The Walleye Duel in Dunkirk returns Saturday and Sunday to Bart’s Cove with Mark Mohr, tournament director, expecting the largest field in the event’s history.

“This one is shaping up to be the biggest one yet,” Mohr said.

The mandatory captains meeting is scheduled for Friday at 7 p.m. at Bart’s Cove, where tournament information and Calcutta registrations will be finalized. Tournament officials indicate that Bart’s Cove will also serve as the weigh-in location.

The Walleye Duel features a trolling-only format, prohibiting casting and jigging presentations. By eliminating those techniques, the event also removes the competitive advantage of forward-facing sonar tactics, emphasizing traditional trolling methods that have long defined Lake Erie walleye fishing. To register for the Walleye Duel in Dunkirk, call Mohr at 716-998-9871.

The best conventional trolling lures happen to be the most worn-out lures in the tackle box. There are some lures that, for whatever reason, seem to catch more fish than the same lures of the same brand in the same color in the same tackle box. Photo courtesy of Forrest Fisher

Registration cost is $500 for this one, where teams will compete for winnings with a three-fish cumulative bag over the two competition days, identical to the scoring system used in the Con Club Walleye Tournament, though the entry cost at the Con Club is $300. The Con Club event will run July 31 and Aug. 1 with registration/signups only at the Con Club Clubhouse on June 28, July 10 and July 12, all from 5-7 p.m.

That shared weigh station format will create the additional prize: the combined heaviest total weight from both tournaments to determine the “Lake Erie Walleye Team of the Year.” The winning team receives a new championship trophy and, through the Suzuki Slam promotion sponsored by Blue Water Marine, will also take home a 15-horsepower Suzuki outboard motor.

The partnership between the two events strengthens local tournament fishing and rewards consistency across multiple competitions. Traditional tactics will take center stage in this one as the trolling-only rules place the emphasis on proven Lake Erie techniques. These include inline boards and planer boards, diving planes and wire lines, downriggers and weighted presentations, lead-core and copper line systems, typical rod-and-reel depth control methods, down sonar and conventional electronics.

By removing casting and jigging methods from competition, anglers relying on classic trolling approaches and can compete on equal footing (cost of gear). Big prizes await as the Walleye Duel prize list once again includes a highly sought-after Mexico fishing trip for three, featuring marlin and tuna fishing opportunities. Additional prizes include cash payouts, Suzuki outboards, Reel Easy rod holders, fishing electronics and graph equipment, gift certificates, Calcutta awards, surprise cash envelopes, and other sponsor prizes.

Weather has challenged several recent Lake Erie walleye events, but organizers are hopeful for calmer conditions this weekend. As neighboring tournaments work together rather than compete against one another, the new Team of the Year race adds another layer of excitement to Eastern Lake Erie’s growing walleye tournament scene. For local anglers who prefer traditional trolling techniques over modern forward-facing sonar tactics, these events may represent the best showcase of affordable classic Lake Erie walleye fishing all season.

Gotta love the outdoors.

CALENDAR

June 25: Erie County Federation of Sportsmen, monthly meeting, 6:30-9 p.m., Hamburg Rod & Gun Club, 3434 Hickox Road.

June 26: 10th annual WNY Heroes Fishing Day, 6:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., Dunkirk Harbor; military veterans or active military; free; to sign up call 716-630-5020, ext. 209 or email dcollege@wnyheroes.org.

June 27: Jake’s Day youth day event, Westfield Fish & Game, 8150 Ogden Road, Westfield; 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., free lunch; open to public, events include fishing, shooting, archery, bird house building, more. Info: Bob Turk, 716-673-6703.

June 27: Teach-Me-To-Fish, Chestnut Ridge Park, 6121 Chestnut Ridge Road, Orchard Park; free, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., open to all ages, prizes for 15 & under; register: https://www.ecfsc.org/tmtf-chestnut-ridge-registration/. 716-662-3290.

June 27: 716 Kayak Bass Trail Tournament, Silver Lake, 5:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., $30 entry, $5 big bass option, register at Tourney X on smart phone. Catch-Photo-Release Tournament.

June 27-28: Free Fishing Days, New York state. For residents and nonresidents.

June 27-28: Walleye Duel in Dunkirk, Bart’s Cove, $500 entry; three-fish bag/two days; call Mark Mohr: 716-998-9871.