Fishing Derby Fun

The fourth annual Fresno Ice Fishing Derby took place this weekend, and more than 100 participants fished on Fresno Reservoir for a chance to win awards for the longest fish caught.

This event is organized by the Havre Area Chamber of Commerce's Agriculture Committee, and this year it took place Saturday and Sunday at Fresno, 14 miles west of Havre.

Even though temperatures hit the 50s-range, the waters of the the reservoir were iced over and participants were still able to compete in the tournament.

Money was awarded to the top three winners each day per fish species for the longest northern pike, longest walleye and longest perch/crappie, with participants hailing from many areas in and outside of Havre, such as Big Sandy and Great Falls, and even Coos Bay, Oregon.

Darrin Boss, an Ag Committee member, said 119 people registered for the weekend tournament.

"We've had great ice - over two feet of ice," he said.

Boss also said this year's turnout is about 15 to 20 percent more than last year's event, where 86 people registered.

Max Vogel, who is also an Ag Committee member, said that this event gives back to the community.

"(For example,) all of our proceeds indirectly are coming back into the community in the form of a scholarship," he said.

Vogel added that students majoring in the various fields of agriculture at Montana State University-Northern can qualify for these scholarships.

"Our group is promoting agriculture," he said. "(We try to) promote to the community how important agriculture is to our local economy."

Dave Bekker, a Havre resident who took part in the event, said that he has participated in the Fresno Ice Derby each year it has taken place.

This year, he placed in four categories throughout the tournament and said that luck had a lot to do with winning.

"It's the first time I have ever won," he said. "(This derby is) a good time for everybody to get out and see what ice fishing is all about."

Havre resident Brian Lowe said he has also competed in the derby every year.

This year, he said, he placed in three categories throughout the tournament.

"(This derby) offers a chance for people to get outside this time of year," he said. "Since they've been doing this tournament, the weather has cooperated extremely well for this time of year."

This year, the ice fishing derby generated $1,000 to go toward the scholarships.

Hollyn Cardani, a senior majoring in Agriculture Operations Technology at Montana State University-Northern, said that she received a scholarship from the Fresno Ice Fishing Derby about two years ago.

She is a member of the Postsecondary Agriculture Students Club at Northern.

"Every year they measure the fish (at the derby)," she said.

Cardani also said she was very appreciative of the financial help the scholarship provided.

"A lot of ag students - they're paying for their college by themselves, so every penny helps," she said.