A new fishing festival is coming to the Bay of Quinte in May.
The Competitive Sport Fishing League (CFSL) is hosting the Quinte Walleye Festival, a brand-new signature event taking place on walleye opening weekend, May 2 and 3.
Last fall, the Trenton Kiwanis Club announced that, due to declining membership and volunteer capacity, it was cancelling the May 2026 edition of its Walleye World Fishing Derby, putting an end to the event after more than 40 years.
The festival will feature three secured weigh-in stations located throughout the bay, offering anglers of all ages multiple opportunities to participate and compete.
The Quinte Walleye Festival is designed to welcome anglers of all ages and skill levels, while also engaging families, spectators, and the local community.
The festival will include multiple, official weigh-in stations, with the main weigh station located in Quinte West, serving as the event headquarters for live updates, activities, and the official awards ceremony.
The Quinte Walleye Festival will feature five core components, giving participants multiple ways to get involved and take home prizes:
1. Tagged walleye: cash prizes
Specially tagged walleye will be released throughout the Bay of Quinte and can be redeemed for cash prizes, adding excitement and opportunity for anglers of all experience levels.
2. Weighed walleye & pike: top weight prizes
Specially tagged walleye will be released throughout the Bay of Quinte and can be redeemed for cash prizes, adding excitement and opportunity for anglers of all experience levels.
2. Weighed walleye & pike: top weight prizes
Participants may bring their walleye and pike to any official weigh station to compete for top weight prizes and leaderboard rankings. All weighed fish will be eligible to win the festival’s grand prize.
3. Awards ceremony draw: celebrating every participant
All ticket holders are invited to attend the awards ceremony following the final weigh-in on Sunday, May 3, 2026. Each participant will receive a draw ticket for a chance to win a variety of sponsor supported prizes. Participants must be present to claim prizes.
4. Social media contest: engage and win
A weekend long social media contest will encourage participants to share their festival experience for a chance to win additional prizes. Whether fishing from a boat or shore, all participants are eligible to enter.
5. Pike-Eye Lunkerbowl: Quarterly big fish add on
Participants may opt into the Pike-Eye Lunkerbowl Quarterly Add On, an event within the event, that awards cash prizes for the largest fish during designated time windows.
3. Awards ceremony draw: celebrating every participant
All ticket holders are invited to attend the awards ceremony following the final weigh-in on Sunday, May 3, 2026. Each participant will receive a draw ticket for a chance to win a variety of sponsor supported prizes. Participants must be present to claim prizes.
4. Social media contest: engage and win
A weekend long social media contest will encourage participants to share their festival experience for a chance to win additional prizes. Whether fishing from a boat or shore, all participants are eligible to enter.
5. Pike-Eye Lunkerbowl: Quarterly big fish add on
Participants may opt into the Pike-Eye Lunkerbowl Quarterly Add On, an event within the event, that awards cash prizes for the largest fish during designated time windows.
Saturday: walleye
Sunday: pike
Sunday: pike
Quarterly windows run 7–9 a.m., 9–11 .m., 11 .m.–1 p.m., and 1–3 p.m.
The Lunkerbowl is a separate optional category with cash prizes based on entries.
Mayor Jim Harris of Quinte West shared his support for the new event stating, “Through working with the CSFL over the years, I am very confident that Andrew and the CSFL team will deliver a first class walleye festival. The City of Quinte West, along with our local businesses, looks forward to welcoming participants and visitors to our community.”
CSFL president, Andrew Pallotta, added, “We are thrilled to bring a festival-style walleye event to the Bay of Quinte. By offering multiple ways to participate from tagged fish and weigh-ins to social contests we are creating an accessible experience that celebrates the fishery and engages the entire community, similar to the Orillia Perch Festival.”
The CSFL is currently working with local hotels to offer preferred participant rates, which will be announced at a later date.
Registration details, rules and regulations, prize breakdowns, tagged fish information, and complete weigh station locations will be released shortly at
www.csfl.ca/quintewalleyefestival
www.csfl.ca/quintewalleyefestival
Tickets are on sale now at www.csfl.ca/quintewalleyefestival.
Tickets will also be available at numerous retailers across Ontario. Participating locations will be released soon.
