Last update 06-10-98
MWC WALLEYE TEAM TOURNAMENT
World Walleye Championship
Big Stone Lake Ortonville Minnesota
May 28-30, 1998
 

 Bob Proudfoot and brother Jim will defending there 1997 MWC World Championship
FRANKLIN, WIS.

Big Stone Lake at Ortonville, Minn. will be the site where 100 of North Arnerica's finest professional walleye anglers will compete for the coveted title of Masters Walleye Circuit (MWC) World Walleye Champions. This fishing spectacular will take place May 28-29-30, highlighted by indoor weigh-ins at Ortonville's Lakeside Park. The public is invited to attend, including the Pro-Am event on May 27th; admission is free. The Championship field consists of the top 50 point accumulating teams who competed on the MWC last year. (1,000 teams fished the MWC in 1997). Championship qualifiers will vie for a $73,000 purse, with $20,000 being awarded the World Champions. All of the teams share in the prize money, which is funded by the MWC sponsors. No entry fees are paid by the contestants. A Pro/Am event (May 27th) will precede the Championship competition. An amateur angler will be assigned to each of the 50 teams, providing them the thrill of tournament fishing with one of the top pro-walleye teams in North America. There's a $100 fee to fish the Pro/Am. Interested anglers should contact the Big Stone Lake Area Tourism Association/Big Stone Lake Chamber of Commerce, ten BOQ- 568-5722 or 320-839-3284. Heading the Championship field are the reigning MWC Team of the Year, Chad Kinkade (Cedar Falls, lowa) and Tommy Skarlis (Waterloo, lowa), For further information, contact the MWC, 3137 W. Hilltop Ln., Franklin, Wl 53132-9119, tel. 414-761-0657.The MWC is a nonprofit corporation which conducts a series of professionally run fishing tournaments at which family participation and conservation of fishery resources are stressed. MWC sponsors are Berkley Trilene, Lindy Little Joe, Mariner Outboards, MotorGuide, North Arnerican Fishing Club/North American Fisherman, Quantum, Ranger Boats, and Wille Products

 ORTONVILLE, MINN. – Glenn Rengo (Maple Grove, Minn.) and Mike Schaefer (Pewaukee, Wis.), have won the 1998 Masters Walleye Circuit (MWC) World Walleye Championship held May 28-29-30 on Big Stone Lake at Ortonville, Minn. The Championship field, comprised of the top 50 point accumulating teams from the 1997 MWC season, competed for the title and shared the $71,000 cash purse.  An additional $2,250 was paid out in daily big fish prize money.  Three  electric trolling motors were also awarded daily big fish winners. Ever-changing weather conditions made it tough for the anglers.  Air temperatures ranged from 49 to over 80 degrees, while the wind kept changing directions, going from calm to 30 mph at times. Teams were allowed five fish per day measuring 15 inches.  Rengo/Schaefer led after the first day with five fish weighing 16.31 lbs.  They dropped to second place on day two with three fish at 8.53 lbs.  Their final day five fish limit was 15.36 lbs., totaling 40.20 lbs., earning them the Championship crown and $20,000. The champs fished the Lagoona Beach and Manhattan Island areas of the lake. According to Rengo, “We fished both the inside and outside weed edges between three and five feet of water.  We casted 1/16 oz. hot yellow glow colored  Fuzz-E-Grub jigs tipped with a medium sized leech or half of a nightcrawler.”- MORE -  Schaefer added, “We hopped back and forth between the beach and island.  On the last day, our fish came from a weedy rock point off the island.  We used Thill American Classic slip bobber rigs around the island.  Because of the clear water, the early morning bite was best.” Second place finishers were Mike Glynn and Maury Schmerbach of Dubuque, Iowa.  Their 12 fish totaled 37.09 lbs., worth $10,000.  They also used jigs and slip bobber rigs while fishing points on the South Dakota side of the lake. Third place went to Wisconsinites Wayne Butz (Oneida) and Don Frederick (Appleton).  Their 14 fish weighed 34.18 lbs., earning them $5,000.  They trolled nightcrawler spinner harnesses from bottom bouncers in 12 feet of water just north of Mallard Point. A total of 338 walleyes weighing 759.64 lbs., a 2-1/4 lb. average, were caught in the MWC catch and release format. MWC Executive Director, Bob “Kaz” Kaczkowski, presented a check for $5,000 from the MWC Conservation Fund to the Citizens for Big Stone Lake organization for the lake’s enhancement program.  To date the fun has donated over  $186,000 to fisheries projects wherever MWC tournaments are held. It was announced that the 1999 MWC World Walleye Championship will be held next June on Lake Michigan’s Little Bay de Noc at Gladstone, Mich. The next stop on the 1998 MWC tour is the North American Fishing Club MWC Team Tournament, August 1-2, on Little Bay de Noc.  Some openings still exist.  For more information and entry forms, contact the Delta County (Mich.) Area Chamber of Commerce, tel. 906-786-2192, or the MWC at 414-761-0657. The MWC is a nonprofit corporation which conducts a series of professionally run fishing tournaments at which family participation and conservation of fishery resources are stressed.  MWC sponsors are Berkley Trilene, Lindy Little Joe, Mariner Outboards, MotorGuide, North American Fishing Club/North American Fisherman, Quantum, Ranger Boats, and Wille Products. 

FINAL STANDINGS
MWC WORLD WALLEYE CHAMPIONSHIP®
BIG STONE LAKE, ORTONVILLE, MINN. – May 28-30, 1998
FINAL STANDINGS
MWC WORLD WALLEYE CHAMPIONSHIP®
BIG STONE LAKE, ORTONVILLE, MINN. – May 28-30, 1998

*Won tie breaker                                                                             CASH PAYOUT  =  $71,000
                                                                                       Big Fish Pot ($750 each day)          2,250
                                                                                             TOTAL CASH PAYOUT    $73,250
Daily Big Fish Award - MotorGuide Trolling Motor     =======
Thurs., 5/28:  Mike Glynn, 6.47 lbs.;
Fri., 5/29:  Doug Newhoff, 6.18 lbs.;
Sat., 5/30:  Mel Reichling, 7.42 lbs.
Stats
Fish Caught  338;      Weight  759.64 lbs.