Joey Payeur
There will be an abundance of good times to be had for all attending the Emo Walleye Classic next month, whether it be those heading out on the water looking for the big catch or those content with staying ashore.
The seventh-annual event takes place May 28-30, with an expected full field of 65 teams testing their angling abilities against each other.
“It’s an event that’s really for the anglers,” said EWC secretary Colleen Vennechenko. “We want to keep it on a small scale. . . .
“Because it’s small and full of local anglers, that always helps us draw a good crowd for the event,” she added.
“It’s great to have guys come from outside the area, as well, to see how friendly Emo is,” added co-organizer Lincoln Dunn.
“But the bottom line is we want most of the teams in it to be local. Everything we do is based on that,” he stressed.
“You can be assured everyone who volunteers to help at the event either knows or is related to someone or both people on one of the teams.
“It’s a much more intimate affair,” Dunn explained. “I don’t know how much bigger a tournament it can get to be than it is now, and that’s OK.”
The Fort Frances duo of Doug McBride and Steve Ballan will be looking to repeat as champs, and snag their third EWC crown in all, after taking first place last year.
But in a tournament that promises more than a 100 percent payout from each of the $600 entry fees collected, there also is room for recognition for those who end up having a less-than-stellar day on the river.
“We also have prize money for the team who, each day, brings in the maximum four fish that weighs the least total amount,” noted Vennechenko, who added a “Little Dipper” competition for youth anglers also will take place.
The competition is just one aspect of what will be a fun-filled weekend for all who come for the EWC. There will be dinners put on for the public each night.
The Muskie girls’ hockey team will put on a fish fry the first evening, followed by the Emo Figure Skating Club hosting a spaghetti supper on the second night and a prime rib supper organized by the Rainy River District 4-H Club on the final evening.
A children’s activities centre will be held May 30 from 10 a.m.-2 p.m., with tons of activities planned for the younger spectators.
A penny auction also will be held May 30 while vendors will be selling their wares both inside and outside the Emo/La Vallee Community Centre.
Meanwhile, the popular “Walleyidol” singing competition will allow those who want to showcase their voices to the public on the night of May 29 at the arena, which also will host a windup dance on the final evening.
The Emo branch of the Royal Canadian Legion also is holding a raffle in conjunction with the EWC, with 10 prizes to be given away, including a top prize of a grand but secret nature.
“First prize is something completely different than we’ve ever given away before, but I don’t want to say what it is right now,” chuckled Vennechenko.
She also made it clear the EWC cannot reach expectations without the support of many individuals who give their time to make sure the event goes off as smoothly as possible.
“With over 100-plus volunteers . . . that’s really the key to our success,” said Vennechenko. “I don’t know where we would be without the volunteers.”
For more information on the EWC, or to keep track of the results as they happen, visit www.emowalleye.com
