For Immediate Release

For More Information Contact:
Kristine Houtman, 612.710.5584
Email: khoutman@namginc.com


Koester & Rhodes Win Cabela’s Masters Walleye Circuit World Walleye Championship on Lake Erie


Dundee, MI – Jeff Koester of Brookville, Indiana and Scott Rhodes of Traverse City, Michigan were crowned Cabela’s Masters Walleye Circuit World Walleye Champions on Saturday, October 6th in Dundee, Michigan, cashing $25,000 for the honor. The duo bested a field of 59 teams on a very cooperative Lake Erie that provided three days of calm conditions.

Koester and Rhodes trolled the Canadian waters near Pelee Island with spinners. Their three-day fifteen fish winning weight topped the roster at 88.68 pounds, a 5.9 pound average. This was the team’s second circuit victory as they won the Walleye Madness Championship bracketed tournament in May of 2007, held in Port Clinton, Ohio.

“Good thing we had that first day basket over 37 pounds,” shared Rhodes after the honor was bestowed on the stage, just outside the Cabela’s store in Dundee, Michigan. “We ended up needing that extra room.” The new Champs managed to retain the lead each day of the tournament, bringing in 22.43 pounds on day two and 28.60 pounds on day three. Their day one weight 37.65 pounds was the largest basket of the tournament, although fifteen other 30-plus pound baskets were brought in over the three days. Their lead on day one was 7.83 pounds. After the second day, however, the race tightened up and it was still open for anyone to pull ahead, especially with the quality and proliferation of the walleyes on Lake Erie.

The biggest fish of the tournament was a tie between the leaders and Tim Waltz of Williamsport, Pennsylvania and George Barach of Barryton, Michigan. Each brought in 10.39 pound walleyes to earn big fish of the day with Koester and Rhodes big fish coming on Thursday and Waltz and Barach besting the field on Saturday. Friday’s big fish award went to Burt Willes and Troy Saunders of Menasha, Wisconsin for their 9.60 pound walleye. Each team received a $500 gift card from Cabela’s for the honor.

David Kolb of Ada, Michigan and Dan Byers of Cedar Springs, Michigan both bought new Toyota Tundra trucks this year – and it paid off. They split the $5,000 bonus from Toyota for being the highest finishing team in the tournament in a Toyota Tundra. Kolb and Byers finished in 10th place with 75.29 pounds and cashed $1,500 for the 10th place spot plus $5,000 from Toyota for $6,500.

Adam Rasmussen of Stevens Point, Wisconsin won the Ranger Cup bonus of $1,000 for finishing highest in the Ranger Cup program. Rasmussen and partner Brad Jakusz from Amherst, Wisconsin finished in 5th place with 83.63 pounds.

Over $100,000 was paid out to the entire field. The Cabela’s MWC World Walleye Championship has no entry fee. Teams earn their way by invitation only into the event through fishing the Cabela’s MWC season or the Cabela’s National Team Championship.

The anglers gathered on Saturday evening for a Champions banquet and the sentiment flowed that this was an excellent site for the tournament. The staff at the Dundee Cabela’s did a wonderful job with the logistics, and many expressed their sincere appreciation for their warm hospitality.

“I can’t tell you how much this means to Scott and I,” shared Jeff Koester at the Champions banquet later that evening. All the teams had taken their turn at congratulating Jeff and Scott, with the Championship trophies poised and custom MWC rings nearby. “We couldn’t have done it without the hard work of our entire team – the guys we fish with like Manz, Yarbrough, Davis, Gies, Robinson, Seyka, Seiferlein, Johnson and Defibaugh,” continued Koester. “And I give huge kudos to the MWC field, because on the final day there were only the teams on our spot that were there on Thursday. Everyone gave all of us in the lead a chance to fish our own fish, and that speaks to the quality of professionalism of the anglers in the MWC.”

Additional events were scheduled around the Championship, including a Radiothon benefiting One Child Now and The Salvation Army Outdoors. The Radiothon was held in conjunction with 106.7 The Fox radio. TSAO is a faith-based initiative that provides youth and families with engaging, educational outdoor experiences through a diverse network of vested partners and friends. From summer camps to after school programs and community recreation, The Salvation Army Outdoors is all about Outfitting for Life. To learn more or donate to the cause go to www.salvationarmyemich.org.

A Kids Fishing Derby was held on Saturday and as well as a Youth and Family Fishing Clinic on Friday, in which kids attending received their very own rod, reel and tackle box. Toyota donated a brand new bike outfitted and ready to use to go fishing. The lucky winner of the bike was Tyler Parker, age 7, from Monroe, Michigan who excitedly showed off his brand new bike as his father Paul Larner looked on.

The 2007 World Walleye Championship is the last stop in the season. Here is the schedule for the 2008 Cabela’s MWC season.

MWC Central
March 29 & 30 – Spring Valley, IL – Illinois River

May 17 & 18 – Marinette, WI/Menominee, MI – Bay of Green Bay

June 21 & 22 – Oshkosh, WI – Lake Winnebago


MWC East
April 25 – 27 – Port Clinton, OH – Lake Erie (Also will be Walleye Madness Sweet Sixteen Bracket)

July 18 – 20 – Linwood, MI – Saginaw Bay

August 22 – 24 – Dunkirk, NY – Lake Erie

(We are building a blow day into all East division tournaments. Rules meeting on Thursday night and we fish Friday if we can. So tournaments could be done Fri/Sat or Sat/Sun or Fri/Sun or possibly just one day if we get blown off two days

MWC West (Exhibition Tournament)

August 9 & 10 – Devils Lake, ND – Devils Lake


World Walleye Championship (invitation only)

October 1 – 4 – Dundee, MI – Detroit River and Lake Erie

For more information please contact MWC headquarters at 877-893-7947 or by email at: events@masterswalleyecircuit.com.


Cabela’s is the title sponsor for the Masters Walleye Circuit. Official Sponsors are Lowrance Electronics, North American Fishing Club, MotorGuide, Toyota Trucks, Mercury Motors, Ranger Boats, Lowrance Electronics and Versus (Vs.) television network. Associate sponsors are Tommy Docks, The Inhibitor, Food Source Lures, Ice Armor and Farm & City Insurance Services.