New London club celebrates 50 years of ‘Big Whopper’

Fishing tradition continues April 17-18

Jim Curns holds up a 24-inch male walleye caught on the Wolf River Saturday, April 4. Curns is enjoying his retirement from the crane service business and his longtime service as an elected official on the Town of Mukwa board. While anglers on the Wolf dealt with high water conditions over the Easter weekend, they remain hopeful for improved conditions by Whopper Weekend, April 17-18. Photo courtesy of Steve Curns

Posted Wednesday, April 8, 2026 11:28 am

NEW LONDON – For five decades, the walleye run on the Wolf River has been synonymous with one thing for local residents and visiting anglers: the New London Fish and Game Club’s Big Whopper Weekend.
This year, the club celebrates the 50th Anniversary of Whopper Weekend (1976–2026) with a blend of time-honored traditions and modern updates.
Event dates are Friday, April 17, and Saturday, April 18.

A modern approach to a classic tradition
While the event was once a grueling three-day marathon at the boat landing, the club has refined the schedule into a focused two-day tournament. In a strategic move to reduce overhead and utilize professional facilities, the “Whopper Tent” festivities have moved from the riverbank to the New London Fish and Game Clubhouse, located at N5433 Old Hwy 45 (near Shamrock Heights Golf Course). This shift allows the club to maintain a certified kitchen and licensed beverage service while keeping the boat landing clear for active anglers.

Fish registration and contest details
Anglers will still find the heart of the competition on the river. All fish registration will take place at Johnny’s Little Shop of Bait at the boat landing from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days. Trophies will be awarded for the following categories: Longest Walleye and Longest Bass, Longest One-Day Stringer and Longest Two-Day Stringer. As an added incentive, the club is offering Daily Door Prize tickets to every angler who registers a fish.

Buffalo burgers and new traditions
The clubhouse will serve as the social hub for the weekend, featuring the club’s “legendary” Buffalo Burgers. New for the 50th Anniversary is a Friday Night Fish Fry and Old Fashioned Night (served 11 a.m. until gone), offering a classic Wisconsin experience followed by live music from Cole Boz at 7 p.m.

Supporting the community

As the club’s largest fundraiser of the year, the proceeds from the derby remain in New London. The weekend concludes with a signature Grand Prize Raffle drawing at 7 p.m. Saturday, featuring a Tikka T3X LITE as the Grand Prize and several other firearms.
Funds raised support local scholarships, civic projects, and the club’s ongoing stewardship of the area’s natural resources. Raffle participants need not be present to win.
Advance raffle tickets are available through club members, at the clubhouse, or at The New London Area Chamber of Commerce and Johnny’s Little Shop of Bait.