Tournament Director Josh Larsen, a Marine Corps veteran, and the WNY Walleye Classic team have created a tradition that continues to grow in significance. For the second consecutive year, the tournament provided a complementary entry for a military veteran team, allowing two veterans to compete alongside an experienced captain at no cost to themselves.

This year’s veteran anglers, Randy Beach and Craig Clemons, were paired with Captain Daryl Glasner of CEO Guide Service, known throughout the region as “Captain Dapper.” Glasner generously donated his boat, equipment, fuel, time and expertise to ensure the veterans could experience one of the premier walleye tournaments in the Northeast.

The tournament itself featured a new format in 2025. Organizers replaced the traditional “Big Fish Friday” event with a true two-day competition, requiring teams to weigh six walleyes each day for a 12-fish total. The change emphasized consistency, a quality Larsen and his staff believe defines true champions.

Competing against many of the top professional walleye anglers in the region, Beach and Clemons entered unfamiliar territory. Neither had ever fished for Lake Erie walleyes, and the three-man team had never fished together before tournament weekend.

Despite the challenge, they quickly proved they belonged. After weighing 28.8 pounds on Day One, the veteran team sat 21st among 39 teams. Following a weather-related lay day, they returned to the water Sunday determined to improve. What followed was a remarkable demonstration of teamwork and an incredible reminder of the quality of fishing available out of Dunkirk Harbor.

The crew boated more than 100 walleyes during Day Two, assembling a 31.3-pound tournament box (six fish) while sorting through schools of Lake Erie’s famous “Erie Gold.” By the end of the event, the veterans had climbed to 16th place overall against a field loaded with accomplished tournament anglers.

For Glasner, the weekend was about far more than fishing.

“Offering up a little bit of my time and vessel is about all I can do to give back to those who offered to give it all so we can have the freedoms we hold so near and dear to us,” he said following the tournament.

His words capture the spirit behind the veteran program. The freedoms Americans enjoy every day were secured through the sacrifices of military service members. Programs like this one provide a small but meaningful opportunity to show appreciation to those who answered the call to serve.

The efforts of Larsen, the tournament staff, sponsors, volunteers and captains like Glasner demonstrate that respect for veterans remains alive and well in Western New York. Their generosity creates lasting memories and meaningful experiences while strengthening connections between the fishing community and those who have worn our nation’s uniform.

As another successful Classic comes to a close, the veteran team’s strong performance serves as a reminder that service, dedication, teamwork and perseverance are qualities that extend well beyond military life — and well beyond the weigh-in stage. God bless our veterans, and God bless America.

Gotta love the outdoors.

CALENDAR

June 11: Southtowns Walleye Association, monthly meeting, 7 p.m. start, 6 p.m. tournament registration start (last sign-up day), 5895 Southwestern Blvd., Hamburg.

June 12-13: FISH716 Walleye Classic, Barcelona Harbor, $500 entry, Calcutta’s, Big Fish Friday, main event is June 13, visit FISH716.com to register, or call chairman Cody Allen: 716-352-0443 or 716-581-3054.

June 13-21: 42nd Annual 9-Day Southtowns Walleye Tournament, Lake Erie, $110 entry, $100k prizes; Info: https://www.southtownswalleye.com/.

June 14: Ellington Rod and Gun, “Don’t Know Partner Trap League,” 1045 Hagerdon Hill Road., Ellington; Info: 716-287-3987.