Walleye tourney returns to Lake Erie

The novel coronavirus pandemic will not stop a fishing tournament scheduled June 5 and 6 in Lorain, according to planners.

The Bass Pro Shops/Cabela’s Masters Walleye Circuit returns to the city for what has become the season opener for the tournament, which will have a series of contests around seven states in 2020.

Two other fishing events were scheduled in March and April, but were postponed due to safety precautions dealing with COVID-19.

“So the anglers are definitely chomping at the bit; they definitely want to get out there,” said Jack Baker, tournament director for the Masters Walleye Circuit.

The event is expected to draw up to 80 boats, each carrying a two-angler team fishing for the five largest walleye they can hook. The boats launch from the Lorain Port Authority’s Black River Wharf boat ramp of 14th Street.

COVID-19 changes

Part of the fun of the tournament is once the anglers return to shore, they gather at the Black River Landing festival site to weigh the fish.

Anglers and spectators assemble to watch the scales and listen to participants explain their tactics for seeking out the heaviest walleye.

That process will be changed, with just one team member bringing the day’s catch to Black River Landing for the weighin. The procedure will be streamed live online, Baker said.

Although Black River Landing has room for people to spread out, the tournament planners are discouraging a large crowd of people getting too close together to watch.

“We’re learning as we’re going,” Baker said. “We might be too restrictive up front but as they say, better to be safe than sorry.”

Hotels were deemed an essential business that remained open during Ohio’s stay-at-home and shutdown orders for COVID-19. Baker

said he had not heard of any complaints of tournament anglers not finding lodging for the weekend.

The Ariel Broadway Hotel by Cobblestone has reopened to serve anglers visiting Lorain for the event.

This year, there will be no host dinner or other group gatherings for the anglers, said Lorain Port Authority Executive Director Tom Brown.

But the visiting fishermen and women will spend money on food, gas and supplies while in town, adding to the local economy, Brown said.

The tournament also gives national exposure to Lorain. “Any time you bring fresh eyes into Lorain, it’s a good thing,” Brown said.

Sign up

Registration will continue through May 31. The event is expected to attract professional teams, although local amateur anglers can join and northern Ohio residents have won and placed in prior contests out of Lorain.

In 2016, fishing buddies Tim Johnson and Jason Zsebik of Vermilion took home the top prize with their catch of walleye.

“The local teams have the advantage,” Baker said. “They’re tuned into where the bite is.”

COVID-19 health restrictions probably won’t affect the actual fishing part of the tournament.

Fishing from boats, anglers technically could remain six feet apart if one occupies the bow and the other is in the stern.

“I’m going to make the ‘ha-ha — they should be pretty safe out in the middle of Lake Erie,’” Baker said.

Fabulous fishing

Those who come to Lorain could be in for a treat on the water.

Before Memorial Day, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources published its season forecast predicting “fabulous fishing” this year.

“Walleye harvest rates set records for the second

straight year in 2019, and numerous large hatches point to an increasingly bright future for the Walleye Capital of the World.”

The lake has an estimated 116 million walleye 2 years old and older. This summer many of the 2-year-old fish are expected to reach the state minimum length of 15 inches, to keep in daily bag limits.

The walleye bag limit on Lake Erie is six fish per angler with a 15-inch minimum size length, according to ODNR.

Baker said he had not heard much from local anglers about their catches so far this spring.

“But historically this is the time to be in Lorain,” he said. “It’s part of the industry. You want to schedule your tournaments where the fish are.

“Lake Erie never disappoints,” Baker said. “Somebody always gets into them. You’ve got one of the best, if not the best, walleye fisheries in the world going. Somebody will get into them.”