Presented by Delta County Chamber of Commerce
GLADSTONE, Mich. (June 18, 2026) — Day One of the Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s National Walleye Tour presented by Progressive is officially in the books, with Bay de Noc delivering strong catches and a tightly contested leaderboard.
Anglers faced changing conditions throughout the day as they searched for productive schools of walleyes across one of the Midwest’s premier fisheries. Careful decision-making, adaptability, and execution proved critical as competitors worked to maximize their five-fish limits.
By the end of weigh-in, 36 anglers had eclipsed the 25-pound mark, highlighting both the strength of the Bay de Noc fishery and the depth of the National Walleye Tour field heading into Championship Day.
Jayden Wendel Takes the Day One Lead
Brandon Witkowski is in second and Beau Schilling is in third
Jayden Wendel jumped to the top of the standings after bringing 29 pounds, 12 ounces to the scales for a five-fish limit.Brandon Witkowski sits close behind in second place with 29 pounds, 9 ounces, while Progressive Angler of the Year leader Beau Schilling rounded out the top three with 29 pounds even.In the co-angler division, Ryan Freund claimed the Day One lead with 29 pounds, 12 ounces, putting himself in position to win the co-angler division heading into Championship Day.
Fans Tune In for Live Coverage
Fans followed the action throughout the day with live on-the-water coverage featuring Progressive Angler of the Year leader Beau Schilling and third-place AOY contender Eric McQuoid. The livestream provided viewers with an inside look at tournament strategy, changing conditions, and the decisions anglers faced while competing on Bay de Noc.Fans also followed the Day One weigh-in as the leaderboard took shape and competitors positioned themselves for a final push on Championship Day.
Championship Day Begins at 7 AM
Championship Day begins Friday morning with live takeoff coverage starting at 7 a.m. from North Shore Boat Launch in Wells, Michigan. Fans can once again follow the action live on the water as the race for the Progressive Angler of the Year title continues before tuning into the official weigh-in livestream Friday afternoon at Van Cleve Park to see who hoists the trophy at Bay de Noc.
Thank You Delta County Chamber of Commerce!
A huge THANK YOU to the Delta County Chamber of Commerce for serving as the host of this week’s event! Your support, hospitality, and dedication to the anglers, fans, families, and entire fishing community help make this tournament possible. From registration and the rules meeting to daily takeoffs and weigh-ins, Delta County continues to showcase why Bay De Noc is recognized as one of the premier walleye fisheries in North America. We appreciate everything the Delta County Chamber of Commerce, the City of Gladstone, the Great Lakes Sports Fishing Club, local businesses, volunteers, and community members do to welcome the National Walleye Tour and create an incredible experience both on and off the water.
