Professional walleye anglers will compete in the fourth annual WNY Walleye Classic directed by Josh Larsen, tournament director, while the festival portion will be directed by Ryan Hall, Dunkirk festivals coordinator. The Primitive Patriot Outdoors WNY Walleye Classic will be the highlight of the festival consisting of two to five anglers weighing in their biggest six fish caught with top-10 payouts and top-three biggest fish prizes on Friday and Saturday.

Sponsored by DFT Communications, Century 21 Turner Brokers – Dan Terhune, HuntChef and Okuma, the tournament consists of a Big Fish Friday event (May 31), the main event (June 1) and a kids’ day (June 2).

Last year, 49 teams were registered with more than 250 anglers and more than $35,000 was given in prize money.

The mission statement is to bring the outdoor community together through hosted events and various media sources in hopes to give the area a weekend focusing on Lake Erie’s most sought-after species — walleye.

For Big Fish Friday, teams leave from whatever harbor they wish, but must return to Dunkirk by boat with cooler drop-off by 3:30 p.m. and the weigh-in show at 5 p.m.

1980 Something will provide eighties musical entertainment from 7 to 10 p.m.

The main event starts Saturday with boat checks at 5:30 a.m. followed by the shotgun start at 7 a.m. where teams will all race off to their fishing location. The community is encouraged to come watch as the roar of 40-plus boats race off along the shores of Lake Erie.

Cooler drop off is by 3:30 p.m. proceeded by the weigh in show at 5 p.m. The biggest fish are weighed last to enhance the buildup of excitement to announce the winners and overall champion that day.

The West of the Mark – The Prime Project will take the stage from 7-10 p.m. to perform live 90’s country music.

Food, craft and fishing gear vendors will be on site both Friday and Saturday.

A kids’ fishing clinic and tournament will take place Sunday, June 2 starting at 10 a.m. Pro angler and National Walleye Tour Championship finalist Craig Sleeman will conduct the event. The winner of the tournament will win a guided fishing trip with Sleeman.

According to Larsen, “Our tournament is the fastest growing tournament on Lake Erie in New York. Our goal is to build a professional tournament that anglers and the public can enjoy while we take pride in providing a fair, transparent and professional experience for our anglers in the City of Dunkirk.”

In addition, the WNY Walleye Cup Series, presented by Primitive Patriot Outdoors is a fishing tournament series where teams register their boats to compete in at least three tournaments where they must catch a total of six fish.

To register for the upcoming WNY Walleye Classic or to become a vendor, visit www.primitivepatriotoutdoors.com or call Larsen at (716) 490-4226. Festival and event sponsorship questions can be referred to Hall at 716-366-9886 or www.cityofdunkirk.com.

Discounted hotel rooms through the Clarion Hotel on Lake Shore Drive can be reserved by calling Brandi Letersky at 716-366-8350.