The Captains Meeting will be at 7 p.m., at the outdoor pavilion of the Clarion Hotel Marina and Conference Center, with late registration teams sign-up beginning at 6. Rules and regulations are provided and discussed at the meeting, with all competitive attendees registered in a raffle (by individual anglers of the attendee teams) to win a Smoker Craft “jon boat” donated by Lime Lake Marine and RV. Other sponsors include Merrill Bank of America, Vexus Boats, Monster Energy, and Doc’s Tackle. Team entry fee, not counting special raffles and Calcutta’s, is $600 per team.

Last year, Primitive Patriot Outdoors Executive Director Josh Larsen said 45 teams registered for the fishing event. The final count of registered teams this year could be even higher, adding even more intrigue and cash winnings to one of the region’s most anticipated Lake Erie competitions.

Big Fish Friday kicks off the annual event, offering teams a tournament pre-fish day with cash prizes awarded to the top three biggest fish. Seasoned Lake Erie walleye anglers know success rarely comes down to luck. The eastern basin of Lake Erie often rewards anglers who understand the small details — wind velocity, water temperature, wave direction, bait movement, and changing weather.

A west-southwest wind forecast may sound ordinary to spectators, but to tournament fishermen, it can be decisive. Wind direction affects current flow, bait positioning, turbidity, and fish movement. Moderate west-southwest winds can create productive feeding zones by pushing baitfish and concentrating active walleyes. Stronger winds, however, can increase wave heights and force teams to abandon preferred spots or adjust trolling speeds and presentations. That’s when the fun begins, new fish-catching algorithms to figure out, also known as lady luck.

Photo is courtesy of Primitive Patriot Outdoors, LLC. With Joe Papalia, left, are NWT angler Andy Travis, and Captain Ashton Laird are Team Lime-Lake-Marine that took home the 2025 Classic Championship and cash winnings with 38.06 pounds for their 6-fish bag.

Rain adds another layer to the equation. In the eastern basin, steady rainfall can stain nearshore water and slightly cool surface temperatures, sometimes improving daytime walleye activity by reducing light penetration. Post-rain runoff can also reposition bait schools, creating brief but productive feeding windows. Experienced captains watch electronics closely for temperature breaks, suspended marks, and subtle shifts in bait concentration. Competition fishing becomes more than simple fun on tournament days.

Lake temperature could prove equally important. Early June walleyes often remain highly temperature-oriented, often relating to cooler, oxygen-rich zones or transition areas where bait collects. A difference of only one or two degrees may separate a winning program from an empty cooler.

Lure selection may become the ultimate separator. Veteran anglers often lean on stickbaits, worm harnesses, spoons, and crawler presentations, dialing in color and depth based on water clarity and cloud cover. Bright conditions may favor natural baitfish patterns, while overcast skies and stained water can make metallic finishes, chartreuse, orange, or UV-enhanced presentations more productive. Speed control — sometimes varying by tenths of a mile per hour — can trigger neutral fish into striking, or not.

Last year, with Lake Erie temperatures running higher than usual, Team Eye-Candy — Wayne Shafter, Cody Seroka, and Mike Fitzgerald — captured Big Fish Friday honors with an 8.53-pound walleye, proving that one bite can change an entire weekend.

Big Fish Friday helps angler teams determine where to fish when it counts. The actual tournament competition follows Saturday and Sunday, featuring a 6-fish bag each day for the team total weight score, Calcutta’s with potentially huge payouts, and cash prizes for Day 1 and Day 2 biggest box and biggest fish. Ten percent of the competitive fleet will win cash, with 100 percent transparency remaining the trademark of this event.

Rain or shine, one thing appears certain: the central stage on the Central Avenue pier in Dunkirk will stay busy, drawing hundreds of spectators as Lake Erie’s walleye masters try to turn weather, instinct, and precision into tournament-winning fish. Dunkirk’s walleye weekend events like this help bring the competition and community together. Hats off to the competitors and the tournament management, Executive Director Josh Larsen and Primitive Patriot Outdoors, LLC.