May 28-30 are the official days for the Cabela’s National Team Walleye Championships at Milford Lake.
There are other scheduled activities as well.
Geary County Convention and Visitor’s Bureau Director Connie Hall provided more information.
–Sixty Soldiers from various units at Fort Riley will fish with the NTC anglers from 7-11 a.m. May 27. They will take off from the Milford Marina at Milford State Park.
–The pre-tournament banquet for the anglers is May 27 at 6 p.m. at the Courtyard by Marriott Convention Center in Junction City.
–An information tent will be set up at the tournament site in the State Park featuring a Community Table, plus information from Manhattan, Council Grove, and the Kansas Department of Wildlife Parks & Tourism.
–A cannon shot will signal the start of the tournament on the morning of May 28. Boats will launch in four flights.
–The fish weigh-in each day of the tournament will begin at 3 p.m.
–Following the weigh-in on the first day of the Tournament, there will be a Kids Fishing Clinic. The first 100 youth can pick up a ticket at the Community Table in the Information Tent and receive free rod-and-reel combos courtesy of Cabela’s and the Walleye Federation. Kids will be able to meet NTC competitors and learn techniques on casting and fishing.
–On Saturday, May 30, the field of contestants in the Tournament will be narrowed to the top 25 teams.
–This is the 14th edition of the championship.
–185 two-person teams will vie for more than $274,000 in cash and prizes. First prize is $30,000 in cash plus a $68,000 Evinrude E-Tec powered 620 Ranger Boat.
–overall, the Cabela’s NTC pays out $121,000 in cash to the top 50 teams, $14,600 in Cabela’s gift cards to the remainder of the field, and $100 in Cabela’s gift cards for big fish and big basket awards. In addition, the top 25 teams earn the title of “Cabela’s All-Americans” and receive commemorative rings marking their achievement.
–Participating anglers had to qualify in their individual states. They are from mostly the northern states…from the Dakotas to New York, and a few western states. More than 50 boats are already at Milford Lake and once the Memorial Holiday weekend is over more will begin to arrive.
–The public can watch the boats take off from the Milford Marina at 7 a.m. each morning and watch the weigh-ins at 3 p.m. daily.
–The tournament will be streamed live on the internet at cabelas.com/ntc and also filmed for national television, to air in early August on “Americana Outdoors” on NBC Sports, the Pursuit Channel, and other regional networks. Exact dates and airtimes will be announced at walleyefederation.com.