Zippo, Case Sponsor Local Fishing Team for 2014 Cabela's Master Walleye Circuit

Walleye, be warned – the award-winning walleye fishing team from Bradford, PA, is coming to a lake near you.

Zippo® Outdoor has signed Doug Yohe and Charlie Brant to their 9th consecutive sponsorship agreement for the 2014 Cabela’s Master Walleye Circuit (MWC) Tournament Series.

“It all started back in 2006 when I still owned my restaurant,” Yohe said in a news release sent to WESB. “I had fished a tournament in Henderson Harbor, NY, and it was being televised in my restaurant in Bradford. I had asked some of the small local businesses if they would be willing to sponsor me. George Duke, the owner of Zippo, just happened to be in the house that night and offered to sponsor me in a big way.”

“Zippo has continued to support Doug Yohe and teammate, Charlie Brant, since then because they are gutsy guys in a sport fishing category known for extreme conditions. This kind of adventurous lifestyle is a great fit for our Outdoor product line,” said Chris Funk, Zippo Outdoor Brand Manager.

W.R. Case and Sons is also continuing with their sponsorship of Yohe and Brant’s efforts.

“We are thrilled to continue supporting Doug and Charlie’s MWC participation as part of our celebration of 125 years of handcrafting knives for all outdoors people,” said Fred Feightner, Case’s Marketing Communications Manager.

The team uses a custom-designed Ranger boat featuring a Zippo-and-Case-themed skin, and travels throughout the United States to compete with the other best walleye fisher in the country.

For the third year in a row, Zippo Outdoor is also an official tournament season sponsor of the 2014 Cabela’s Masters Walleye Circuit Tournament series, which will bring a tournament for the first time to Willow Bay in the Allegheny Reservoir July 11-13.

“It will be really exciting to see local anglers out there competing against the national pros,” Yohe said. “We have a beautiful lake and are proud to show it off to the rest of the fishing world.”

The 2014 MWC tournaments will take place in seven states over the next eight months, concluding with the World Walleye Championship in October.

Yohe and Brant compete in the MWC and the National Walleye Tour (NWT), in addition to participating in several local charity fishing events, such as a local St. Jude’s tournament and the Wounded Warriors benefit tournament.

“The community has had great success with these charity tournaments,” Yohe said. “For instance, at last year’s Wounded Warrior event, I think we had about 20 veterans come out. We fish with them, and then there’s a big fish fry banquet. And it raises money for an important cause.”

Yohe said that he and Brant attribute their success to their hard work, friendship and respect for each other and the sport.

They were named MWC Team of the Year Runner Up in 2012 after a strong season where they came in first place at the Mille Lacs, MN tournament, and fourth place at the National Team Championship.

In 2013, Yohe and Brant finished 18th in the Team of the Year race and 44th overall for the year.

Yohe and Brant’s first competition of the year is the MWC Illinois River Tournament, March 28-30 in Spring Valley, IL.

The Zippo Outdoor Walleye Fishing Team’s 2014 Tournament Schedule:

MWC March 28–29 Spring Valley, IL
MWC April 18–19 Detroit River, MI
NWT April 25–26 Trenton, MI
NWT June 27–28 Mobridge, SD
MWC July 11–12 Kinzua, PA
NWT August 29–30 Escanaba, MI
MWC September 12–13 Cass Lake, MN
NWT Championships September 18–20 Oshkosh, WI
MWC Championships October 8–11 Devils Lake, ND

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