Local Sports

Weather couldn’t stop history at Sunset Bay Walleye Shootout

The first day of competition in the 2026 Sunset Bay Walleye Shootout never left the dock after rough Lake Erie storm conditions forced organizers to postpone fishing until the following day. Nobody complained much -- well, maybe a little -- but when Lake Erie decides to flex its muscles, even the best captains know better than to argue.

When the fleet finally blasted off, 147 teams took to what has become the nation’s largest pro-am, non-league, walleye tournament, competing for a purse worth $500,000 in cash and prizes. The lake was still choppy enough to keep the competition crews earning every fish, especially in a trolling-only event where forward-facing sonar is prohibited. There was no casting your way out of trouble. Success came from carefully setting trolling spreads despite the rolling and quartering waves.

Diving planes, downriggers, weighted three-way rigs, stickbaits, spinner-and-worm harnesses and crankbaits all found their place behind the boats. The captains who best adjusted trolling speeds, lure colors and lead lengths while keeping their lines fishing clean in the rough water separated themselves from the rest of the talented field. Every team was searching for that one school of walleye that held bigger than average fish.

When the scales finally settled, Captain Vern Anderson’s team One More Eye claimed the tournament championship with an impressive six-fish limit weighing 35.35 pounds, anchored by a 7.82-pound walleye. The victory earned the team $20,000 in cash and prizes. The only thing they didn’t catch? The Calcutta options. As every tournament angler knows, sometimes the fish cooperate better than Lady Luck.

That fortune smiled on Captain Mark Lewandowski and team Reel Mania, whose 33.55-pound bag and 6.19-pound kicker landed second place in the standings but more than $42,280 after cashing in on the Calcutta pools. Entering the Calcuttas is optional, and winning in them depends on how you place on the one competition day. Feeling lucky? Then, you gotta think about getting in them, like this team did.

Third place went to Captain Nick Schmidt and team Underdog, whose 33.12-pound catch earned more than $15,880 in cash and prizes thanks to strong fishing and smart Calcutta participation.

Fourth-place finishers Darrin Baron and team Fishin Tradition may have had one of the tournament’s biggest smiles. Their 32.85-pound limit, highlighted by a 6.25-pound walleye, moved them into third place in the Calcutta standings while also winning their division of the Big Wave Calcutta, pushing their total payout to more than $22,000.

Big fish honors were shared between two standout catches. Brian Schumacher won the Big Fish Friday event with an 8.19-pound giant, collecting $4,500 while leading the top 10 payout for that contest.

Then newcomer Steve Majka, fishing with team Erie Gold Miners, boated the largest walleye of the main event -- a magnificent 8.57-pound fish worth another $4,500.

Even before the tournament officially began, anglers were cashing checks. During Thursday’s Fish Donkey Pre-Fish Pot, Scott Addison captured first place, turning a $2,500 prize into $5,000 thanks to the Seneca Gaming & Entertainment bonus after visiting the Irving property. Brandon Pudlewski of Olson Brothers Marine-Skeeter Boats earned $1,500 for second, while David Savalto of team Salmon Lives doubled his third-place prize from $1,000 to $2,000 through the same promotion. It's beneficial to the anglers and local community businesses when tournaments like this promote angler competitor visits to restaurants and other local venues.

Beyond the prize money, the tournament showcased what many consider one of the finest walleye fisheries on the planet. It wasn’t unusual for boats to catch 60 to well over 100 walleye during a day on the water, carefully releasing fish after fish while sorting through the catch to bring only their six best to the scales.

All this is worth celebrating. Competitive fishing, conservation and business promotions can go hand in hand when anglers respect the resource, handle fish properly and appreciate just how special eastern basin Lake Erie truly is. The lake continues to reward careful management with remarkable fishing opportunities that benefit tournament anglers, weekend fishermen and local communities alike.

Congratulations to every team that battled the weather, mastered the waves and made history at another unforgettable Sunset Bay Walleye Shootout. Some took home giant checks, some took home stories that will only get better over the winter, and a few are probably still wondering why the fish they lost was "at least 9 pounds." A few ounces can mean thousands of dollars of missed winnings. That’s tournament fishing, and that’s Lake Erie.

Gotta love the outdoors.

CALENDAR

July 25: Chautauqua Lake White Perch Challenge, Chautauqua Reel Bait & Tackle at Ashville Bay Marina, 25-fish basket, 6 a.m. to noon, $20 entry fee, kids under 12 free, see Mike Sperry, call 716-763-2947, register at the bait shop.

July 25: Chautauqua Lake Bassmasters Open Tournament, Prendergast Boat Launch, $100/boat, five-fish limit, 6 a.m. to 2 p.m., two-man team or solo. Register at launch site.

July 25: Introduction to Upland Hunting, Chautauqua County Bird Dog Association at the Randolph Rod & Gun Club, 4424 Van Slyke Road, Randolph; 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.; lunches and up to 125 rounds of ammo provided. Limited to 20 participants: must be at least 21 years of age; Contact Paul Steward at 716-397-2855. Will also include a mentored pheasant hunt in October.

July 25-26: ASA Archery Championship Shoot, Bear Lake Rod & Gun Club, 4391 Stockton-Cassadaga Road, Stockton; 10 a.m. start. Call 716-397-9717.

July 26: Ellington Rod and Gun, "Don't Know Partner Trap League," 1045 Hagerdon Hill Road, Ellington; Info: 716-287-3987.