Professional walleye circuit gearing up for the second tournament of the 2017 season
NEW SMYRNA BEACH, Fla. – Competitive walleye anglers will converge on Lake Sakakawea at Garrison, North Dakota. May 12-13, for the second regular-season event of the 2017 Cabela's National Walleye Tour. The tournament circuit features a pro-am style format and guarantees over 100 percent payback.
The Lake Sakakawea event begins Wednesday, May 10, with tournament registration from 2-4 p.m. at Garrison City Auditorium at the Garrison Public Library (32 S. Main St., Garrison ND 58540) with a mandatory pre-tournament meeting set to start at 5:00 p.m. Pro- and co-angler pairings will be announced at the pre-tournament meeting.
Anglers will launch Thursday and Friday mornings at 7 a.m. from Garrison Bay Marina at Fort Stevenson State Park with anglers returning to the marina for weigh-ins each day.
Registration for the Lake Sakakawea event is already underway. To register, please go online and click on register. All anglers that register online will be entered in to a drawing for a $100 Cabela's gift card.
During each day of competition, Triton Boats and Mercury Marine are offering free demo rides in the acclaimed 216 Fishhunter. The demo rides will take off from the boat launch.
The National Professional Anglers Association (NPAA) will also host a "Future Angler" program for children after Friday's weigh-in, approximately at 4:30 p.m., featuring an educational seminar and training for youth from top-notch NPAA members. The youth-orientated event will include a free rod/reel combo or "Future Pro" t-shirt for the first 150 children who attend the educational program.
Anglers who are participating in any of the numerous contingency prize programs are encouraged to submit all pertinent information at registration to remain eligible for any potential bonus money.
The NWT would like to thank the Garrison Convention and Visitor's Bureau for their assistance with putting together this event.
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 $61,000. 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.
New for 2017 – the first-place Co-Angler at the NWT championship event will win a new Ranger 1682 with 115 horsepower Evinrude outboard, valued at $26,500.
The tournament circuit also includes unprecedented television and media coverage, allowing a national audience to watch the action unfold from each event throughout the season. Airing on multiple networks, the National Walleye Tour will be seen on FOX Sports, World Fishing Network and Pursuit Channel, as well as the NBC Sports Network.
For more details, anglers are encouraged to call 612-424-0708 or 501-317-7548 or check out the new website at www.nationalwalleyetour.com. From here, site visitors can register for events, view the contingency programs and TV schedule and learn more about what's in-store for 2016.
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, Minn Kota, Triton Boats, Power-Pole, Arctic Ice, Stratos Boats, Lowrance, MotorGiude, Protect the Harvest, Raymarine, Valley Fashions, T-H Marine, Atlas, G-Juice, Powertex Group.
2017 NWT scheduled events:
May 11-12 – Lake Sakakawea (Garrison, N.D.)
June 15-16 – Mississippi River (Prairie du Chien, Wis.)
Championship – Aug. 16-18 – Green Bay (Marinette, Wis.)
