Hi-Line Living: 5th Annual Fresno Ice Fishing Derby

Photos by Roger Miller and Larry Sasaki

Fishing enthusiasts from across the Hi-Line and beyond migrated to Fresno Reservoir last weekend for the fifth annual Fresno Ice Fishing Derby.

The derby is sponsored by the Havre Area Chamber of Commerce's Agribusiness Committee. Part of the proceeds from the entry fees is paid out in prize money and the rest goes toward scholarships for agriculture students at Montana State University-Northern.

Some people registered before the derby, others did so when they arrived at The Walleye Tavern.

Max Vogel of the Ag Committee said the ice fishers come from all over, including Kalispell, Great Falls and Alberta, Canada, as well as around north-central Montana.

As of 9 a.m. Saturday, 84 competitors had registered for the derby that went from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. and the next day from 7 a.m. until noon.

Vogel said Saturday that at 3 p.m. that day, the fish would be brought back to the tavern where they will be measured.

At Fresno's Kremlin Bay, a few trailers, RVs and pickups could be seen all parked looking down onto the body of frozen water and the anglers vying for bragging rights and the prize money.

The scene had been turned into a camp of sorts with groups of people in jackets and gloves, carrying fishing poles, an assortment of large and small high tech equipment and a few six packs of beer.

People, some accompanied by dogs, could be seen gingerly walking across the thick ice, while others boldly drove across it.

Some participants sat alone, jealously guarding their spot against encroachment by other fishers, sitting with their lines from their fishing rods dipped into holes in the ice, waiting to feel a tug on the other end.

Still others viewed the day as a more social occasion.

They sat with their lines in the water, but with groups of friends in clusters around them, a beer in their free hand, as they conversed and laughed with friends.

Mike Schroder came from Missoula to participate - his wife has family in the area,

During this time of year, he and his wife come to visit the family, and he regularly participates in the derby, he said.

He has been coming to the derby, he said, for more than five years, when it was held at Beaver Creek Reservoir.

This year, however, despite being out on the water since 7 a.m., aside from a small fish caught by a friend, Schroder said they hadn't caught much of anything that day.

But, he added, his father-in-law won the derby some years ago, and his brother-in-law did so about five years ago.

"So there is hope, but neither one of them came," Schroder said with a laugh.

Results:

Walleye

Saturday

1st, Brian Lowe, 29", $270

2nd, Dave Bekker, 25.5", $160

3rd, Rob Hanson, 22.75", $53

3rd, John Holden, 22.75", $53

Sunday

1st, Brian Lowe, 27", $185

2nd, Trevor Fossen, 25.25", $110

3rd, Tom Lowe, 23.5", $37

3rd, Nathan Holden, 23.5", $37

Pike

Saturday

1st, Tom Lowe, 35", $270

2nd, Ray Hentschel, 34.75", $160

3rd, Mark Daniel, 33.75", $105

Sunday

1st, Brian Lowe, 35.25", $185

2nd, John Holden, 34.5", $110

3rd, Nathan Holden, 34", $75

Perch/Crappie

Saturday

1st, Josh Linssen, 14.5", $270

2nd, Brad Mohawk, 14", $160

3rd, Derek Mohawk, 13.75, $105

Sunday

1st, Paul Sura, 13.5", $185

2nd, Derek Mohawk, 13.25", $110

3rd, Trevor Fossen, 13", $75