Fresno Chapter annual walleye banquet set for Saturday

The local chapter of Walleyes Unlimited is again holding its biggest — really, its only — fundraiser to help it in its work of providing improvements to and events providing recreation throughout the region.

The Fresno Chapter of Walleyes Unlimited has set its 35th annual banquet — featuring baron of beef as well as its legendary battered walleye, along with a host of games with prizes and a gun raffle — starting at 4:30 p.m. Saturday in the Havre Ice Dome.

“The support that the chapter receives from the local communities and businesses is incredible. People are going to walk away with some wonderful prizes,” Fresno Walleyes Chapter President Nate Molstad said in a press release.

The event starts with the doors opening at 4:30 p.m. with early bird prizes awarded. The all-you-can-eat dinner including the secret-batter walleye, baron of beef and side dishes starts at 6 p.m.

The evening of entertainment includes people playing games for guns, fishing gear, big screen TVs, patio furniture, home furniture, barbecue grills, jewelry, artwork and many other items, the release said.

The banquet is the first day of the 30 Guns in 30 Days Raffle, with the first gun given away Saturday and one more given away each day for 29 more days.

Banquet and gun raffle tickets — only 500 raffle tickets will be sold — went on sale in February at Bing ’N’ Bob’s Sports Shop, E-Fish-Hunt Sports/Stromberg’s Sinclair or by calling Molstad. The Havre Ice Dome is located at the south edge of Havre at 2585 Fifth Ave. SE. For more information, call Molstad at 1-406-230-0342.

Banquet tickets are $30 each.

Proceeds from the banquet help the chapter pay for its work throughout the year, including its goal of making sure children get a chance to fish.

“If you asked us what our number one goal would be, it would definitely be getting a fishing rod in a kid’s hands and introducing them to the outdoors,” said Molstad.

At the banquet, every child 15 and younger will receive a rod and reel. The chapter’s annual kid’s education day typically hosts between 300 and 400 area fifth- and sixth-graders at Fresno Reservoir, complete with boat rides, educational seminars, lunch and fishing poles for all kids in attendance.

The chapter also hosts the annual kid’s fishing day and Fresno Walleye Challenge.

The proceeds also go toward projects to enhance recreation at Fresno Reservoir, including building and maintaining a number of amenities like the campground and pavilion, boat ramps and boat docks.

“We take a lot of pride in keeping the money local,” Molstad said.

The chapter has completed projects at Fresno Reservoir, Beaver Creek and Bailey’s Reservoir, to name a few.

“We’re always open to suggestions on projects in the area,” Molstad said.

People also can follow the chapter’s events and projects on their Facebook page and website at http://www.fresnowalleyes.com. The website is also host to a web cam of Fresno Reservoir.

Molstad said that with the tremendous support from the general public and business donors, the Fresno Chapter of Walleyes Unlimited has been one of the most successful service clubs in the state.  

“We just can’t thank these people enough. Everything we do is made possible by their continued support,” he added.

The Fresno Chapter of Walleyes Unlimited is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, making all donations tax deductible. Donations can be mailed to Fresno Walleyes at P.O. Box 1501, Havre, MT 59501.