After four qualifying events that spanned the Midwest, the top 40 pros and top 40 co-anglers are set to compete in the 2022 National Walleye Tour Championship, presented by Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s.
The no-entry-fee tournament takes place Aug. 24-26 on legendary Lake Erie. Not only is it the sport’s most lucrative event, awarding three fully-rigged boat packages, but it also determines the Lucas Oil Angler of the Year, the most prestigious title in walleye fishing.
Professional walleye anglers are accustomed to trolling Erie’s world-class waters, but typically the events are held on Erie’s Western Basin. The city of Dunkirk, N.Y., located in scenic Chautauqua County, is hosting this year’s championship. The location is intriguing for several reasons. First, it’s common knowledge that Lake Erie walleyes spawn early in the springtime in the Western Basin along the shallow reefs. As the water warms throughout the year, those fish disperse and migrate east – some traveling past Dunkirk as far as Buffalo. Secondly, only a few of the 40 pros competing in this year’s championship have much experience probing the Eastern Basin. In short, Eastern Lake Erie is the perfect playground for the biggest event in walleye fishing.
The National Walleye Tour consists of four regular-season events and a no-entry-fee championship. Pros compete against other pros, and co-anglers compete against other co-anglers. For more information on rules and tournament payouts, visit www.nationalwalleyetour.com
