Fortune fish not found on 14th
- Details
- Published on Thursday, March 19, 2015
By Hall Sveistrup
A tagged northern pike was all smiles after the sound of gunshot signaled the end of the annual ice fishing derby hosted by Rivers and Area Game and Fish Association on Lake Wahtopanah on Saturday, March 14. The cause for celebration, like seven other pike before him, was successfully eluding capture by 210 adult fishers hoping for a $10,000 reward.
Fifty youth who paid no entry fee also participated in the eighth annual event, but they were not eligible for the large payout. Cash prizes were awarded for the four longest northern pike and for the two longest each of walleye and yellow perch. Youth fishers who caught the longest fish of the same three species were awarded a trophy and an ice fishing rod and reel. Second- and third-place youth competitors received their choice of an item from the prize table. The numbers of remaining children were drawn from a drum so that every one of them pocketed a prize. Following is a list of main prize winners.
Youth walleye, Matthew Warnica, Brandon, 30 cm (there were no other walleye caught); youth northern pike, Julian Ventnor, Rivers, 68 cm, Justin Ventnor, Rivers, 61.6 cm, Adam Smith, Brandon, 56.4 cm; youth yellow perch, Cole Lelond, Rivers, 25.2 cm, Emilyea Zamansky, Forrest, 24.2 cm, Grady McNish, Rivers, 23.6 cm; adult walleye, John Dalgleish, Alexander, 36.2 cm, Harv Jacobsen, Brandon, 34 cm; adult northern pike, Chad Ventnor, Rivers, 89.6 cm, Darcy Oakden, Brandon, 72.6 cm, Matt McLaughlin, Virden, 71 cm, Charlie Ventnor, Rivers, 70.4 cm; adult yellow perch, Mark Vreeman, Brandon, 26.6 cm, Jeff Hall, Brandon, 26.2 cm.
Youth fishers captured one walleye, five pike and 30 perch for a total of 36 fish; adults hooked 76 fish comprised of four walleye, 34 pike and 38 perch. All fish measured were released. Five competitors who won $20 chamber bucks were Bonnie Taylor, Beau Bridgeman, Nathan Astakeesic, Cory Sedgwick (all of Rivers) and Bailey Sykes of Brandon. The award ceremony concluded with draws by adult competitors for an array of prizes donated by Rivers and Brandon businesses and by association members. Ross Priestley of Miniota returned home $373 richer, courtesy of a 50/50 draw.
The association’s travel trailer and barbecue served as a makeshift, yet efficient, canteen which dispensed a delicious menu of cheeseburgers, hamburgers, smokie dogs, canned drinks, water, hot chocolate and coffee.
