Walleye, friendship and a lasting legacy
The RAM Fall Finale is this weekend
Fishing team captains will meet at 6:30 tonight at Bart’s Cove to cover event registrations, rules, and prize payouts for the inaugural Ray Adamczak Memorial (RAM) Walleye set to run tomorrow. Pictured, from the left, are Shawn Piniewski, Tom Slawatycki, Bob Rustowicz and Ron Morcio. Photo courtesy of the Steel Outdoors Group
For the inaugural Ray Adamczak Memorial (RAM) Walleye set to run tomorrow out of Bart's Cove at Dunkirk Harbor, the question will be: Are the fish shallow or deep? Down-scan sonar will help anglers find the fish in the cooling eastern Lake Erie waters. It’s a trolling only tournament event. Photo courtesy of Bob Rustowicz
Fishing team captains will meet at 6:30 tonight at Bart’s Cove to cover event registrations, rules, and prize payouts for the inaugural Ray Adamczak Memorial (RAM) Walleye set to run tomorrow. Pictured, from the left, are Shawn Piniewski, Tom Slawatycki, Bob Rustowicz and Ron Morcio. Photo courtesy of the Steel Outdoors Group
For the inaugural Ray Adamczak Memorial (RAM) Walleye set to run tomorrow out of Bart's Cove at Dunkirk Harbor, the question will be: Are the fish shallow or deep? Down-scan sonar will help anglers find the fish in the cooling eastern Lake Erie waters. It’s a trolling only tournament event. Photo courtesy of Bob Rustowicz
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There may be no better way to close Western New York’s 2026 walleye tournament season than with a boat full of friends, a spread of trolling rods and one more crack at the remarkable walleye fishery off Chautauqua County’s Lake Erie shoreline.
This one will mean considerably more than fish.
On Saturday, angler teams will gather out of Bart’s Cove at Dunkirk Harbor for the inaugural Ray Adamczak Memorial (RAM) Walleye Tournament -- forever more to be known as the "Fall Finale." The one-day trolling-only tournament honors the memory of Ray Adamczak, a longtime supporter of Western New York’s outdoors and a personal friend to many in the local fishing community. Ray passed away suddenly this summer, leaving behind plenty of fishing stories, friendships and memories -- and now, a tournament intended to become an annual tradition.
It is a fitting tribute for an outdoorsman passionate about both fishing and hunting, especially as September’s walleye action begins giving way to autumn preparations in the deer woods.
What a fishery we have to share and celebrate for this special memorial event. The 2026 Eastern Lake Erie walleye season has been nothing short of impressive. Limit catches have become commonplace for anglers who know where to look, and the quality of the fish has helped fuel growing interest in competitive walleye fishing. While today’s forward-facing sonar has opened another chapter in the sport -- particularly for anglers casting to individual fish -- the RAM Fall Finale keeps things old-school: trolling only, with no forward-facing sonar.
That means anglers will rely on the time-tested Lake Erie playbook: planer boards spreading lines across productive water, lead-core and copper presentations probing different depths, and downriggers putting stickbaits and spoons precisely in the strike zone.
Team captain Ron Morcio said, "Ray was a humble, gentle, giant fish-catcher. We all loved fishing with Ray. On his side of the boat, the guys were always screaming 'fish-on.' He was a good listener, a great friend, and a quiet, never-ending success story. Ray discovered he was sick and passed away just a few weeks later." Morcio added, "You know, with Ray, we had a great year this year, winning or finishing in the top five in multiple tournaments."
Joe Jemiolo Jr. added, "Ray was a special sort of outdoorsman. He never hesitated to include kids into his outdoor plans, and he hunted, fished and trapped with success. He was a mentor to many of us, young and old, he will be missed."
The RAM Fall Finale will feature a six-fish box, with a 22-inch minimum and New York waters only. Registration is $500 per team, with an optional $100 big-fish entry. The main purse pays the top five teams -- 30%, 25%, 20%, 15% and 10% -- while the big-fish pot pays the top three at 50%, 30% and 20%.
For many Dunkirk-area trollers, proven weapons include shallow- and deep-diving stickbaits, crawler harnesses and spoons. Popular walleye colors routinely include perch patterns, purple, blue, black-and-silver and fire-tiger, with lure choice and color changing as water clarity, depth and light conditions dictate. Finding the right depth, speed and presentation is the key, and often the difference between watching dormant rod tips or watching them dance with fish. Need last minute advice or lures? Visit Geri Begier at Bill's Hooks Tackle Shop at 5139 West Lake Road in Dunkirk (716-366-0268).
The captain's meeting is at 6:30 tonight at Bart’s Cove. Event organizer Morcio, a respected and humble walleye champion, is coordinating the event. Questions can be directed to him at the captain's meeting or by calling 716-984-3360.
Come Saturday, the goal will be simple: catch a few (six) big Lake Erie walleyes, share some laughs and honor a friend.
For the memory of Ray Adamczak and his family and friends, this is sure to be a fitting way to finish the Lake Erie walleye tournament fishing season.
Gotta love the outdoors.
CALENDAR
Today: Captain's meeting for the inaugural Ray Adamczyk Memorial Walleye Tournament at Bart's Cove, Dunkirk, 6:30 p.m. start; Info: Ron Morcio, 716-984-3360.
Saturday: NYS Bowhunter Ed Course, 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Bear Lake Rod & Gun, 4391 Cassadaga-Stockton Road, Stockton, 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m., call 585-226-5463.
Saturday: Ray Adamczyk Memorial Walleye Tournament, Lake Erie, Bart's Cove, Dunkirk; Info: Ron Morcio, 716-984-3360.
Saturday: NYSDEC Trapper Ed Course, Dayton Fire Hall, 9512 U.S. 62, Gowanda, 9 a.m.-5:30 p.m., taught by David L Allen, register: https://decals.events.east.licensing.app/em/events/479, call 585-226-5463.
Sunday: Sunday 50s Trap Shoot, Celeron Rod/Gun Club, 210 Livingston Ave., Celoron, registration 9-10 a.m.; Info: Jerry Martin: 814-688-9209.