About this tournament

Hosted by the Broadwater Rod & Gun Club, this one-day Canyon Ferry derby is a Townsend community favorite and one of the most family-friendly walleye tournaments in central Montana. The event launches out of Broadwater Bay near the Silos and fishes the main lake from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, July 18, 2026.

The field is capped at 90 two-person teams, and the format is catch-and-release with up to one fish per entrant allowed to be kept as a trophy. Three competitive categories — female/female, male/female, and adult/child (17 and under) — give a wide range of teams a shot at a payout, with first prize at roughly $1,000 based on a full field. Up to five people are allowed in each boat, but only two may fish.

A mandatory rules meeting is held the evening before at 7 p.m. at the BRGC indoor shooting range, 96 Canton Lane in Townsend. Mail-in entries postmarked or received by July 8, 2026 lock in the discounted $100 fee; entries after that move to the standard $150 fee.

Schedule

• Friday Jul 17, 7:00 p.m. — Mandatory rules meeting at the BRGC shooting range (96 Canton Lane, Townsend)
• Saturday Jul 18, 8:30 a.m. — Lines in at Broadwater Bay near the Silos
• Saturday Jul 18, 2:30 p.m. — Lines out / weigh-in begins
• Saturday Jul 18 — Awards and prizes after weigh-in

Entry & Prizes

Entry: $100 per 2-person team if postmarked or received by July 8, 2026. $150 per team after the early-bird deadline. Maximum 90 teams.

Prizes: Approximately $1,000 first prize at a full field, with cash prizes awarded in three categories: female/female, male/female, and adult/child (17 and under).

What to expect

Mid-July walleye on Canyon Ferry typically suspend over 15–30 feet of water along main-lake structure and humps. Bottom bouncers with spinners tipped with crawlers are a classic Canyon Ferry presentation, while trolling crankbaits along the Silos and main lake points produces bigger fish. With catch-and-release format, have a soft-mesh net and a quality bump board ready so fish go back healthy.

History

The Broadwater Rod & Gun Club has hosted this Canyon Ferry walleye derby for years as a fundraiser supporting club programs and youth outdoor education in the Townsend area. The catch-and-release format and category structure are designed to keep the event family-friendly and accessible to anglers of all skill levels.

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