Sports

Warm weather makes for successful fishing derby

By Tyler Ohmann

03/13/2012

Lake Metigoshe was swarmed by 262 fisherman last Saturday.

All of them with goals to have fun, go fishing and maybe win some prizes too.

The 11th annual Bottineau Jaycee’s Fishing Derby was returned last Saturday after it was cancelled last year.

“Unfortunately we missed last year because weather conditions, ice conditions were awfully unsafe,” said John Christianson, one of the Jaycee members organizing the event. “We’ve got a great fishery up here in the hills, and it’s nice to have the variety of fish, the quality of fish, so, it’s nice to have something local and give back to the community.”

Most of the proceeds from the tournament are used for upkeep of Bottineau’s game-cleaning station located near Mattern Family Meats according to Christianson.

The fisherman couldn’t have asked for better weather on Saturday, as temperatures topped out in the 50s, and the sun shone throughout the tournament.

This was a change from year’s past.

“We’ve been in here in coverall and parka’s before, but fortunately it was like it was today,” Christianson said. “If we could bottle this every year, we’d take it.”

The turnout was one of the best the Jaycee’s have seen in the history of the tournament.

“It was one of our bigger crowds we’ve had in awhile,” Christianson. “We had some great sponsors, great prizes, great weather and great fishing.”

The tournament is usually held the final weekend that permanent houses are allowed on North Dakota lakes according to Christianson.

“It kind of signifies the end of the season, and hopefully goes out on a good note,” Christianson said.
Prizes were awarded to the top winners in the bluegill, walleye, northern pike and perch categories. Winners were as follows:

Bluegill
1st - 0.84 lbs - Ashley Seykora
2nd - 0.78 lbs - Matt Seykora
3rd - 0.64 lbs - Matt Seykora
 
Walleye
1st- 1.47 lbs - Alex Heidrich
2nd - 1.03 lbs - Emily Mercer
 
Northern
1st - 12.23 lbs - Bill Crooks
2nd - 9.35 lbs - Bud Larocque
3rd - 9.25 lbs - Bud Larocque
 
Perch
1st - 0.85 lbs - Tanner Langen
2nd - 0.78 lbs - Andrea Beyer

Winners received a mix of cash prizes as well as fishing equipment.

Matt Seykora found the right spot, luck and tackle as he and his sister-in-law, who were fishing near each other swept the bluegill category.

“We were up on north lake near Bear Island,” Seykora said. “We were using light tackle and waxworms in 12 feet of water, and that’s how it worked.”

“We move around quite a bit for what we had to do, and my sister-in-law ended up beating me out,” Seykora added.

Echoed by many of the entrants in the tournament, Seykora enjoyed the tournament, though winning cash and a new Vexilar didn’t hurt his opinion.

“I enjoy coming up to this Jaycee’s tournament every year,” Seykora said. “On a day like today you’re going to come out and fish and enjoy it, and it worked out well.”

Each entrant in the tournament were also entered into a raffle. Winners of the raffle were as follows:

Rifle - Steve Keller
$500 cash - Gail Lagerquist
GPS - Brent Christenson
$100 Cenex Card - George Freeman
Print - Jason Ogaard
Thunder Mountain Family Pass - Darrel Abrahamson

The Jaycee’s also distributed a table full of door prizes donated by local merchants.