Tournaments & Derbies

Greater Niagara Fishing Expo
February 19-22, 2026
With hundreds of hours of fishing education available for attendees to choose from and over 170 booths of fishing-related exhibitors, the Greater Niagara Fishing Expo is the largest fishing show in New York State and among the largest in the Great Lakes.

LOTSA Salmon School at the Greater Niagara Fishing Expo
February 20-21, 2026
This highly acclaimed school has become the premier Salmon School anywhere in the Great Lakes. What started as a local event now attracts many experienced salmon anglers from around the Great Lakes and Canada. This school is hosted during the Greater Niagara Fishing Expo, February 19-22, 2026, at the Niagara Falls Convention Center in downtown Niagara Falls, NY.

Roger Tobey Memorial Niagara River Anglers Steelhead Contest
March 28, 2026
The Niagara River Anglers Association will be holding its winter steelhead classic at Lewiston Landing in the lower river and Lake Ontario tributaries. $20 entry plus an optional $5 brown trout. Must be a member for $20. For information, check out the Niagara River Anglers Facebook page.

Niagara County Bullhead Tournament
April 3-5, 2026
Entry fee $10 for ages 13 and older; free for ages 12 and under. Best two fish. Weigh in on the final day at the Wilson Conservation Club. Tournament runs from 5 p.m. Friday to noon on Sunday. For more information, contact Eric at (716) 628-6078 or check out the tournament's Facebook page.

Lake Ontario Counties (LOC) Spring Trout and Salmon Derby
May 1-10, 2026
This premier spring kick-off classic, offering a $15,000 Grand Prize for the largest salmon caught overall, also sports over $44,000 in cash and prizes overall. More than 60% of all the winning fish come from the waters off Niagara. For more information, call (888) REEL-2-IN or visit the LOC Derby website.

11th Annual Wilson Harbor Invitational Salmon Tournament
May 16-17, 2026
The tournament is back for another battle of salmon seekers. Check out the tournament's Facebook page for details. Each day is a separate tournament, plus overall options. $1K a day is May 10-16, and Salmon Slam options are set for May 9-15.

24th Annual Don Johannes Memorial Big Fish Contest and 15th Annual Pete DeAngelo Memorial Three-Fish Contest
June 3, 2026
This is a precursor to the Pro-Am tournaments to get the teams warmed up for the fishing action. You don’t have to be in the pro-am to fish, though. Sign up at The Boat Doctors, Bootleggers Cove, or The Gas Shack in Wilson. Call (716) 523-1727 for more information. $100 per boat. 100% cash payout.

42nd Annual Skip Hartman Memorial Lake Ontario Pro-Am Salmon Team Tournament
June 5-6, 2026
This tournament is back to a two-day event, with a third day set aside for weather challenges. Over $40,000 in cash and prizes were awarded last year. View the tournament website for rules and sign-up information. 100% payback of entry fees!

Lake Ontario Counties (LOC) Summer Derby
June 27-July 26, 2026
The grand prize is $15,000 for the biggest salmon. Weekly prizes for the divisions ($1,000 for salmon and $500 for trout), awarding $42,750 overall. Check out the LOC Derby website for all the details for this summer event, or call (888) REEL-2-IN.

23rd Annual Lake Ontario Trout and Salmon Association (LOTSA) King Salmon Tournament
July 25, 2026
This event offers a 100% cash payback. All participants must be LOTSA members. Tournament runs from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. Deadline to register is July 13 at 6 p.m. For more information, check out the LOTSA website. July 24 is the 16th Annual Curt Meddaugh Memorial Fishing Derby to remember an important LOTSA member. Free for anyone registered for the Saturday event. For more information, check out the LOTSA website.

Lake Ontario Counties (LOC) Fall Trout and Salmon Derby
August 21-September 7, 2026
Help anglers celebrate the return of the mighty king salmon on Lake Ontario! Over $63,500 in cash and prizes, including a $20,000 Grand Prize for the largest salmon caught during this 18-day event. Sign up in local tackle shops or call (888) REEL-2-IN. You can also visit the LOC Derby website for more information and to register.

Reelin' for a Cure (One-Day, Ladies-Only Event)
August 21, 2026
This 11th annual ladies-only event will once again be held out of Wilson and Olcott. It’s a great way to celebrate life and pay tribute to cancer survivors. Learn more and sign up on the tournament's website or call Stephanie at (716) 481-6388.

38th Annual NYPA Wildlife Festival
September 26, 2026 (Tentative)
Held in conjunction with National Hunting and Fishing Day weekend, this event is co-sponsored by the Niagara County Federation of Conservation Clubs and held on the grounds of the Power Authority’s Visitor Center in Lewiston. Doors are open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Free admission.