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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To join just send $10.00 along with mailing information to:
Southtowns Walleye Assoc. of W.N.Y., Inc.
3426 Abbott Rd.
Orchard Park, NY 14127