Artificial-only approach fuels string of top MWC finishes
North Dakota’s “artificial-only” walleye warriors Corey Heiser and Troy Morris wrapped up a stellar 2015 walleye tournament season with their third top-10 finish and a fourth place overall ranking on the Cabela’s Masters Walleye Circuit.
The hard-fishing team started the MWC season with an impressive second-place finish at the Circuit’s Big Stone Lake qualifier May 15-16, where they sacked nine fish for 28 pounds, 15 ounces.
They raised the bar even higher in their next event, winning the MWC Devils Lake qualifier Aug. 7-8 after topping the 76-team field of the Midwest’s toughest two-person walleye teams with a total weight of 57 pounds, 1 ounce.
Heiser and Morris finished their regular season strong, sacking a 10-fish limit weighing 25 pounds, 1 ounce at the MWC’s Cass Lake qualifier Sept. 11-12 out of Stony Point Resort to place 10th out of 84 teams.
The finish put them atop of the field headed into the 2016 MWC World Walleye Championship, and landed them solidly in fourth place in the MWC’s hotly contested Team of the Year race.
Along the way, they also racked up the titles of North Dakota State Champions and Minnesota State Champions, captured four MWC big-fish awards and pocketed more than $29,000 in tournament winnings.
“It was a great year,” said Heiser, of West Fargo. “We opened a lot of people’s eyes to the fact you don’t have to use live bait to catch walleyes and be competitive.”
It was Heiser and Morris’ second full season of tournament action after swearing off live bait and forming Artifishalleyes in March of 2014.
Since that time, they’ve shown the walleye world how a variety of presentations such as Berkley Gulp! and PowerBait, crankbaits and swimming jigs can outfish natural baits such as leeches, nightcrawlers and minnows.
“Fishing artificials frees you from the hassles of live bait and reduces the chances of spreading harmful aquatic invasive species,” added Morris, of Fargo. “Plus, I believe it makes you a better fisherman by forcing you to target the most aggressive biters with high-percentage presentations.”
Up next, Heiser and Morris are headed to the MWC’s 2015 World Walleye Championship on Lake Erie Oct. 22-24, after which they’ll continue to spread the artificial-only message via social media, YouTube videos, sportshows, seminars and other promotions.
Note: Corey Heiser and Troy Morris are veteran tournament competitors and promotional anglers whose sponsors include Ranger Boats, Berkley, Vantage Protection Film, Off Shore Tackle, Vision Bank, Lowrance Electronics and Scheels.
By: Dan Johnson
