Southtowns Walleye Association
of Western New York

 

      “Top To Bottom” Crew Wins
    13th Annual Southtowns
      Walleye Tournament

 
Richard J. Swiriduk of Cheektowaga, his son  Richard A. Swiriduk, “Soupy Campbell” of West Seneca and Paul Krajewski of Sloan, NY make up the crew of "Top To Bottom".  They have all been fishing buddies for many years and long time members of the W.N.Y. Southtowns Walleye Association.  In several of the past tournaments they placed in the money.  This year this lucky group hit the jackpot by recording the single largest fish (13.99 pounds) in the week long tournament.
 
The 13th Annual Walleye Tournament on Lake Erie began with the migrating walleye not on the bite near Dunkirk.  Lake Erie was again treating walleye fishermen in 1997 the same she did as in 96 and 95.
 
Good numbers of walleye were taken in all areas before the tournament finale on Sunday, June 22nd.  Dunkirk, Barcelona and Van Buren picked up as soon as the water temperature warmed up a couple degrees.
 
South End Marina, and the Small Boat Harbor in Buffalo were the hot spots of the tournament.  It only took a matter of hours for the contestants to find out the what, where, when of the blooming Buffalo walleye fishery and the location of the better fishing conditions.
 
Locating the walleye became a secret for those who knew  and quite exasperating for those who did not know.  I can now inform the readers of my very early morning conversation with a father and son combination at the Small Boat Harbor, located in Buffalo NY, before daybreak on the first day of the tournament.  He had been into the walleye for over a week and had been getting a good number with some weight.  Asked what he used, he said spinner, “just like the old days”, but dark purple and black 30 feet over 48 feet and using meat at all times.  He also targeted the area exactly where the winner came from.
 
After my initial conversation and picture, I then traveled to the Town of Hamburg's launch, Sturgeon Point  Marina and then on to Hanover's launch taking pictures and talking to the fishermen.  On opening morning, almost all said the same thing, “when the walleye begin feeding, the winner will come from west of Sturgeon Point Marina”.  No one gave Buffalo much of a chance, but if memory serves us right, this is not the first winner from the immediate area.
 
By the second day, the word was out that the fish were hitting in depths of 35 feet over 5O feet off  Buffalo and the Niagara River.  Meyers Reef and the buoys were also producing limit catches for those in the know.
 
It was not an easy week for the walleye hunters.  Yes, they took fish and, yes, there were heavy fish.  Walleye were scattered after the late spawn, but the tournament entrants dealt with this before and knew that when they feed began, super walleyes would be caught.
 
The “TOP TO BOTTOM’ crew, on Saturday, June 21st, decided to again fish the Buffalo area of Lake Erie.  Rick Jr. has been fishing with his dad for over 35 years and stayed in the area of Smokes Creek and deeper, near the Departure Buoy in Buffalo.  They were fishing in 48 feet of water, using fish seekers.  Tackle of the day included a double blade willow leaf purple/black combination of beads and blades, with a #2 Mustad hook, topped off with the meat of the day,
nightcrawlers.  They were moving with the waves at between 2.2 and 2.5 three foot seas.  At 10am came the automatic wake up call on a walleye boat, “FISH ON!” and Rick Jr., took the pole.  As the walleye was coming in, it did not seem heavy to Rick.  “Just like all the other walleyes”.  When the walleye was in the back water of  TOP TO BOTTOM, it began to dig for the bottom and Soupy Campbell told the crew they had a big one on.  Rick and the crew landed the walleye which they believed was about 10 lb.
 
Once the walleye was netted, the crew knew they had a special walleye.  They immediately pulled the lines in and made a bee line to South End Marine, a tournament weigh in station.
 
South End is owned and operated by Fred Langdon and Bill Mackey.  Fred is also the President of the highly successful Buffalo based Bison City Rod and Gun Club; the fishing group that led the petition for a Great Lakes warm water hatchery.  lt was supported by the NYS Conservation Council and is now actively being fought in the State Legislature. They are great individuals and friends.
 
The news of the big walleye was put on the radio immediately and the info electrified the walleye contestants, especially those fishing in the immediate area.  Co-incidently, two days before the tournament began, Buffalo News Outdoor writer Will Elliott’s Column attributed a statement to Herb Schultz, Vice President of the Southtowns Walleye Association which alluded to the many heavy fish in that specific area in 1997.  Herb stated at the time there were walleye over 20 lbs off Smokes Creek in the spring assessments.
When the tournament began, I asked Joe Jemiolo to call me when that special walleye is caught that may take the tournament.  At 4:00 p.m., on June 21st, the phone rang and Joe said “Eddie, you had best get your camera and come down to the walleye offices, it looks like we have the fish to take the tournament”.
 
When I arrived, I immediately ran into Soupy Campbell, a friend and past working buddy from the Bethlehem Steel Corporation Structural yard days.  I shook his hand and asked him “Soupy, what are you pulling off now”?.  He said “Wait till you see this”.
 
I am now introduced to Rick Swiriduk Sr. and Paul Krajewski.  I then notice this guy sifting on top of the big ice cooler.  He’s not getting up for nothing.  I now meet Rick Swiriduk Jr. and I say, “Hi, I’m Ed and I edit the Fishline.  I hear your crew has a possible winning fish and I’d like to take a picture and get some information”.  He says”sure”, but he is still not getting up.  I think that he wants to make sure the walleye stays where it is.
 
I then ask him if I could see the fish and then hear Joe Jemiolo’s voice stating”it’s close to l4 lb”.  Now I’m interested, for there has never been a l4 pound walleye taken during  any  of our twelve previous tournaments.  Now Rick Jr. is up and the cooler is  opened.  This fish is impressive and deserves to win the tournament, or at least place in the top three.  I then asked him what the weigh station has as weight and am told 13.99 pounds.
 
Now, for many of the tournament entrants, getting the top prize is hopeful but not expected as a sure thing.  Yet, in the back of our minds, we all want to win something.  That’s what is perfect in the Western New York Southtowns Walleye Tournament.  Over 2OO cash prizes and many, many merchandise prizes with a worth of over $100, 000.
 
What was Rick Swiriduk  eligible to win? Well,  the first place cash prize of $5000, plus $2500 from West Herr, $1 000 from Emerling Chevrolet, a free walleye mount, all sorts of publicity from merchandise sponsors, from the Mustad  Cornpany etc.  Not bad for a non-professional walleye tournament!
 
At the Southtowns Walleye Awards Picnic on June 29th, West-Herr Ford Vice President, Scott Beiler, who was present at the awards, became so impressed with the way the tournament, awards ceremonies and accomplishments of the club, that the cash prize was increased $1 000 for the winning fish.  Now, that shows class.  West-Herr President Brad Haefner and Vice President Scott Beiler; and all of the West-Herr employees deserve a giant THANK YOU.
 
The Southtowns  Walleye of WNY Inc., is a volunteer, not for profit outfit Fishing Association that believes the economic vitality of Western New York can be tremendously increased through Sports Fishing tournaments and public access for the public.
 
Those volunteers who made everything come together for a  very successful 13th tournament, have again shown that while a volunteer group, they are very professional in the efforts.  CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL WALLEYE VOLUNTEERS.  GREAT JOB.
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