AMA Sportsmen’s Association wraps up walleye tournament

Ron Giofu
2 hours ago
2 min read

Young man in a gray hoodie and cap holds a glass trophy at an indoor event, with people mingling behind him. — ***Tyler Gignac was the big winner at the AMA Sportsmen’s Association annual walleye tournament***

The AMA Sportsmen Association’s annual walleye tournament has concluded for another year and organizers report a strong turnout and some big fish.

The wrap-up party for the tournament was last Sunday afternoon with the AMA Sportsmen Association packed with anglers and their families for the annual event. Ken Tytgat and Pat Pettypiece shared the duties of being the chair for both the walleye tournament and the Bob Meloche Father’s Day Kids Fishing Tournament, with Tytgat saying the walleye tournament was again a popular event in the fishing community.

“Everything has been good,” said Tytgat. “Everyone brought in a lot of fish. Everyone had a good time.”

Tytgat noted the high heat that occurred last week but that didn’t stop anyone from fishing.

All 1,000 tickets for the walleye tournament sold, he added, and it didn’t take long for them to be purchased.

“We were sold out in eight hours,” said Tytgat. “We could have sold more but we couldn’t handle anymore than that.”

Participants were mainly from the Essex County area with sponsors coming from as far as Chatham-Kent. Tytgat said all sponsors were appreciated as they helped make the tournament a success.

Six people stand outside a building holding trophies and certificates near a blue banner, smiling on a cloudy day. — ***Other award winners gather for a group shot.***

Prize tables were packed with donations for the tournament and grand cash prizes totalled $10,000, with the first ticket pulled getting its owner $5,000, the holder of the second ticket pulled getting $3,000 while the owner of the third ticket receiving $2,000. Winners included Robert Smith, Brad Fontaine and Wayne Campbell respectively.

Smiling man in cap holds plaque reading AMA Sportsmen Club’s Walley Tournament Biggest Loser Award, indoors. — ***Dave Drouillard’s smallest walleye also earned him an award during the July 5 wrap-up party at the club’s Lowes Side Road location.***

Pettypiece added a lot of volunteers helped with the tournament and the July 5 wrap-up party.

“We’ve got to thank the volunteers,” he said. “The volunteers and sponsors, a huge thanks to them. Without them, this tournament wouldn’t be what it is.”

Plans for the walleye tournament usually start getting into place in November with work heading right up until the tournament itself.

Winners included:

LONGEST WALLEYE

1^st – Tyler Gignac (30”)

2^nd – Mark DiCarlo (30:)

3^rd – Ron Goulin (29 7/8”)

LADIES LONGEST WALLEYE

1^st – Jocelyne Gardin (29 3/4”)

YOUTH LONGEST WALLEYE

1^st – Matt Bellemore (28 1/4”)

LONGEST CATFISH

1^st – Trevor Gelinas (30 3/4”)

LONGEST PERCH

1^st – Miriam Wood (12 1/2”)

2^nd – Rick Emslie (12 1/4”)

3^rd – Ron Deslippe (12 1/8”)

LONGEST SMALL MOUTH BASS

1^st – Amy Buratto (25 1/4”)

2^nd – Nash Garant (21 3/8”)

3^rd – Kristen Copf (20 1/2”)

DAILY WINNERS

June 26 – Bruno Tavolieri (28 5/8”)

June 27 – Ryan Varney (27 1/2”)

June 28 – Ron Abbott (28 1/2”)

June 29 – Don Abbott (29 3/4”)

June 30 – Alda Sophia Santos (28 1/8”)

July 1 – John Roung (28 7/8”)

July 2 – Jay Ford (28 7/8”)

July 3 – Mike Lenson (29 1/8”)

July 4 – Brad Fitzsimmons (25 3/4”)

SMALLEST WALLEYE – Dave Drouillard (16 1/2”)

AMA Sportsmen’s Association wraps up walleye tournament

By Ron Giofu