Rainy River closed out summer with a bang with its annual fishing tournament, bringing together anglers from north and south of the border for friendly competition.
However, for Brandon Ignaszewski of Greenbush, Minn. and Mike Vacura of Roseau, Minn., the only thing on their minds after weigh-ins was taking home the victory as the 2026 champions.
Since 1999, the Town of Rainy River has been the host of an annual walleye tournament that guarantees a spectacle for both fishing enthusiasts and anyone just looking for a way to spend the weekend. Although the main event revolves around the competition outcomes and fish weigh-ins, activities like the children’s mini-tournament, a catered dinner, a bar and live music give everyone something to do during the yearly event.
With this being Ignaszewski’s first win in Rainy River’s tournament after fishing it for five years, he said he initially felt disbelief that they had actually won.
“I’m kind of in shock,” he said. “It’s a feeling of, ‘Is this real? Did we really just win?’ But this morning we got lucky. We got our big one.”
Vacura, who previously won in 2002, said that although the initially faced issues getting a bite, their luck eventually turned around.
“We trolled for a couple hours today and we weren’t catching anything,” Vacura said. “We had about six hours to keep trying and kept every fish we caught. No culling today.”
On the first day of the tournament, the pair was placed in sixth place, needing about one ounce more to bring them into day one’s top five and make an appearance driving through the tent during day two weigh-ins.
Towards the end of the second tournament day, the top five competitors after the day one weigh-ins are towed in their boats through the event tent, throwing candy and knick-knacks to children in the audience.
“We really wanted to be in the big tent with our boat and pickup, but we were an ounce away,” Ignaszewski said. “But overall, this is a great tournament. The people are great and it’s run well. When you see the top five boats coming through the tent and the adrenaline of it, it’s great.”
After the tournament’s wrap up, Thinking of Pinky from Fort Frances played a show for adults in the crowd. The entertainment, dancing and mingling in Rainy River went on until 1 a.m.
The top five teams at the end of this year’s Rainy River Walleye Tournament are as follows:
1st: Brandon Ignaszewski and Mike Vacura – 19.41 pounds
2nd: Cathy Seguin and Claude Seguin – 17.46 pounds
3rd: Zac Tolen and Kyle Olson – 16.87 pounds
4th: Brenda Jodoin and Dave Seguin 16.84 pounds
5th: Justin Buegler and Lindsey Buegler 16.40 pounds
