LEWT Huron ~ April 25, 2026 RECAP
Finally, a stretch of stable weather leading up to this event allowed teams to get some quality pre-fishing in. From the Islands all the way to Rocky River, anglers reported fantastic bites and consistent five-fish limits. It wasn’t about finding fish—it was about deciding where your best chance at a 40-pound bag would come from.
As tournament day arrived, conditions flipped. Northeast winds and light rain made for a completely different lake than what anglers had dialed in all week. Despite the change, the walleyes stayed fired up.
By weigh-in, the talk around the scales was simple – the fish were in a frenzy, and the bags were going to be huge.
1st Place – Dillon & Jesse Nussbaum – 43.17# (9.37# BF)
Dillon, a National Walleye Tour pro out of Pennsylvania, teamed up with his dad Jesse to take the win in dominant fashion. Known for fishing sporadic LEWT events but always performing at a high level, this time Dillon sealed the deal with over 43 pounds.
Fishing east of Lorain—stretching the traditional Huron boundaries toward Rocky River—Dillon targeted suspended fish throughout the water column. Casting jigs tipped with Z-Man plastics in the wind, he dialed in a program that produced five fish averaging over 8 pounds.
Beyond the water, Dillon is a tremendous resource on social media for anglers looking to improve boat setup, technique, and overall fishing knowledge. A true class act—and a well-earned win in Huron.
2nd Place – Nick & Ed Oleksy – 39.79# (8.66#)
Nick and Ed continue their tear on the field with another near-40-pound performance. Nick’s mastery of casting and forward-facing sonar continues to separate him from the pack, consistently putting big fish in the boat.
This finish keeps him firmly in the Team of the Year race without needing a substitute. He’s been knocking on the door—a win is coming.
5th Place – Adam Swisher & Ted Webster – 38.82# (8.11# Big Fish)
Traveling all the way from Kansas, this team times their annual Lake Erie trip around spring events. Despite no Masters Walleye Circuit stop in 2026, they made the most of this event – proving just how versatile they are.
A big-time performance from out-of-state anglers competing against a stacked local field.
6th Place – Fred Asbury & Brian Ulmer – 38.64# + 11.07# BIG FISH
Fred Asbury (subbing in) and Brian Ulmer went old-school—and it paid off. Pulling Off Shore boards with weighted crankbaits, they targeted deeper fish and landed the tournament’s Big Fish at 11.07#.
While forward-facing sonar dominates headlines, this was a reminder—trolling still wins on Lake Erie. Their fish were likely feeding on deeper bait, possibly white perch staging near spawning zones.
7th Place – Nicholas Zart & William Dudas Jr. – 38.43# (8.03# BF)
Nicholas Zart continues an unbelievable run, now approaching two full years of consistent top finishes—one of the most reliable teams on the trail.
8th Place – Brett & Sarah Gilbertson – 38.30#
Brett Gilbertson, alongside Sarah, battled through the day with Sarah fighting seasickness but staying tough. It was joked she was “keeping the walleyes company in the livewell” while Brett kept putting fish in the boat. A gritty performance.
9th Place – Francis Ball & Tom Nordyke Sr. – 38.01#
Another team proving trolling still competes at the highest level. Their deep-water crankbait program produced a strong 38-pound bag
10th Place – Ryan Buddie & Jason Kopf – 37.82# (8.48# BF)
Back together after a substitution earlier in the season, this duo continues to cash checks. A mix of old-school knowledge and modern technique makes them dangerous every time they hit the water.
11th Place – Mike Defibaugh & Mitch Shipman – 37.57# (8.44# BF)
Returning to trolling for the first time in a while, Mike and Mitch committed to a transition bite east of Lorain. Pulling boards and grinding through numbers, they put together a strong bag. As Mike joked – he forgot how much work trolling really is.
12th Place – Tyler Berthold & Devon Phillips – 36.87# (8.10# BF)
Thinking outside the box paid off. Fishing near the mouth of the Huron River after heavy rain, this team stayed close and trusted their pattern. Using barely a gallon of gas all weekend, they turned a local gamble into a check-cashing finish. Smart, efficient, and well executed.
