The 53rd successful Ice Fishing Contest

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The 53rd successful Ice Fishing Contest

By - Jim Mense, Outdoors Columnist


Dunn County - The Dunn County Fish & Game and the hundreds of supporters were blessed with another great day Saturday for the 53rd annual Ice Fishing contest, an event that has provided funds for a host of conservation efforts for over a half century. Over the year, changes have been made. For over four decades, the contest was held on the second Sunday in February. But as time went on, society gave more people the option of not working on Saturday. Originally the contest was held on the downtown area of Lake Menomin.

A few years later it was moved to the Wakanda area when the club house was built. For a number of years, the contest continued to be held in a confined area, including the refreshment stand and prize stand. Then on one very cold contest day, someone looked up from the contest to the new clubhouse on the bank and wondered why we were not up there, looking down at the lake instead of trying to prepare hot dogs and hot coffee on the ice. And then a bit later we wondered why we confined the fishing to a small, crowded area on the lake.


First place fishing contest winners at Saturday’s 53rd annual Ice Fishing Contest are, from left: Bill Peckmiller and his .945-pound crappie, Thai Her and a .615-pound bluegill, Brad Hoyt and a 6.380-pound northern pike, Allison Burnett and a .970-pound perch and Kevin Cartwright with a 2.665-pound Walleye. Jim Mense/For Dunn County News

Fishing contest for everyone

The fishing contest was always for everyone but moreso now. Euchre and bingo players have as much fun as anglers during recent years. the kids have their own fishing contest and headquarters at the boat landing. If you were 15 years or younger, you won a prize whether you caught a fish or not. Fishing contest chairmen, Greg Stark and Dave Frank, want to thank everyone - those who purchased tickets, members who spent hours working on at least one phase of the contest preparation, and the hundreds of people who participated. Last but not least, the very generous merchants that donated to make all this possible.



Fish Winners

Again, the display board out in front of the club house showed the skill of contest participants. It was full of very respectable examples of Menomin fish; all five species eligible for prizes. First place winners were as follows: A .945-pound crappie caught by Bill Peckmiller; a .615-pound bluegill taken by Thai Her; a 6.380-pound northern pike caught by Brad Hoyt; a .970-pound perch taken by Alison Burnett of Altoona; and a walleye weighing 2.665 pounds taken by Kevin Cartwright.


Cash Drawing award winners

Thomas Jacobson was the lucky ticket holder who won the top cash drawing award of $500. Nancy Snider of Downsville was drawn for the $100 cash award. Fifty-dollar cash drawing awards went to Pete Kruger, Nancy Giertz, Brian Hoyt, Gale Norstad, Lilla Wold, Bev Link, Kevin Sorenson and Megan Lauer.


The 53rd successful Ice Fishing Contest

The Dunn County Fish & Game and the hundreds of supporters were blessed with another great day Saturday for the 53rd annual Ice Fishing contest, an event that has provided funds for a host of conservation efforts for over a half century. Over the year, changes have been made. For over four decades, the contest was held on the second Sunday in February. But as time went on, society gave more people the option of not working on Saturday. Originally the contest was held on the downtown area of Lake Menomin.


Fishing Hall of Fame validates Spray muskie

We recently reported on a group known as the World Record Muskie Alliance (NRMA) who presented a report to the National Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame (NFWFHF) who alleged that Louie Spray's 1949 record muskie had been falsified in size and should be expunged from he record books. After careful and objective review of every aspect of the report during the past three months, the NFWFHF has ruled that the report lacks sufficient merit to overturn the Spray record.