2nd: Eric McQuoid, 58 lbs. 15 oz. | 3rd: Dylan Nussbaum, 58 lbs. 8 oz.
Event Recap presented by Garmin
GLADSTONE, Mich. — Nineteen-year-old Jayden Wendel made Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s National Walleye Tour presented by Progressive history at Bay de Noc, becoming the youngest angler ever to win an NWT event. Wendel captured the Iron Hook with a two-day total of 59 pounds, 11 ounces, narrowly edging Eric McQuoid by just 12 ounces in one of the closest finishes of the 2026 season. Dylan Nussbaum finished third with 58 pounds, 8 ounces, meaning only 1 pound, 3 ounces separated the top three pros at the conclusion of Stop No. 3.
The event attracted 111 pro anglers and 111 co-anglers for a total field of 222 competitors competing for more than $452,138 in cash and prizes. Bay de Noc once again lived up to its reputation, producing heavyweight limits throughout the field as 26 anglers eclipsed the 50-pound mark during the two-day tournament.
Jake Becker recorded the biggest bag of the event on championship day, bringing 31 pounds, 8 ounces to the scales during competition.
Jayden Wendel – 1st Place
Wendel’s winning pattern centered around targeting basin fish in 20 to 24 feet of water using a 3/16-ounce white VMC jig tipped with a nightcrawler. After splitting practice duties with fellow anglers and exploring multiple areas of the fishery, Wendel ultimately found the winning fish on Bay de Noc and capitalized when it mattered most.
“Pre-fishing we started out basically splitting up,” Wendel said. “We kind of just take different areas.”
The tournament was ultimately decided late on Championship Day when Wendel landed a giant 31.5-inch walleye weighing 10 pounds and three-quarters during the final two hours of fishing.
“In the last two hours or so, we caught a 10 and three-quarter pound walleye. Just a giant, biggest one I’ve caught up here all week,” Wendel said.
For the victory, Wendel earned $119,245, which included the $15,000 cash payout, a brand-new 2026 Ranger 620FS PRO powered by a Mercury 250 XL Pro XS, plus an additional $1,000 in Garmin contingency awards for being the highest-finishing angler running a Garmin trolling motor and Garmin electronics package.
Eric McQuoid – 2nd Place
Eric McQuoid continued his remarkable 2026 season with a runner-up finish, weighing 58 pounds, 15 ounces to finish just one quality fish shy of victory.
McQuoid entered the event after a challenging practice period but found a way to stay in contention throughout the tournament by covering water and locating roaming fish throughout the Bay de Noc system.
“I was a little nervous coming into this one again. I had a tougher practice, but it all worked out,” McQuoid said.
McQuoid credited his Ranger 622 powered by Mercury and Garmin Kraken trolling motor for helping him stay on fish throughout the event.
“We try to keep the Garmin Kraken on and just start searching for fish,” McQuoid said.
Most of McQuoid’s fish came on a Kalin’s Hair Jig as he worked his way to a second-place finish worth $18,043. McQuoid’s performance also moved him into the lead in the Progressive Angler of the Year race heading into Stop No. 4.
Watch Eric Live On The Water!
Dylan Nussbaum – 3rd Place
Dylan Nussbaum rounded out the podium with 58 pounds, 8 ounces, continuing an impressive season with another top finish. Nussbaum found quality fish throughout the event and brought one of the strongest final-day bags of the tournament to the scales.
“I brought in a monster bag today. I had a pretty good bag yesterday. It was a great day on the water,” Nussbaum said.
Nussbaum’s third-place finish earned him $13,532 and kept him firmly in contention in the Progressive Angler of the Year race entering the next stop of the season.
Gordan Rabetski – 1st Place Co-Angler Division
In the Co-Angler Division, Gordan Rabetski of Kimberly, Wisconsin, claimed the victory with an impressive two-day total of 58 pounds, 6 ounces. Rabetski praised both the fishery and the community after securing the win.
“We had a great time up here. It’s a great community. Lots of walleyes. People should just come up here and enjoy it,” Rabetski said.
Rabetski earned $10,000 for the victory. Ryan Freund finished second with 57 pounds, 4 ounces, while John Binsfeld rounded out the top three with 55 pounds, 10 ounces.
Full leaderboards!
Progressive Angler of the Year Race Tightens
With one regular-season event remaining, the Progressive Angler of the Year race has become one of the closest battles in the National Walleye Tour history.
Eric McQuoid now leads the standings with 592 points following his second-place finish at Bay de Noc. Beau Schilling sits just one point behind in second with 591 points, while Dylan Nussbaum remains firmly in contention with 583 points.
The battle for one of the sport’s most prestigious season-long titles will continue at Stop No. 4 on Green Bay.
Full Leaderboards!
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.
Live Coverage Continues on the National Walleye Tour
The National Walleye Tour continues expanding its live event coverage in 2026, bringing fans closer to the action than ever before with live weigh-ins, on-the-water coverage, angler interviews, leaderboard updates, and real-time video content throughout every stop of the season.
Fans can follow all live coverage, event recaps, leaderboard updates, and future tournament coverage by following the National Walleye Tour on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and our website.
Up Next: Green Bay in Oconto, Wisconsin
The National Walleye Tour now heads to Oconto, Wisconsin, for Stop No. 4 of the 2026 season on Green Bay, July 30-31.
Tournament takeoff will launch daily from Oconto Breakwater Park & Harbor, with weigh-ins beginning at 3:15 p.m. Fans can follow along with expanded live coverage, leaderboard updates, videos, and weigh-in action throughout the event.
