GLADSTONE – Anglers will flock to Gladstone this weekend for the Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s Masters Walleye Circuit (MWC) Qualifier on July 18 and 19.

The event is presented by Lowrance.

The catch-and-release tournament visits several areas in different states to invite anglers to compete against each other.

Before coming to Gladstone, tournaments were held in Illinois, Ohio, Wisconsin and South Dakota. After visiting Gladstone, the tournament heads to Minnesota and North Dakota.

Contestants will meet at the Delta County Chamber of Commerce on Thursday, July 17, to check in and attend a mandatory rules briefing.

Contestants will begin taking off from the North Shore Boat Launch in Wells at 7 a.m. each day, with weigh-in to start at 3 p.m. at Van Cleve Park in Gladstone.

Contestants, consisting of two people, will head out to the open water in search of walleye.

According to the MWC fact sheet, “The tournament waters for this event shall be Michigan waters of Lake Michigan and shall include all rivers, creeks, and canals connecting to the above-mentioned waters. Any waters within these boundaries posted “off limits” or “no fishing” by state or federal agencies will be off limits. Any live release areas established by the Tournament Director will be off limits.”

Contestants are looking for walleyes that are at least 15 inches or more.

Teams have a limit of five fish per team, per day for weigh-in, and are allowed one fish over 23 inches for each angler.

Any live fish caught that are not submitted for the weigh-in should be released prior to the final check-in.

The public is encouraged to attend the free event each day at 3 p.m. to witness the weigh-ins live at Van Cleve Park.

The event is organized in partnership with and sponsored by the Delta County Chamber of Commerce, the City of Gladstone, Hannahville Indian Community, the Bays de Noc Sportsfishermen, and Visit Escanaba.

“We are proud to sponsor the Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s Masters Walleye Circuit tournament and welcome anglers from across the nation to experience our world-class fishery,” said Vickie Micheau, Executive Director of the Delta Chamber of Commerce. “Events like this not only highlight the incredible natural resources we have here in our waterfront community but also provide a strong economic boost to our local businesses – from hotels and restaurants to bait shops and gas stations. It’s a win for our community on every level.”

For those unable to attend, live coverage will be available online at masterswalleyecircuit.com and through the official MWC Facebook page at facebook.com/MastersWalleyeCircuit.