HAMBURG, N.Y., – June 29, 2026 – Southtowns Walleye Association of Western New York Inc. (STWA) (www.southtownswalleye.com) held its 42nd Annual Walleye Derby from June 13th through June 21st 2026, on the waters of Lake Erie and the Upper Niagara River, with more than $100,000 in cash and prizes at stake, anglers throughout Western New York and multiple states participated in the nine day event in search of a walleye worthy of the top prize.

The Derby concluded with an awards picnic held at the STWA Clubhouse on June 28th at 12pm with more than 200 people in attendance, the main prizes were awarded to the top fish that were weighed in after the nine day event. Top honors for the winners went to the following top adult and youth participants within each division.

Adult Winners 2026:                                  

1st – Woodrow Rickard– 9.61 lbs.
2nd – Corey Hughes – 9.29 lbs.
3rd – Patrick Bohen– 9.29 lbs.
4th – John Woelfle– 8.96 lbs.
5th – Steve Haak– 8.94 lbs.
6th – Timothy Hughes– 8.83 lbs.
7th – Mark Schumer– 8.79 lbs.
8th – Wayne Ochal – 8.74 lbs.
9th – Richard Kacmarski – 8.62 lbs
10th – David Ristau - 8.56 lbs.

Youth Winners 2026:

1st – Olivia Rizzo – 7.74 lbs.
2nd – Landon Smith – 7.51 lbs.
3rd – Wyatt Simonick – 6.88 lbs.
4th – Lucas Dusenbury – 6.88 lbs.
5th – William Egnatchik – 6.87 lbs.
6th – Riley Sturgeon – 6.64 lbs.
7th – Gabriella Rizzo – 6.58 lbs.
8th – Bentley Geedy – 6.48 lbs.
9th – Lexi Smith – 6.47 lbs.
10th – Michael Schaller – 6.31 lbs.

2025 Derby Lure Winner:                           
Dennis Ball – 7.44 lbs.   

Lakeshore Hardware Youth Lifetime License Winner:
Olivia Rizzo – 7.74 lbs.                           

Southtowns Walleye Association of Western New York, Inc. is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving fishing opportunities in the region for all individuals. With a clear focus on kids, community, conservation and philanthropy, our various programs support these pillars for a strong future generation of outdoorsmen and women and our fishery. To learn more about the club, please visit us at www.southtownswalleye.com or stop by our facility located at 5895 Southwestern Boulevard, Hamburg, NY 14075, Tel.: 716.649.8202, meetings are held the third Thursday of each month at 7:30pm and are open to the public.

HAMBURG, N.Y., – April 27, 2026 – Southtowns Walleye Association of Western New York Inc. (STWA) (www.southtownswalleye.com) held its annual Harry A. Smith installation dinner and Fundraiser. The organization which boasts over 500 members annually supports kids fishing, philanthropic and conservation programs for the Great Lakes region and was instrumental in pushing for the removal of gill netting on Lake Erie, helping to make it the great fishery it is today.

 This year’s event took place on April 25th, 2026 at Kloc's Grove located in West Seneca, NY. The organization recognized various members of the community and the club for outstanding service and dedication to furthering the organization and our Great Lakes fishery. This year also had a special focus on supporting the E.M. Cotter Fire Boat located in Buffalo, NY, with portion of this year's proceeds going to help fund this outstanding organization for their continued work on Lake Erie and in the community.

 Mike Kaczmarek President of Southtowns Walleye Association of Western New York, Inc. presented his Presidents Awards for 2025 to the following members:

• Elaine Weigand – STWA Special People Fishing Event
• Tom Yetzer, Zac and Chelsea Yetzer (Reel Time Charters) - Erie County Fair Kid's Lure Making Event

 Additional awards for 2025 honoring the following individuals were given to:

• Congressman Nick Langworthy – Elected Official of the Year Award
• Dennis and Diane Stachowski– Larry Scheffler Memorial Award
• James Skoczylas  – James Ridge Memorial Award

Previous year's Harry A. Smith Award winners presented this year’s award to:

• Amy Plecas – Harry A. Smith Memorial Award

  We would like to thank each of these individuals for their continued support and dedication to improving our fishery and our organization, and look forward to more great work from our membership and the community.

  Southtowns Walleye Association of Western New York, Inc. is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving fishing opportunities in the region for all individuals. With a clear focus on kids, community, conservation, and philanthropy our various programs support these pillars for a strong future generation of outdoorsmen and women and our fishery. For a complete listing of descriptions of each of these awards and to learn more about our organization, please visit www.southtownswalleye.com or stop by our facility located at 5895 Southwestern Boulevard, Hamburg, NY 14075, Tel.: 716.649.8202. Meetings are held the third Thursday of each month at 6:30pm and are open to the public.

 Fisherman have a chance to win over $100,000 in Cash and Prizes

  HAMBURG, N.Y., – January 12, 2026 – Southtowns Walleye Association of Western New York Inc. (STWA) (www.southtownswalleye.com) announces its 42^nd Annual Walleye Derby from June 13^th through June 21^st 2026, on the U.S. waters of Lake Erie and the Upper Niagara River.  With more than $100,000 in cash and prizes at stake, anglers throughout Western New York, and multiple states will participate in the nine day event in search of a walleye worthy of the top prize. Current sign-ups are being accepted at the STWA Clubhouse or online, and shortly at various sign-up locations around Western New York,

  “This year at our 42^nd Annual Walleye Derby we have some great sponsors supporting our event such as WavePro, Curly’s Grille, Catt Creek Bait & Tackle, Traxstech, and FishUSA having these outstanding companies on board each year gives our participants the opportunity to win some amazing prizes no matter where you finish in the derby”, said Jim Skoczylas, First Vice President STWA and Derby Chair.

 To bring even more value to our sponsors and contestants we have put together early bird prize pack drawings, each month prizes will be awarded at the club to several lucky people who get signed up for the Derby early. Whether you sign-up online or in-person at the clubhouse you can qualify for these prizes. Additionally, we have the $1,000 Derby Daily Walleye prize, giving contestants a chance to cash in on each of the nine days of the derby, this allows everyone a chance to win a monetary prize.

 “Every year we have incredible local sponsor’s such as Kishels, Olson Bros. Marine Inc., Machias Outdoors, Ultimate Outdoors of WNY, and Buffalo Tackle we truly appreciate these local companies and their continued support of our organization, the derby, our participants and this great fishery we have in Lake Erie”, said Brian Plecas Second Vice President STWA and Derby Co-Chair.

  If you are interested in signing up in person and purchasing one of this year’s STWA Derby lures produced by Mike’s Walleye Rigs, you can stop by the club during general meetings to purchase one, we will also be having special sign-up events that will be announced on our Facebook page.  Don’t miss out on the action this year to weigh in a winning walleye.

  Southtowns Walleye Association of Western New York, Inc. is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving fishing opportunities in the region for all individuals. With a clear focus on kids, community, conservation and philanthropy, our various programs support these pillars for a strong future generation of outdoorsmen and women and our fishery. To learn more about the club, please visit us at www.southtownswalleye.com or stop by our facility located at 5895 Southwestern Boulevard, Hamburg, NY 14075, Tel.: 716.649.8202, meetings are held the third Thursday of each month at 7:00pm and are open to the public.

For Media Inquiries Contact:

Brian Plecas
Tel.: 716.649.8202
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