Emo Walleye Classic set to go

After months of planning, it’s almost time for the Emo Walleye Classic.
The picnic tables have been set up along the river, the fish are biting, and volunteers have been working all week getting the Emo/La Vallee Community Centre ready.
“There were a lot of guys pre-fishing or have been,” said Ed Carlson, director of angler services for the inaugural catch-and-release tournament, which runs May 31-June 1 on the Rainy River.
Activities kick off tomorrow (Thursday) with a parade of boats starting on Front Street in Emo at 4:45 p.m.
The first flight launches from 8-8:30 a.m., with the second flight leaving from 8:30-9 a.m., both Friday and Saturday. The weigh-in runs from 4-6:30 p.m. both days.
Another team also signed up for the tournament this week, bringing the total number of boats to 43. Capacity was set at 50 for this first year.
As previously reported, the Emo Walleye Classic has been sanctioned as a qualifying tournament for the 2002 Wal-Mart RCL Championship on Oct. 2-5 on the Mississippi River near Red Wing, Mn.
The two highest-finishing teams in the Classic fishing in a Ranger, Crestliner, or Lund boat automatically will be offered berths in this year’s Wal-Mart RCL championship.
The qualifying boat owner will compete as a pro or as a co-angler, and the qualifying partner may compete as a co-angler.
The Wal-Mart RCL championship features a record $1.4-million (U.S.) purse, with up to $400,000 going to the winning pro and up to $150,000 to the winning co-angler.
The Emo Walleye Classic and Rainy River and District Chamber of Commerce Live-Release Walleye Tournament also have joined forces to declare “river champions.”
The team that competes in both tournaments this year and finishes with the highest combined weight will take home the $1,200 prize.
Tournament waters are the Canadian portion of the Rainy River from the Long Sault Rapids to the Abitibi-Consolidated dam at Fort Frances.
Tournament headquarters is the Emo-La Vallee Community Centre.
Other activities at the arena include a fish fry Thursday from 5-8 p.m. ($10), a ribeye dinner on Friday from 5-8 p.m. ($12), and a prime rib dinner Saturday from 5-8 p.m. ($15).
A dance will follow there Saturday from 9 p.m.-1 a.m.
The Emo Figure Skating Club will host a continental breakfast both Friday and Saturday from 6:30-9 a.m. at Lions Park.