Dylan Nussbaum rocketed into 2nd place on Day 2 and took home $21,000 in the National Walleye Tour's season opener on Lake Erie.
Z‑Man® Baits Drive Nussbaum's Dramatic Comeback at 2026 NWT Season Opener
Lake Erie, Michigan – Pro walleye angler Dylan Nussbaum delivered the biggest comeback of the 2026 National Walleye Tour season opener, climbing from 40th place to a runner‑up finish on the strength of a massive Day 2 rally powered by Z‑Man® ElaZtech® baits.
Nussbaum entered the event with confidence after a productive practice period built around the Fuzzy BugZ™ on 1/4‑ and 3/8‑ounce jigheads. The bait excelled in extremely dirty "chocolate milk" water, with only 3 to 6 inches of visibility, where its buoyancy and profile helped trigger reaction bites. When tournament conditions shifted dramatically, Nussbaum was forced to adjust.
Nussbaum leaned on an unconventional bait choice in practice, turning to the Fuzzy BugZ, a "fuzzy" bass‑style bait not typically employed in walleye tournaments.
Day 1: Brutal Conditions Force a Change
South winds exceeding 35 mph and heavy waves made offshore areas unsafe, pushing Nussbaum into nearshore water and away from his practice pattern. With the Fuzzy BugZ program no longer viable, he turned to a proven confidence bait, the Scented Jerk ShadZ™ in Pro Yellow Perch.
"Committing to the area and grinding it out was really the only option," Nussbaum said. "The Scented Jerk ShadZ gave me confidence when everything else went sideways." Despite the conditions, he secured a 30‑pound, 7‑ounce limit, placing him in 40th heading into Day 2.
Four of the giants that powered Nussbaum and his co‑angler's Day 2 surge, each topping the 10‑pound mark and pushing them into contention.
Day 2: Cleaner Water, Clear Opportunity
Improved weather opened the door for a bold move. Nussbaum and his co‑angler, Remington, made a 20‑mile run and scanned an additional 15 miles of open water before finding a stretch with roughly 18 inches of visibility, just enough for the 4‑inch Scented Jerk ShadZ to shine.
Fishing in 20 to 23 feet of water and targeting suspended fish 10 to 15 feet down, Nussbaum slowed his retrieve to match the 45‑degree water. "The Scented Jerk ShadZ is a bait I can use year‑round," he said. "All I had to do was adjust my cadence. Once they reacted, it was game on."
What followed was one of the most explosive big‑fish flurries of Nussbaum's career. He opened the morning with an 8.5‑pound walleye, followed shortly by a 9.5‑pounder from his co‑angler. As the bite continued, they added multiple trophy‑class fish, including three that topped the 10‑pound mark. By early afternoon, the pair had boated ten fish over eight pounds and assembled a staggering 48‑pound, 3‑ounce limit, the heaviest tournament bag of Nussbaum's career by a wide margin. Confident in their weight and mindful of the long run back, they left the productive area early to ensure a timely return.
The 4‑inch Scented Jerk ShadZ in Pro Yellow Perch delivered the lifelike action and durability that helped drive Nussbaum's surge up the leaderboard.
Throughout the day, the durability and lifelike action of the Scented Jerk ShadZ proved essential to maintaining efficiency and triggering big bites. That performance did not go unnoticed.
"Dylan's run really highlights what makes our baits so dependable. They are durable, they look natural, and they keep anglers in the game when conditions get tough," said Director of Brand Strategy, Ryan Harder. "The Scented Jerk ShadZ has become a favorite across both bass and walleye tournaments, and Dylan's finish is a perfect example of how effective it can be."
A Statement Start to the Season
Nussbaum's monster Day 2 vaulted him from 40th to second place and showcased both his adaptability and the reliability of Z‑Man's ElaZtech lineup under pressure. With momentum from Lake Erie, he now turns his attention to the next National Walleye Tour stop at Lake Oahe in May.
About Z-Man Fishing Products: A dynamic Charleston, South Carolina based company, Z-Man Fishing Products has melded leading edge fishing tackle with technology for over three decades. The company's roots trace back to producing silicone skirts for many of the industry's top lure makers, a foundation that set the stage for its evolution into a full-fledged lure brand. With the addition of the Original ChatterBait® bladed jig and the development of its proprietary 10X Tough ElaZtech® superplastic material driving its transformation, Z-Man broadened its offerings into a comprehensive lineup of innovative freshwater and saltwater lures. Today, Z-Man remains family owned and is among the fastest growing lure companies in the fishing industry, with its products distributed across North America and in more than 40 countries worldwide.