Event Stats
62 Teams
285 Fish Weighed (100% Release)
Total Weight: 1,748.34#
Avg Fish: 6.13#
Avg Team Weight: 27.75#
Next Stop – Lorain Pro-Am (June 6th, 2026)
The Lake Erie Walleye Trail heads to Lorain for a Pro-Am format event, pairing amateur anglers with LEWT teams for a unique on-the-water experience. Amateurs will get a firsthand look at how the pros break down Lake Erie, while still competing for their own prizes. LEWT teams will continue under standard rules, competing for full payouts.
Bays Edge Cast & Jig OPEN
April 11, 2026 RECAP
Cold temperatures, bright sunshine, and a steady northeast wind set the stage for the Bays Edge Jigging Open on Saturday, April 11th. While the air had a bite to it, the conditions made for a great day on Lake Erie—despite a consistent NE chop that kept anglers on their toes.
A strong field of 43 teams launched in search of early-season walleye, and the results showed just how productive the western basin bite has become.
Taking top honors was Nicholas Zart, alongside teammate Joe Nadzam and son Drew Nadzam, who put together an impressive 39.99# limit to secure the win over a stacked field. Zart’s winning approach centered around efficiency, fish management, and trusting his electronics.
Utilizing Berkley Lab Series scented baits (set to be released May 5th), Zart and his crew focused on targeting suspended walleyes and worked through large numbers of quality fish throughout the day. Their strategy was a true “numbers game” approach, consistently catching fish in the 6–7 pound class and upgrading as the day progressed. Zart and his crew caught countless fish, culling multiple times to build their final leading bag.
A major factor in their success was how they used their electronics: Lowrance 2D sonar was used while on the move to locate active fish and mark key waypoints. They would then circle back and target those fish precisely using forward-facing sonar. This system allowed them to stay efficient, avoid wasted time, and maximize opportunities on high-percentage fish.
The combination of locating, marking, and then executing on individual fish ultimately proved to be the difference maker.
Forward-facing sonar once again proved to be a major factor, with many teams utilizing Lowrance ActiveTarget 2 paired with Summit Fishing Equipment shuttles to maximize efficiency across multiple anglers on board. The dominant technique throughout the day was casting and pitching jigs tipped with Berkley Lab Edition plastics around reef complexes and island areas.
One of the most notable approaches of the day came from Brett Gilbertson and teammate Damon Gohlke, who dialed in a textbook early-season pattern by specifically targeting pre-spawn females holding tight to the bottom.
Gilbertson made the run toward the reef complexes, focusing his efforts on isolated fish he identified using forward-facing sonar. Rather than fishing blindly through schools, he was selectively casting jigs at individual fish, carefully choosing marks that he believed were larger, pre-spawn females staging on structure. By staying disciplined and targeting bottom-oriented fish in key areas, Gilbertson was able to capitalize on quality bites—showing just how effective a precision casting approach with forward-facing sonar can be this time of year on Lake Erie.
Another strong pattern came from Nick Oleksy, Ed Oleksy, and Arthur Bailey, who focused their efforts around the “cans” (firing range area) targeting staging fish in a slightly different way.
Using Berkley Lab Series scented baits in combination with forward-facing sonar, the team was able to identify and pick off individual walleyes as they staged to spawn. Instead of keying strictly on bottom fish, Alexi and his crew noticed a number of quality fish sitting higher in the water column.
Adapting to what they were seeing, they began targeting these suspended marks—resulting in three of their five weigh fish coming roughly 5 feet off bottom. Their ability to adjust and capitalize on these higher fish proved critical and showcased just how important real-time sonar interpretation has become on today’s Lake Erie.
The bite was nothing short of incredible—every team that weighed in brought a 5-fish limit to the scales, showcasing just how strong the fishery is right now.
Top 11 Results
- Nicholas Zart / Joe Nadhum / Drew Nadzam – 39.99#
- Double G’s – Brett – 39.78#
- Nicholas Oleksy – 39.54#
- Nine Inch Males – Mike Miller – 37.99#
- Lyle Miller – 37.83#
- Team Trumbull – Marty Detwiler – 36.60#
- Tyler Reeds / Devin Dramine / Devon Phillips – 36.44#
- D’s Boys – Devlin McDaniel – 36.33#
- Jayden Wendel – 36.30#
- James Rieker / John Halasz – 36.04#
- Wooster Buildings – Robert Hustetler – 34.86#
The event paid out over $17,000 to the top 9, with an additional $700 bonus from Bays Edge awarded to 10th & 11th place finishers.
