KEWAUNEE (NBC 26) -- The 38th annual Kewaunee/Door County Salmon Tournament is underway.
The "K/D" — as it is widely known among Lake Michigan salmon fanatics — is the largest summer salmon-only fishing contest on the Great Lakes.
Fishing is allowed on both Green Bay and Lake Michigan, from the Kewaunee County line to the Wisconsin-Michigan border north and west of Washington Island.
There are five weigh-in locations with daily port prizes at Algoma, Baileys Harbor, Kewaunee, Sturgeon Bay and Washington Island, and no large gatherings such as you'd see at professional bass and walleye tournaments. In general, fish can be weighed any time between 7 a.m. and 9 p.m. daily. Social distancing will be encouraged if multiple groups happen to bring fish in at the same time. There's also no awards ceremony; rather, checks are mailed and other prizes picked up by the lucky anglers.
One of the allures of the contest is that even a beginner can get in on the $50,000 in cash and prizes. There’s a lot of luck involved in finding a rogue giant “king” (chinook salmon) suspended over deep Lake Michigan water.
In addition to an entry ticket, anyone age 16 and up needs a fishing license and Great Lakes salmon and trout stamp. No licenses or stamps are required for youths age 15 and under, but tickets are required for those ages 10 to 15.
Tickets — $25 for the full tournament or $13 for a one-day chance —are available at B&K Bait and Tackle on Washington Island, Jungwirth Ace Hardware in Sister Bay, Baileys 57 in Baileys Harbor, JP Express between Carlsville and Egg Harbor, Howie’s Tackle and Greystone Castle in Sturgeon Bay, Algoma BP and JP Express in Algoma, and Accurate Marine & Tackle and Center Court Convenience in Kewaunee.
