The luckiest anglers of all were members of Team No. 82, Blue Water Marina, with Captain Daryll MacNeil at the helm. The Blue Water Marina crew, which includes Derek MacNeil, Tom Nelson and Austin Costello, landed the heaviest walleye of the derby with a giant 9.43-pound fish. The monster walleye took them from 37th place on Day 1 to first place on Day 2, with the heaviest six-fish total box of 38.73 pounds. The giant box and big comeback were suitable for two nice checks at day’s end: $2,328 for the biggest fish and $1,164 for the heaviest two-day bag.

Captain Ron Diluba with Team No. 80, brought in a six-fish total box of 38.65 pounds, just 0.08 pounds off the top score, good for $1,862. Diluba’s big fish kicker was 7.51 pounds. Ounces matter.

Captain Joey Kramar with Team No. 92 was third with their heavy box of 38.01 pounds, good for $1,397 — with a 7.91-pound kicker.

“We fished near the Canadian border using Renosky Chattersticks in the fire-tiger color, and we caught our biggest box of the derby so far,” said old-time whitebeard walleye fishing expert and most-humble angler Bud Marsh, who was fishing with Joey Kramar.

Photo courtesy of Forrest Fisher The winning Conservation Club Walleye Derby Team No. 82, Blue Water Marina, with a two-day tally of six fish that weighed in at 38.73 pounds, plus the big fish of the tournament at 9.42 pounds, propelling them from 37th place on Day 1 to first place on Day 2. Pictured, from left, are: Tom Nelson, Austin Costello, Derek MacNeil and Daryll MacNeil.

Way to go, Bud.

Many of the winning teams said they went far out and fished near the international line, staying on the New York side. Some anglers said they were catching fish 30 to 50 down in 150 to 170 feet of water using four and five-color leadcore lines and side-planer boards.

Team No. 49 with Captain Chuck Pohlman dropped from first place on Day 1 to fourth place on the final day, but still good for $931 on Day 2. Pohlman’s team won the heaviest walleye (8.79 pounds) and heaviest bag (21.50 pounds) on Day 1 — quite a feat, good for $1,164 for each category, or $2,282 on Day 2. Plus, Pohlman took second place with their 8.79-pound big fish from Day 1 to place second for overall heaviest fish in the derby for an additional $1,862. It can pay to fish with Pohlman.

Throughout the weigh-in process on Day 2, emcee Rich Davenport was a beacon of encouragement, often declaring phrases that resonated with the audience.

“Walleye fishing here is absolutely insane,” said Davenport, echoing the sentiments of many present. It’s these moments that make the Con Club Derby more than just a fishing competition.

Team No. 46 with Captain Richard Queer from Westfield Bait and Tackle, didn’t weigh any fish on Day 1, but on Day 2 brought home an enormous 19.47-pound bag with a 7.72-pound kicker — nice going guys.

Captain Craig Kawski with Team No. 37 came in fifth place with a total bag of 37.23 pounds, good for $698. Captain Peter Szklanka with Team No. 62 brought home a 36.74-pound bag that was good for sixth place and $698.

“Any stickbait, or other bait, in any color that resembled the “northern lights” color was hot both days,” Szklanka said.

Captain Rob Ebersole with Team No. 96, Scary Good Sport Fishing Charters, is ready for the next sunscreen commercial, winning seventh place and $466 for their 36.67-pound bag. Ebersole was using the Yaleye Mooneye lure in “May-Fly” color to fool many of his fish. They caught well over 100 walleyes in the two days of the derby.

On Day 1 and Day 2 of the derby, payouts went to the top five heaviest fish, paying $1,164 for first place to $233 for fifth place. Then, on the derby top 20 heaviest walleye, payouts went to the top 20 places, paying from $2,328 to $233. Payouts for the heaviest bag of the two-day derby went to the top five finishers, paying from $1,164 to $233. A total of $23,280 was paid out for the derby, which does not count additional amounts that may have been won in Calcutta’s that could be worth as much as $40,000 in all.

“The Eye-Fish purple-surple color spinner and worm brought in more than 60 fish each of the two-day derby for their team,” said Captain Jim Klein of Team No. 85, who was fishing with his son, Zack, and brother, Jason.

They fished between Cattaraugus Creek and Sturgeon Point. Their total box weighed 32.69 pounds and out of the money.

“The floor was covered with fish,” Zack said.

“At times it was pure chaos,” Jason added. “We were tossing back 5-pounders.”

Captain Mike Malota of Team No. 17 was fishing with Tim Byrom to fool 50 fish each day. Malota used dipseys (with no ring) and riggers with spinner worm combos. The riggers were set 40-50 feet back. Most of our fish were caught on five and seven-color leadcore lines with a 40-foot leader to stickbaits. Like many anglers, Malota uses a double-uni knot for the braided line (30#) to leader (30# big game) connection.

Captain Jeff Phillips with Team No. 95, fishing with Tristin Phillips, fished from Barcelona in 75 to 80 feet of water on both days, pulling in a 17.93 bag on Day 1 and a 17.88 bag on Day 2 for 35.81 pounds, but out of the money. Ounces matter. They fished dipsey divers 120 feet back with the diver index set at 2-1/2, with a 55-foot leader of 12-pound test (using the long leader/pinch-line deployment method), all fished from a 20# mainline of braided Fireline.

“We caught over 60 fish a day,” said Captain Jim Skoczylas of Team No. 28, Ultimate Outdoors. “My favorite lure was an old-fashioned bomber, it had an orange top, gold fleck sides and a black bottom — and I lost it today when a big fish cut under the rear deck of the boat.”

There you have it, folks: the favorite colors for these two days of the Con Club Derby have been northern lights, Yaleye “May Fly,” and firetiger.

Gotta love the outdoors.

CALENDAR

Aug. 4-5: VIP Lake Erie Experience, Meet/Greet Aug. 4 evening — by invitation only, https://comefishlakeerie.com. Info: ELECBA President: Capt. Jim Steel at 716-481-5348.

Aug. 7-8: Cabela’s National Walleye Tour Qualifier event, Dunkirk Harbor. Professional angler TV event. Weigh-in events are open to the public. Visit www.outdoorteamworks.com.

Aug. 15-16: Innovative Outdoors Walleye Challenge (Dunkirk), $500 entry, Jim Steel, 716-481-5348; https://innovative-outdoors.com/.