $65,000 in prize money, with $18,000
going to the winners. Additionally, the highest-ranking team that
drives a Ranger boat will be awarded $1,000 from the Ranger Cup
tournament series promotion. The winning team using Cotton Cordell
or Yum products mentioned on stage, will be awarded $300 in
products. Weigh-ins begin at 3 p.m. Saturday and 3 p.m. Sunday.
Veteran Illinois MWCers,
Dave Daughenbaugh (McConnell) and Steve Lotz (Lena), captured top
honors at the 2001 tourney with a two day total weight of 32.7
pounds. Their fish were caught from shallow, rocky points located
along the lower half of the lake.
The team used a varied
presentation of firetiger-colored Long A Bomber lures, 3/32 ounce
chartreuse jigs tipped with leeches, and slip-bobber rigs
consisting of six pound test FireLine with a 2-1/2 foot mono snell,
a split shot and a leech on a size four hook. They fished depths
between three and six feet.
Big Stone Lake is the
headwaters of the Minnesota River. It's located in west central
Minnesota and borders Milbank, South Dakota. Though relatively
shallow, having a maximum depth of only 16 feet, the lake has one
of the largest per acre walleye populations in the state. Its
26-mile length encompasses nearly 13,000 surface acres and
contains more than 30 fish species. Contributions from the MWC
Conservation Fund have played a major role in maintaining the
lake's quality fishery as well as funding shoreline improvements.
There is no set pattern to
extracting walleyes from Big Stone. These golden-flanked beauties
can be caught most anywhere on this great fish-producing body of
water.
During a decade of MWC Big
Stone tournaments, eventual winners have employed a myriad of
techniques. A circuit favorite is trolling crankbaits from in-line
planer boards. Some trollers prefer using leadcore line. Most of
the trolling action takes place in the upper portion of the lake.
Bob "Kaz" Kaczkowski, MWC
consultant and emcee, recalls the first Big Stone tournament: "The
weigh-in crowd and anglers were dumbfounded when the winning team
announced that they had been casting six inch, three-hook plastic
worms amongst the large boulders scattered along the shoreline in
the lower portion of the lake." This is a method normally used for
bass.
Casting crankbaits onto
the bank, then ripping them back into the water, has triggered
many strikes from otherwise reluctant fish. This presentation also
proved to be a Big Stone tournament winner.
Both livebait and
artificial lure techniques work equally well, but past Big Stone
tournament statistics indicate that the larger fish are caught on
crankbaits.
Savvy anglers will use the
double whammy approach, which works well on shoreline or island
points and along weedlines. They'll set out slip-bobber rigs
tipped with leeches, crawlers or minnows, then cast crankbaits
around the rigs. Fish, which may follow and be reluctant to strike
the lure, often cobble up the livebait offering.
Mother Nature seems to
influence the bite on Big Stone more than any other tournament
water. Cloudy/windy days are more productive than calm/bright
days. Anglers new to the lake should proceed with caution because
the lake is appropriately named. It contains an abundance of big
stones.
A final Big Stone Lake
tournament angling tip: If you see carp working or spawning in an
area, don't bypass it. Their rolling antics dislodge edible, prey,
which attracts walleyes.
This season's qualifying
tournaments and Championship will be featured on The Outdoor
Channel television network, allowing teams to receive national
media recognition.
Tournament coverage and
related articles will also appear in the North American Fisherman
magazine, the official publication of the MWC. All circuit events
will be conducted from Cabela's state-of the-art, computerized
mobile transport vehicle, which is specifically designed for
tournament television coverage. Additionally, all MWC tournaments
will serve as qualifying events to the 2004 Cabela's National Team
Championship.
Tournament entry forms and
other important tournament details can be found on the MWC website
at
www.masterswalleyecircuit.com, or by contacting the MWC, 12301
Whitewater Dr., Minnetonka, MN 55343 or phoning toll free,
877-893-7947.
In addition to Cabela's,
MWC sponsors include Berkley Trilene, Ranger Boats, Lindy
Legendary Tackle, Lowrance Electronics, Mercury Marine, North
American Fishing Club, The Outdoor Channel, Progressive Insurance,
Cotton Cordell, Panther Marine, Daiichi Hooks, Yum Lures, Optima
Batteries, Walleye Assassin Lures, Lures Eyes and the National
Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame.
