wild guide: walleye tournaments
GET CONNECTED
Other anglers want you to compete and to
enjoy the experience. It’s in their interest to
see the community grow. So it’s never hard to
find people who will help you along the way.
Organizers are the best place to start.
Tournament directors will share stories and
walk you through the format of their event
– before, during and after. Some events are
also part of tournament trails, like the CWT.
Trails usually have a mandate of helping
tournaments thrive and anglers succeed, so
connecting via membership or even just on
social media will give you access to helpful
and experienced people.
If you have the opportunity to fish your first
tournament with an experienced angler, even
better. Don’t know any? By asking organizers,
you may learn about opportunities like pro/
am events or registered anglers who haven’t
yet chosen a partner.
REAPING THE REWARDS
Tournaments have great prizes for multiple
teams that place near the top. Finish places
like first and second aren’t the only rewards
to win at tournaments and in trails, either.
Expect specialty categories with prizes for
criteria like mixed teams, youth anglers,
biggest fish, hidden weight and smallest
weight.
“At times, I think I am just as pumped as
they are,” says Dotoli, who presented the
Watts with a prize for their eighth place
finish at Cape Coppermine. “It’s hard not to
be, as teams come up to receive a prize and
they are grinning from ear to ear, or if they
finish in first place and are shaking with
excitement.”
While winning is great, it may not
come right away. Remember, you may
be competing against some of the most
accomplished anglers around. If you
CONNECTIONS
Whether you want to join a series, or just learn about
individual events, tournaments trails are a great place to
start for information.
Central Walleye Trail: www.centralwalleyetrail.com
Lund Tournament Trail: www.lundtournamenttrail.com
Northern Ontario Walleye Trail: www.nowt.ca
Saskatchewan Walleye Trail: www.saskwalleyetrail.ca
Southern Alberta Walleye Trail: www.sawt.ca
Western Canadian Walleye Trail: wcwalleyetrail.ca
recognize the other benefits that are to be
gained from the tournament experience,
you’ll leave the water satisfied no matter
how you place.
“A good tournament day is when we have
a livewell full of big, healthy fish,” says Karen
Watt. “But if we leave the water knowing
that we tried our best, learned something
new, treated nature with the respect she
deserves and have sore sides from laughing
with friends, then it’s been a great day.”
Couples like the Watts register to fish
together. Other people sign up with friends.
Some even seize the opportunity to team
up with children and grandchildren, in one
of the rare sports that’s suitable for both
young and old. No matter what your team
looks like, or where your fishing experience
lies, you can expect to be welcomed and
encouraged from the moment you say, “sign
me up.”