09/27/2026
𝗩𝗘𝗧𝗘𝗥𝗔𝗡𝗦 𝗙𝗔𝗠𝗜𝗟𝗬 𝗕𝗥𝗜𝗚𝗔𝗗𝗘
𝗢𝗣𝗘𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡 𝗢𝗥𝗗𝗘𝗥 𝟮𝟲-𝟬𝟮 𝟰𝘁𝗵 𝗔𝗡𝗡𝗨𝗔𝗟 𝗙𝗔𝗟𝗟 𝗪𝗔𝗟𝗟𝗘𝗬𝗘 𝗙𝗧𝗫
Issuing HQ: Veterans Family Brigade (VFB) | vfbrigade.com
AO: Lake Erie — Marblehead to Cleveland, OH
Ex*****on Window: 1–29 NOV 2026Time Zone: Local (Eastern)
𝗥𝗘𝗙𝗘𝗥𝗘𝗡𝗖𝗘𝗦 (YOU MUST REGISTER FOR DERBIES HERE)
a. Fall Walleye Derby: https://thewalleyederby.com/event/the-fall-walleye-derby-big-fish-and-bigger-dreams/
b. Fall Brawl: https://big-water-walleye-championships.square.site/shop/brawl/3
c. Walleye Slam: https://www.walleyeslam.com
D. VFB Registration: YOU MUST COMPLETE THIS TO ATTEND
𝗧𝗔𝗦𝗞 𝗢𝗥𝗚𝗔𝗡𝗜𝗭𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡 Participant-formed fishing groups (veterans, service members, and family) placed aboard local captains' boats. Placement coordinated by VFB.
𝟭. 𝗦𝗜𝗧𝗨𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡
a. 𝗔𝗿𝗲𝗮 𝗼𝗳 𝗢𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀. Lake Erie, Marblehead to Cleveland, OH, during the fall walleye run and three affiliated tournaments.
b. 𝗘𝗻𝗲𝗺𝘆 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝗰𝗲𝘀. Lake Erie trophy walleye. The real threat is the lake itself: Expect cold weather and rough lake conditions.
c. 𝗙𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗹𝘆 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝗰𝗲𝘀. Local Lake Erie captains; Fall Brawl, Walleye Slam, and Fall Walleye Derby organizers.
d. 𝗔𝘁𝘁𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀. One family member per participant, upon coordination.
𝟮. 𝗠𝗜𝗦𝗦𝗜𝗢𝗡
VFB coordinates trophy walleye fishing trips for eligible veteran and military family groups aboard local captains' boats on Lake Erie, Marblehead to Cleveland, OH, 1–29 NOV 2026,
𝟯. 𝗘𝗫𝗘𝗖𝗨𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡
a. 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁. Put veterans, service members, and their families on the water for a trip of a lifetime at no cost. End state: registered groups placed on boats and fishing during the 1–29 NOV window.
b. 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗽𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗢𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻.
𝗣𝗵𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗜 — 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 (NOW – 15 OCT 26): Register for the FTX on Zeffy, form your group, register for all 3 derbies, and submit preferred fishing dates.
𝗣𝗵𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗜𝗜 — 𝗕𝗼𝗮𝘁 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 (after derby registrations close): VFB coordinates boat/captain placement. Messenger groupor chat stood up for coordination.
𝗣𝗵𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗜𝗜𝗜 — 𝗘𝘅𝗲𝗰𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 (1–29 NOV 26): Fish any single day up to the whole window, depending on boat and fisherman availability.
c. 𝗧𝗮𝘀𝗸𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗽𝗮𝗻𝘁𝘀.
(1) Register for the FTX on Zeffy https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/4th-annual-vfb-walleye-ftx
(2) Form your own group — veterans and family.
(3) Register for all 3 derbies (Fall Brawl, Walleye Slam, Fall Walleye Derby) 𝗡𝗟𝗧 𝟭𝟱 𝗢𝗖𝗧 𝟮𝟲. Approx. $120 total. Most captains require it.
(4) Submit your group's preferred fishing dates within the 1–29 NOV window.
d. 𝗖𝗼𝗼𝗿𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗜𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀.
(1) Eligibility: Disabled Veterans; Veterans; currently serving military — Active, Reserve, or Guard, any branch; one family member, upon coordination.
(2) Priority: Gold Star Family members and anyone registered for all 3 derbies.
(3) Prize Money: Any tournament prize money is split evenly between the boat captain and all fishermen aboard.
(4) Purse: 2026 first-place prizes across all three events total approx. $400,000.
(5) Follow-On Opportunities: Steelhead, Pheasant, and Duck/Goose hunting may be available. Contact POC.
𝟰. 𝗦𝗨𝗦𝗧𝗔𝗜𝗡𝗠𝗘𝗡𝗧
a. 𝗖𝗼𝘀𝘁. No cost for the trip. Derby entries (approx. $120 for all 3) are separate.
b. 𝗟𝗼𝗱𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻. Self-arranged. Not provided.
c. 𝗖𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘀 𝗜. Bring your own food and drink for the day.
d. 𝗥𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗘𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗽𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁.- Valid fishing license- Warm clothing + wet weather gear- Rubber boots- Headlamp- Cooler (to take your fish home)- Motion sickness medication
𝟱. 𝗖𝗢𝗠𝗠𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗦𝗜𝗚𝗡𝗔𝗟a. 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗱.
POC: Jim Mauer, President, VFB.
a. 𝗦𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗮𝗹.- Email: [email protected] Facebook message- Web: vfbrigade.com- A Messenger group will be created for coordination.
B. 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/4th-annual-vfb-walleye-ftx
𝗔𝗖𝗞𝗡𝗢𝗪𝗟𝗘𝗗𝗚𝗘: List your interested dates and get your group together. VFB will coordinate a trip of a lifetime, at no cost, for your group.
