The Bart’s Cove Walleye Duel-1 (Integrity Walleye Series-1) is set for this Saturday and Sunday in Dunkirk Harbor.

“The captain’s meeting will begin at 7 p.m. on Friday (July 28) at Bart’s Cove Marina,” said Bob Rustowicz, tournament chairman. “So far, there are 35 boats registered for the contest.”

The competition will begin on both days with a shotgun start (air horn) at 6 a.m. outside the breakwall in Dunkirk. Contestants must adhere to the rules and not leave before the horn, as any violation will result in disqualification. Contestant boats can depart from either Bart’s Cove or Chadwick Bay Marina but must return by water to Bart’s Cove for their cooler drop after fishing. Any boat not returning to Bart’s directly after fishing will be disqualified. Strictly enforcing rules is a key aspect of the Bart’s Cove Walleye Duel tournament.

The fishable waters for this tourney are the New York state waters of Lake Erie, no Niagara River, and no Canada. It is interesting that each boat may have up to six anglers in their boat, but can only use a maximum of nine fishing rods. The nine-rod rule keeps the competition equal for anglers in smaller boats with just three anglers and three rods per angler max per New York State Lake Erie fishing rules. All walleyes must be 22 inches minimum to be considered for weigh-in with the three-fish bag for both days. Each team weighing in fish must use a jaw tag zip tie on each fish; there can be no loose ice or water in the cooler. The use of block ice or bag ice minimizes misidentified weights in fish. The zip ties will be presented to the teams during the Captain’s Meeting. Additionally, no boat checks are required before starting. The registration fee per boat is $500.

The Southtowns Walleye association Tournament winner, Tim Stone, with his 10.7-pound Lake Erie walleye, good for more than $13,000 in cash winnings. Photo courtesy of Southtowns Walleye Association

This contest is a brand-new walleye competition tournament for Lake Erie anglers. The Bart’s Cove Walleye Duel champion will be identified after the completion of Bart’s Cove Walleye Duel-2 (Integrity Walleye Series-2). That competition is set for July 27-28, with Chairman Mark Mohr.

For more info on either contest, contact Rustowicz at 716-830-6394 or Mohr at 716-998-9871.

The community support for these Lake Erie walleye angler competitions has been very accommodating, with $99 room specials for the competitors at the Clarion Hotel and $25 boat slip rentals at Chadwick Bay Marina. Of course, as fishing teams can have as many as six anglers in each boat, the economic spinoff for some of these competitions for local businesses is well appreciated.

Gotta love the outdoors.

CALENDAR

June 28: WNY Heroes Day, Dunkirk Harbor, visit https://wnyheroes.org/, sponsored by Eastern Lake Erie Charter Boat Association, President Jim Steel, 716-481-5348.

June 29-30: Bart’s Cove Walleye Duel-1 (Integrity Walleye Series), Lake Erie walleye tournament, Dunkirk Harbor, two-day/three-fish bag/day, $500 entry, contact Bob Rustowicz, 716-830-6394.

June 29-30: New York state Free Fishing Days, no license required for residents and non-residents.

July 4: Firecracker Sporting Clay Shoot, Hanover Fish & Game, 780 Overhiser Road, Forestville. $50 cost for 100-bird shoot. Visit www.hanoverclays.com for more info.

July 9: Erie County Trappers, Potluck Family Picnic, 12580 Jennings Road, Patti Wattengal. Bring a dish to share.

July 11: WNY Walleye monthly meeting, 6:30 p.m., at Knights of Columbus, 36 Pierce Ave., Hamburg.

July 19-20: Sunset Bay walleye Shootout, $500 entry, $500K prizes, six-fish/bag/one day, INFO: Captain Don Ruppert, www.walleyeshootout.com.

July 27-28: Bart’s Cove Walleye Dual-2, Integrity Walleye Series (IWT-2), Dunkirk Harbor, three-fish/bag/day, two days, contact Mark Mohr, 716-998-9871.