Big Fish Highlights
- Jim Taggart / Joe Boone – 10.08# ($720)
- Jayden Wendel – 10.04#
- Aden Yoder – 9.97#
- D’s Boys – Devlin McDaniel – 9.21#
- Lyle Miller – 9.01#
A HUGE THANK YOU to Bays Edge Bait & Tackle for hosting another outstanding event. From a fully stocked bait shop to comfortable condo rentals, Bays Edge continues to be a go-to destination for anglers fishing the western basin.
Next Stop: Huron, Ohio ~ April 25, 2026
The Quality Mark Inc. Lake Erie Walleye Trail is back in action in 2026!
Getting in the spring Magee Event is always a challenge. However, the venue, staff, and kick-off event atmosphere is always second to none. Ted Thomas and his crew go all out for the LEWT and have for years making Magee the standard for the first event of the season.
Magee East Recap ~ March 21, 2026
Top 10 Recap
Nick Oleksy and his father Ed captured their first LEWT victory, taking home $16,060. The duo targeted stained water near the “cans” (firing range area), vertically jigging Berkley swimbaits and Berkley Finishers. With over 60 boats in the field, they secured the Vic’s Sports Center Ranger Cup Bonus for $8,000.
Tyler and Devon committed to an eastward run, finding success east of Kelleys Island. Using Summit Shuttles and dragging jigs, they dialed in the right class of fish and narrowly missed the win, earning $4,060.
A new partnership in 2026, Zart and Dudas proved they’re contenders. Targeting stained water with FFS and plastics, the duo showed strong chemistry and consistency right out of the gate setting 2026 up for another strong team of the year run!
5th Place – Craig Schmitt & Richard Wilkes – 35.46#
Traveling from Kansas, Schmitt and Wilkes made the trip count. Casting plastics with FFS, they secured a solid payday and helped offset their travel—we hope to see them back again soon!
6th Place – Joe Gibson & Christina Henry – 35.42#
The first team trolling to crack the top 10, Gibson and Henry worked offshore boards and stickbaits east of the islands. A great start to their new partnership and strong Team of the Year positioning.
7th Place – Marvin Marner & Paul Glancy – 35.37#
A 10.03# kicker anchored their bag. While they looked to improve overall average, that big fish made the difference in a strong finish. Marvin and Glancy are proving to be annual contenders and keep the top 10 streak alive.
8th Place – Dave Hamilton & Troy Braun – 34.46#
A big milestone for this team—their first LEWT check. After grinding against top competition, they broke through with a strong finish.
9th Place – Mike Defebaugh & Mitch Shipman – 32.79#
Two well-known names teamed up and showed immediate promise. With their track record, this is a team to watch as the season progresses. There is no doubt they will be making a run at top finishes or a team of the year title!
10th Place – Dan Harper & Craig Wood – 32.70#
Consistent as always, this duo once again found their way into the top 10 by targeting stained water and casting to active fish. Dan being a local NWT Pro, fishing with Craig in the LEWT, always find ways to finish strong whether it’s west or east, they adapt and catch fish!
Honorable Mentions – Paid Placers
11th – Mike Miller & Bryan Fisher – 32.49#
12th – Brady Yonkers & Cole Carlson – 32.35#
13th – Robert Scott & Bill Holley – 31.95#
14th – Tim Bock & Mike Ruffo – 31.06#
Event Stats
Teams Fished: 67
Total Fish Weighed: 229
Total Weight: 1,259.13#
Average Weight/Fish: 5.50#
Average Weight/Team: 18.52#
Next Event – Cast & Jig OPEN
Our next stop is the Unlimited Angler Jig and Casting Only “Open” Event on April 11th, hosted by Bays Edge. Team Captains need a LEWT membership, all other guest anglers are free to fish. We’re expecting our biggest jigging and casting field since its inception and it’s shaping up to be an incredible event—don’t miss it!