Walleye Tournament cures cabin fever

Defending champion Keith Carlson of Goodhue, Minn. is patroling the waters of the Illinois River in pursuit of the hot spots for this weekend's Master's Walleye Circuit Spring Valley Tournament. He said the Spring Valley Tournament is hard to win because of all of the local fishermen who know the waters so well. (BCR Photo/Dave McCue)

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For the BCR SPRING VALLEY -- Cabela's Masters Walleye Circuit anglers know the cure for cabin fever -- it's called the Spring Valley MWC tournament -- a sauger factory every walleye tournament angler looks forward to. Relief is right around the corner. The 19-year running competition on the Illinois River is slated for Saturday and Sunday, with Lowrance Electronics as the title sponsor for this qualifying tournament stop and the Spring Valley Walleye Club as host. As has become the tradition for most of the 19 years, the 220-team field filled in one day with a waiting list. More than $107,000 is at stake, with $28,512 slated for the winning two-person team. "We fill up almost every year on the first day," said tournament director Mike Hurless, adding the field is always a little different. "There's always new faces ... (But) there are guys who have come from Wisconsin and Minnesota every year." Defending champion Keith Carlson of Goodhue, Minn., said it will be tough to repeat. He and his partner won the tournament last year with 21.58 pounds. "The water temperature will be a big factor, and we expect it will take more to win this year than 21 pounds. We'll sure give it a good try though," Carlson added with laugh. Conditions are a little more stable than last year. Tournament dates are a week earlier because of the Easter holiday falling the last weekend in March this year, which should land larger pre-spawn fish in the anglers' baskets. Favorite techniques for this tournament include trolling three-way rigs up-river as well as vertical jigging with plastic baits. However, there are no secrets in this tournament environment. While dozens of miles of river are within the boundaries; many anglers are packed in like sardines on some of the most productive areas, such as the Peru flats and the DePue clam beds. What's new in the boat this year? Anglers will use their new color Lowrance electronics for the tournament. "Everything's gone color now," indicated MWC angler Gordy Powers of Rockford, Minnesota. "Lowrance has developed such a wide variety of products with color application. There are quite a number of products in a wide price range; which makes it great to have a variety of applications in the boat. Probably half the field will be using the color units in Spring Valley ... but just wait -- it will be 99 percent the following year. "The color technology is so great that once you see the difference it's just night and day." The Masters Walleye Circuit and the Spring Valley Walleye Club work side-by-side with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources on improving the Illinois River. The teamwork approach works well and is highly sustainable. Not only are eggs from the fish caught during the tournament used in a re-stocking program, but conservation funds are generated to cover the expenses. MWC will donate $3,300 to the Spring Valley Walleye Club at the conclusion of the tournament for such work. HOOK, LinE anD SINKER: Water conditions are posted on the SVWC website, www.spring-valley-walleye.org, and tournament information can be obtained at www.masterswalleyecircuit.com or by calling the MWC toll free at (877) 893-7947. A live leaderboard will be hosted by MWC sponsor Walleye Central at www.walleyecentral.com. Openings exist in other MWC tournaments, although the Winnebago tournament is full and taking a waiting list. Entry fee is $600 per team.