Tournaments
The 2027 National Walleye Tour features four regular-season events and the NWT Championship, taking Professional anglers and Co-Anglers to premier walleye fisheries across Arkansas, Michigan and Minnesota. With a split bait format, live on the water coverage and a season-long race to the Championship, every stop is a chance to compete at the highest level of professional walleye fishing. Explore the 2027 schedule below, and check back for event fact sheets as they are released.
National Walleye Tour Schedule
03/11/2027
–
03/12/2027
Bull Shoals Lake
Bull Shoals
,
AR
05/13/2027
–
05/14/2027
Mississippi River
Welch
,
MN
06/10/2027
–
06/11/2027
Saginaw Bay
Saginaw Bay
,
MI
08/20/2027
–
08/21/2027
Leech Lake
Walker
,
MN
09/09/2027
–
09/11/2027
Lake of the Woods
Warroad
,
MN
Rules
See RulesFrequently Asked Questions
What is Pro Angler entry fee?
$2,250 per event.
Invited Professional anglers pay a deposit at registration. The remaining season balance is due by February 1, 2027.
What is the Co Angler entry fee?
$750 per event.
Co-Anglers who register for all four regular-season events through Priority All-In registration pay the full season entry fee of $3,000 at registration.
Is there a membership fee, what is included with the fee and when do I pay it?
Yes. A $50 annual NWT membership is required for all Professional anglers and Co-Anglers.
You must join the National Walleye Tour Club in Fishing Chaos and purchase your 2027 membership before you register for an event. Joining the NWT Club connects you to the Tour’s season standings, and anglers who are not assigned to the club may not appear correctly in Angler of the Year standings.
The membership fee is due at registration. Professional anglers pay it with their deposit, Co-Anglers registering for all four events pay it with the full season entry fee, and single-event Co-Anglers pay it with their first event registration of the season. All membership fees are final and cannot be refunded.
What are my payment options?
All 2027 registrations and payments are completed online through the Fishing Chaos platform.
Professional anglers pay a deposit at registration, and the remaining balance is invoiced after the deposit is paid and due by February 1, 2027. Co-Anglers registering for all four events pay the full season entry fee at registration. Single-event Co-Anglers pay the full per-event fee at the time of registration.
There are no refunds once you are confirmed into an event. Entry fees are non-refundable and non-transferable and cannot be moved to another event.
How do I enter a National Walleye Tour Event?
All Professional anglers and Co-Anglers register as individuals through the Fishing Chaos platform. Start on the National Walleye Tour Club within Fishing Chaos.
Step 1: Create or sign in to your Fishing Chaos account.
Step 2: Join the National Walleye Tour Club and purchase your $50 2027 NWT membership. You must be a member of the NWT Club before you register.
Step 3: Complete your registration and payment.
Professional anglers: The 2027 Professional field is invitation-only. Registration opens December 2, 2026, and the deposit must be paid by December 16, 2026 to secure your entry.
Co-Anglers: Priority All-In registration for all four regular-season events opens December 2, 2026 and closes December 16, 2026. Single-event Co-Angler registration opens to the public on December 16, 2026 for any remaining spots.
Purchasing an NWT membership does not register you for an event. After joining the NWT Club, return to the registration page, select your entry and complete payment.
How do I ask a question about tournament rules or registration?
For general questions, email [email protected] or chat with a tournament representative through Fishing Chaos.
For rules questions, contact Tournament Director Eric Naig at [email protected] or 218-766-8721.
How do I know if I made it in to the event as an Angler?
After you register, you will receive an email with your payment receipt and an invoice with links to important details. Please confirm receipt of your entry and reach out if anything looks off.
Co-Angler registration may go on standby when Co-Angler entries reach the projected Professional entries for an event. During standby, Co-Anglers can still register and hold their place in line by time stamp, but no payment is collected until they are confirmed into the event.
How do I qualify for the Championship?
The top 40 Professional anglers and top 40 Co-Anglers from the final point standings after the fourth regular-season event qualify for the Championship. If the Professional and Co-Angler fields are not even, NWT will continue down the points list until there is a full field of 40 boats.
Points are awarded on a 100-point scale. The winner of each qualifying tournament earns 100 points, second place earns 99, third place earns 98, and so on down the field.
Once the field of 40 is set, NWT may, at its sole discretion, add any Professional or Co-Angler who wins a qualifying event during the season, as long as they are not already qualified and fished all days of all four regular-season events. NWT will then pull up the next-highest angler in the standings to even the field if needed.
The NWT Championship is a no entry fee event for Professional anglers. Championship Co-Anglers pay an entry fee of $750.
