Kinzua Cup Results

The 2026 Kinzua Cup Walleye Fishing Tournament showcased another outstanding season of competitive angling, with teams battling for the top spots through consistent catches and impressive weights. 

Claiming the 2026 Kinzua Cup Championship was Boat #2, captained by Jon Hopkins with co-captain Dan Seger, who brought in a five-fish limit weighing 12.31 pounds. Their victory was bolstered by a 2.22-pound Big Fish Saturday entry, helping secure the top position on the leaderboard. 

Finishing in second place was Boat #5, led by Grant Smith and Larry Smith, with another five-fish limit totaling 10.96 pounds. They also recorded a 1.89-pound Big Fish Saturday contender, demonstrating consistency throughout the event. 

Rounding out the top three was Boat #10, captained by Mike Maholic with co-captain John Maholic, whose five walleyes weighed 10.94 pounds, narrowly missing second place by just 0.02 pounds. 

The competition remained tight throughout the remainder of the field. The tournament's only all women's team Boat #14 (Betsy Eschrich/Jenn Douglass) showed the men how it's done finishing fourth with an impressive 10.70 pounds, followed closely by Boat #27 (Jerry Dixon/Hunter Dixon) at 10.17 pounds. Boat #41 (Rob Kemick/Mike Kemick) and Boat #8 (Brian Minich/Joe Whitney) each surpassed the 10-pound mark, with 10.15 and 10.05 pounds to round out the top six. 

A total of 35 teams weighed the tournament limit of five fish, highlighting both the quality of the fishery and the skill of the anglers. The tournament featured several notable Big Fish entries, with George Pitchford and James Swanson registering the largest catch on Big Fish Saturday with a 3.43-pound walleye, Kevin Skiver and Ed Coudriet caught a walleye registering at 3.26 pounds, while Matt Cook and Ronald Wachter recorded a 3.11-pound fish. Other standout catches from Big Fish Saturday included Andrew Burritt and Mike Minton with a 2.83-pound entry. 

Congratulations to all of the anglers who competed in the 2026 Kinzua Cup. From the first two-time championship-winning performance by Jon Hopkins and Dan Seger to the many close finishes throughout the standings, this year's tournament once again demonstrated the outstanding walleye fishing and sportsmanship that make the Kinzua Cup a premier event.