The Cabela’s National Walleye Tour (NWT) recently announced the 2017 schedule, which includes three regular-season events and a championship, all nationally televised and taking place on some of the country’s premier walleye fisheries.
The regular season kicks off April 12-13, 2017, on Lake Erie, a fishery known for big water and even bigger walleye. The highly anticipated opener will be based out of Sandusky, Ohio, and should feature some of the biggest weights of the year. The NWT will then move to Lake Sakakawea in Garrison, North Dakota, on May 11-12, before heading to Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin, on June 15-16 for the final regular-season event. In August, the Cabela’s National Walleye Tour will visit Green Bay at Marinette, Wisconsin, for the NWT 2017 Tour Championship. Official registration for the 2017 season will begin Jan. 2.
The 2017 season will once again feature Friday finishes for each event with the exception of the Lake Erie event, which is set for Wed./Thurs. The change was due to requests from anglers and was a success in the 2016 season.
As always, all NWT events will deliver 100 percent payback. A fully rigged Ranger 1880, plus cash, is guaranteed for first place at each event – a minimum total value of $56,000. First-place also offers potential boat and motor upgrades. 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 championship event will feature some of the country’s best walleye anglers in a pro-am style format and guarantees over 100 percent payback, including two-fully rigged Ranger boats for first and second place in the pro-angler category and, new for 2017, a new Ranger 1682 with 115 horsepower Evinrude, valued at $26,500 for the first-place co-angler.
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 check out the website at www.nationalwalleyetour.com. From here, site visitors can learn more about the NWT, view the TV schedule and learn more about what’s in store for 2017 season.
2017 NWT scheduled events:
April 12-13 – Lake Erie (Sandusky, Ohio)
May 11-12 – Lake Sakakawea (Garrison, N.D.)
June 15-16 – Mississippi River (Prairie du Chien, Wis.)
Championship – August 16-18 – Green Bay (Marinette, Wis.)
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.
By: Greg Duncan, Blue Heron Communications