Are there qualifications I must meet to fish a National Walleye Tour event as a co-Angler?
Participation in National Walleye Tour events requires a $50 annual NWT membership and registration through Fishing Chaos. Anglers must be 16 years of age or older, and anglers under the age of majority must have the signature of a parent or legal guardian.
Every angler must also agree to the Participant Release of Liability when registering.
Where can I find the rules for National Walleye Tour events?
The complete 2027 NWT rules can be found HERE.
Will the events be capped?
Yes. The 2027 field consists of 100 invited professional anglers and 100 open co-anglers.
How many events?
In 2027, FOUR (4) regular-season events and ONE (1) Championship event.
What is the regular-season tournament format?
Two-day events. The full field fishes both days, and winners are determined by heaviest cumulative weight.
The 2027 season uses a split bait format. Live bait is permitted at Bull Shoals and Leech Lake. Artificial lures only at the Mississippi River and Saginaw Bay.
What is PRO ANGLER payout?
At each regular-season event the top 30 Professional anglers are paid, and first place is $10,000 and a 2027 WRMG boat and motor package valued at over $100,000. Championship payouts go to the top 20 Professional anglers. Payouts are based on a full field of 100 Professional anglers and 100 Co-Anglers. VIEW PAYOUT
What is CO-ANGLER payout?
At each regular-season event the top 30 Co-Anglers are paid, and first place is $7,500. Championship payouts go to the top 20 Co-Anglers. Payouts are based on a full field of 100 Professional anglers and 100 Co-Anglers. VIEW PAYOUT
What contingency bonuses are available?
Ranger, Triton, Nitro, Power-Pole, Garmin, TH Marine.
What are contingency guidelines?
The NWT is eligible for multiple contingency programs at each event. All anglers must be registered and eligible for each program to participate. Individual contingency programs vary on prize and eligibility.
All anglers must register for each contingency program separately, and it is the responsibility of the angler to submit any contingency claims to that organization. Contingency checks are NOT paid onsite and will be paid directly through the individual organization.
Eligible Contingency programs can be found HERE
What is championship format?
The full field of 40 Pros and 40 Co-Anglers will fish for 3 days. In the event of a blow day, that day will be lost.
Pros and Co-Anglers are paired by random draw on Day 1 and Day 2, with a fresh random draw for boat number and takeoff order each day. On the final day, pairings and takeoff order are set by Championship standings, with the 1st-place Pro fishing with the 1st-place Co-Angler, 2nd with 2nd, and so on.
The bait designation for each Championship day will be set by coin flip and announced by the Tournament Director at the Angler Meeting.
What happens if there is a tie for AOY?
Ties for AOY will be broken by total weight for all 4 regular season tournaments combined, then number of fish for the year, number of live fish for the year, heaviest single day’s catch, second heaviest single day’s catch and means selected by tournament director.
Can I guarantee my entry into events?
Professional anglers: The 2027 Professional field is invitation-only. Invited anglers secure their entry for the season by completing registration and paying the required deposit by December 16, 2026. The remaining balance is due by February 1, 2027.
Co-Anglers: Co-Anglers can secure their place in all four regular-season events through Priority All-In registration, which opens December 2, 2026 and closes December 16, 2026. The full season entry fee ($3,000) and $50 NWT membership are due at registration.
Single-event Co-Angler registration opens December 16, 2026 for remaining spots only, so availability is not guaranteed. In order to enter an event you must pay the entry fee, and you are not confirmed until you receive a final confirmation notice from NWT.
How is PRO winner determined?
Pro winner determined by heaviest cumulative two day weight.
How is CO winner determined?
Co-angler winner is determined by heaviest cumulative two day weight.
How are anglers paired?
Random draw.
How do CO-ANGLERS accumulate their weight?
Pros and Co-Anglers fish together for a combined daily boat weight, and each carries that weight forward.
Are there logo restrictions?
No logo restrictions.
Who will cameramen follow?
Anglers in competition for the win will have a cameraman in the boat with them. It will not matter what boat brand, engine, sponsor, etc.
Failure to coordinate with and accommodate the NWT production crew needs will result in disqualification of that event.
How can I stay posted on National Walleye Tour news and announcements?
Stay up to date on all National Walleye Tour news and events by signing up for our free e-newsletter. Click Here to access event form.
Still have more questions?
Contact Usnational walleye tour payouts
Explore the official National Walleye Tour payouts, including detailed prize money breakdowns for pro and co-angler divisions. See how NWT tournament winnings, championship bonuses, and contingency awards make it one of the most competitive professional walleye fishing circuits in North America.
See Payouts