The Munising Trout & Salmon Classic returns on May 16 and 17. The event raises funds for the Munising Fire Department. Photo courtesy of Munising Trout & Salmon Classic
By Nicole Gearhart
Beacon Correspondent
One of the region’s most anticipated fishing tournaments, the Munising Trout & Salmon Classic, will return to the waters of Lake Superior on May 16 and 17.
Presented by the Munising Visitors Bureau and hosted by the Munising City Volunteer Fire Department, the tournament is a tradition rooted in service, camaraderie and community pride.
The Munising Trout & Salmon Classic began as a way to honor and support Vietnam veterans and has grown in popularity throughout the region. Since 2013, the Munising City Volunteer Fire Department has hosted the event as a vital fundraiser supporting its mission and service to the community.
“We appreciate and look forward to the continued support of our participants, sponsors and community members who make this event possible each year,” Chief Red Anderson said. “The Classic is not only a premier fishing event on Lake Superior, but also an important fundraiser that directly supports the men and women of our fire department. We’re excited to welcome everyone back in 2026.”
Setting this tournament apart is the experience, which includes two full days of fishing, accompanied by a Saturday fish fry where anglers can relax and enjoy the catch — no work required — thanks to volunteer fish cleaners. The fish dinner is open to the public by donation after weigh-in starts on Saturday at about 5:00 p.m. Small donations are welcome but not mandatory.
“Part of what makes the Classic unlike other fishing tournaments is the fish fry on Saturday,” said Brock Anderson, tournament control committee member and MCFD hose captain. “We’re lucky to have dedicated volunteers who clean fish for us year after year, making it easy for the fishermen to sit back and enjoy the weigh-ins.”
An exceptional prize pool, made possible by the generous support of local businesses, adds to the excitement each year. The Munising Trout & Salmon Classic offers a competitive purse structure, including guaranteed $2,000 payouts in both salmon and trout divisions, now upped to $2,500; big fish salmon and big fish trout payouts, with 50% of the pot to first place, and significant total payouts, historically exceeding $20,000 in cash and prizes annually.
Additionally, the South Shore Fishing Association has contributed a special prize: $1,000 awarded to the angler with the largest combined salmon/lake trout across both days of fishing. To be eligible for this prize, fishermen must be entered in both salmon and trout divisions as well as in the big fish categories for both divisions.
The tournament weekend will kick off with the captain’s meeting at 7 p.m. on Friday, May 15, held at the American Legion Post 131 banquet hall, which will again serve as tournament headquarters for registration, weigh-ins and festivities. The Legion is located at 610 W. Munising Ave. in Munising.
Fishing will take place from 5:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, with weigh-in at 4:30 p.m. On Sunday, fishing will run from 5:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., followed by weigh-in at 2 p.m. An awards ceremony will take place at the American Legion after weigh-in calculations Sunday.
Organizers enjoy embracing the history of the tournament while also striving for improvement each year.
“We’re excited to try something different this year, with live leaderboards updating during weigh-ins,” said Jason Klich, tournament control committee member and MCFD safety officer. “The Classic has been around for more than 30 years, and we’re proud to keep the tradition going.”
Local and regional businesses are invited to participate as sponsors, with multiple levels of sponsorship available.
For more information, to become a sponsor or to register, visit fishmunising.com.